Narrated by Bukhari & MuslimAuthentic hadithThe Imām is appointed so that he should be followed; so, do not act differently from him. When he makes Takbīr all of you should say it after him; bow when he bows; say "O our Lord, all praise be to You" when he says: Allah hears the one who praises Him; prostrate when he prostates; and all of you should pray sitting when he prays sitting
Narrator in the source: Abu Hurayrah reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah say:
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The Imām is appointed so that he should be followed; so, do not act differently from him. When he makes Takbīr all of you should say it after him; bow when he bows; say 'O our Lord, all praise be to You' when he says: Allah hears the one who praises Him; prostrate when he prostates; and all of you should pray sitting when he prays sitting."
- Grade in the source
- Authentic hadith
- Reported by
- Narrated by Bukhari & Muslim
Original Arabic wording
عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه مرفوعاً: «إنما جُعِلَ الإمام ليِؤُتَمَّ به، فلا تختلفوا عليه، فإذا كبر فكبروا، وإذا ركع فاركعوا، وإذا قال: سمع الله لمن حمده، فقولوا: ربنا ولك الحمد. وإذا سجد فاسجدوا، وإذا صلى جالسا فصلوا جلوسا أجمعون».
Understand this hadith ＋
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned the wisdom behind appointing an Imām, which is that the worshipers should follow him in their congregational prayer. They should not act differently from him in the actions of the prayer. Rather, the Imām's movements during the prayer should be observed and followed in the same order he does them. Thus, when the Imām says Takbīr, then the congregation should follow him in doing so. When the Imām bows then they all should follow him, and when the Imām reminds them that Allah will answer the ones who praise Him by saying "Allah hears the one who praises Him", then they should praise Allah by saying: "Our Lord, praise be to You". When the Imām prostrates, Muslims praying behind him should prostrate as well, and if he prays sitting because he is unable to stand, then all of them should pray sitting as well even if they are able to stand. This is how the Imām should be followed.
References (original Arabic)
- صحيح البخاري، للإمام أبي عبد الله محمد بن إسماعيل البخاري، عناية محمد زهير الناصر، دار طوق النجاة، الطبعة الأولى، 1422هـ.
- صحيح مسلم، للإمام مسلم بن الحجاج، حققه ورقمه محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي، دار عالم الكتب، الرياض، الطبعة الأولى، 1417هـ.
- الإلمام بشرح عمدة الأحكام، للشيخ إسماعيل الأنصاري -مطبعة السعادة- الطبعة الثانية، 1392ه.
- تيسير العلام شرح عمدة الأحكام، لعبد الله البسام، تحقيق محمد صبحي حسن حلاق، مكتبة الصحابة، الشارقة، الطبعة العاشرة، 1426ه.
Do you hear the Adhān?" He replied in the affirmative. Thereupon, he said: "Then respond to it
Narrator in the source: Abu Hurayrah reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah say:
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: A blind man came to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and said: "O Messenger of Allah, I have no one to lead me to the mosque." He asked the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) to allow him to pray at home, which the Messenger of Allah did. When the man was leaving, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) called him back and said: "Do you hear the Adhān?" He replied in the affirmative. Thereupon, he said: "Then respond to it."
- Grade in the source
- Authentic
- Reported by
- Narrated by Muslim
Original Arabic wording
عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: أَتَى النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ رَجُلٌ أَعْمَى، فَقَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ، إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ لِي قَائِدٌ يَقُودُنِي إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ، فَسَأَلَ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنْ يُرَخِّصَ لَهُ فَيُصَلِّيَ فِي بَيْتِهِ، فَرَخَّصَ لَهُ، فَلَمَّا وَلَّى دَعَاهُ، فَقَالَ: «هَلْ تَسْمَعُ النِّدَاءَ بِالصَّلَاةِ؟» فَقَالَ: نَعَمْ، قَالَ: «فَأَجِبْ».
Understand this hadith ＋
A blind man came to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and said: O Messenger of Allah, I am blind and have no one to help me and take me by the hand to the mosque for the five prayers. He sought a dispensation from the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) to not attend the prayer in congregation. As he gave him the dispensation and the man turned his back to leave, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) called him and asked: Do you hear the Adhān? The man replied in the affirmative. So, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: Then, respond to the caller to prayer.
Lessons from the hadith
- The Hadīth highlights the obligation of the congregational prayer, for a dispensation can only be sought for something due and obligatory.
- His words "Then respond" for those who hear the Adhān indicate that praying in congregation is obligatory, for a command basically denotes obligation.
References (original Arabic)
صحيح مسلم (1/ 452) (653).
شرح النووي على مسلم (5/ 155).
فتح ذي الجلال والإكرام، شرح بلوغ المرام، لابن عثيمين (2/ 254).
Whoever hears the prayer call and does not attend the congregational prayer, then his prayer is not valid (deficient), except if he has an excuse
Narrator in the source: Ibn ‘Abbās
Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever hears the prayer call and does not attend the congregational prayer, then his prayer is not valid (deficient), except if he has an excuse."
- Grade in the source
- Authentic hadith
- Reported by
- Narrated by Ibn Majah
Original Arabic wording
عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: «من سمِع النِّدَاء فلم يَأتِه؛ فلا صلاة له إلا من عُذْر».
Understand this hadith ＋
This Hadīth highlights the importance of performing prayers in congregation. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) explained that anyone who hears the call to the congregational prayer should attend it; if he does not attend, then his prayer will be incomplete and will have less reward; yet the prayer offered will be accepted, although he will be sinful for missing the congregation without an excuse. If he had a Shariah-approved excuse for missing the congregational prayer, such as sickness, rain, or fear for his life, wealth, or children, or the like, then there is no blame on him.
References (original Arabic)
سنن ابن ماجه، ابن ماجه محمد بن يزيد القزويني، تحقيق: شعيب الأرناؤوط وغيره، الناشر: دار الرسالة العالمية، الطبعة الأولى، 1430هـ.
مشكاة المصابيح - محمد بن عبد الله الخطيب التبريزي، المحقق: محمد ناصر الدين الألباني، المكتب الإسلامي، بيروت، الطبعة الثالثة، 1985م.
سبل السلام، محمد بن إسماعيل الصنعاني، دار الحديث، الطبعة: بدون طبعة وبدون تاريخ.
توضيح الأحكام مِن بلوغ المرام، عبد الله بن عبد الرحمن البسام، مكتبة الأسدي، مكة المكرّمة، الطبعة الخامِسَة، 1423هـ - 2003م.
تسهيل الإلمام بفقه الأحاديث من بلوغ المرام، صالح بن فوزان بن عبد الله الفوزان، اعتنى بإخراجه عبدالسلام بن عبد الله السليمان، الرسالة، بيروت، الطبعة الأولى، 1427هـ - 2006م.
فتح ذي الجلال والإكرام، شرح بلوغ المرام، تأليف: محمد بن صالح بن محمد العثيمين، الناشر: المكتبة الإسلامية، تحقيق: صبحي بن محمد رمضان، وأُم إسراء بنت عرفة.
بلوغ المرام من أدلة الأحكام، أحمد بن علي بن حجر العسقلاني، دار القبس للنشر والتوزيع، الرياض، المملكة العربية السعودية، الطبعة الأولى، 1435هـ - 2014م.