Is he who raises his head before the Imam not afraid that Allah may transform his head into that of a donkey or his shape into that of a donkey?
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: "Is he who raises his head before the Imam not afraid that Allah may transform his head into that of a donkey or his shape into that of a donkey?"- Grade in the source
- Authentic
- Reported by
- Agreed upon
- Source entry
- HadeethEnc · 3086 ↗
Original Arabic wording
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رضي الله عنه عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «أَمَا يَخْشَى أَحَدُكُمْ - أَوْ: لاَ يَخْشَى أَحَدُكُمْ - إِذَا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ قَبْلَ الإِمَامِ، أَنْ يَجْعَلَ اللَّهُ رَأْسَهُ رَأْسَ حِمَارٍ، أَوْ يَجْعَلَ اللَّهُ صُورَتَهُ صُورَةَ حِمَارٍ».Understand this hadith
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) clarifies the serious threat to the one who raises his head in prayer before his Imam, as Allah may transform his head into that of a donkey or transform his shape into that of a donkey.
Lessons from the hadith
- There are four conditions for a person led in prayer in relation to the Imam, three of which are prohibited and they are: making a movement before the Imam, making a movement simultaneously with the Imam, and delaying in following the Imam. The prescribed condition; however, is: acting immediately after the Imam.
- It is obligatory for the one led in prayer to follow the Imam.
- The threat to transform the shape of the one who raises his head before the Imam to that of a donkey is possible and is a form of deformation.
References (original Arabic)
صحيح البخاري (1/ 140) (691). صحيح مسلم (1/ 321) (427). الإلمام بشرح عمدة الأحكام، لإسماعيل الأنصاري (1/ 111). خلاصة الكلام شرح عمدة الأحكام، لفيصل آل مبارك (ص65). تيسير العلام شرح عمدة الأحكام، للبسام (ص133).