The Book of Mosques and Places of Prayer – كتاب الْمَسَاجِدِ وَمَوَاضِعِ الصَّلاَةِ

(83)
Chapter: Disapproval Of Delaying The Prayer From Its Prescribed Time; What One Who Is Led In Prayer Should Do When The Imam Delays It?
(41)
باب كَرَاهِيَةِ تَأْخِيرِ الصَّلاَةِ عَنْ وَقْتِهَا الْمُخْتَارِ وَمَا يَفْعَلُهُ الْمَأْمُومُ إِذَا أَخَّرَهَا الإِمَامُ

Abu Dharr reported:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to me: How would you act when you are under the rulers who would delay the prayer beyond its prescribed time, or they would make prayer a dead thing as far as its proper time is concerned? I said: What do you command? He (the Holy Prophet) said: Observe the prayer at Its proper time, and if you can say it along with them do so, for it would be a superetogatory prayer for you. Khalaf (one of the narrators in the above hadith) has not mentioned” beyond their (prescribed) time”.
حَدَّثَنَا خَلَفُ بْنُ هِشَامٍ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، ح قَالَ وَحَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الرَّبِيعِ الزَّهْرَانِيُّ، وَأَبُو كَامِلٍ الْجَحْدَرِيُّ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادٌ، عَنْ أَبِي عِمْرَانَ الْجَوْنِيِّ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الصَّامِتِ، عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ، قَالَ قَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ‏”‏ كَيْفَ أَنْتَ إِذَا كَانَتْ عَلَيْكَ أُمَرَاءُ يُؤَخِّرُونَ الصَّلاَةَ عَنْ وَقْتِهَا أَوْ يُمِيتُونَ الصَّلاَةَ عَنْ وَقْتِهَا ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ قُلْتُ فَمَا تَأْمُرُنِي قَالَ ‏”‏ صَلِّ الصَّلاَةَ لِوَقْتِهَا فَإِنْ أَدْرَكْتَهَا مَعَهُمْ فَصَلِّ فَإِنَّهَا لَكَ نَافِلَةٌ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ خَلَفٌ عَنْ وَقْتِهَا ‏.‏
Reference  : Sahih Muslim 648 a
In-book reference  : Book 5, Hadith 301
USC-MSA web (English) reference  : Book 4, Hadith 1353
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Abu Dharr reported:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to me: O Abu Dharr, you would soon find after me rulers who would make their prayers dead. You should say prayer at its prescribed time. If you say prayer at its prescribed time that would be a supererogatory prayer for you, otherwise you saved your prayer.
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، أَخْبَرَنَا جَعْفَرُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، عَنْ أَبِي عِمْرَانَ الْجَوْنِيِّ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الصَّامِتِ، عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ، قَالَ قَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ “‏ يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ إِنَّهُ سَيَكُونُ بَعْدِي أُمَرَاءُ يُمِيتُونَ الصَّلاَةَ فَصَلِّ الصَّلاَةَ لِوَقْتِهَا فَإِنْ صَلَّيْتَ لِوَقْتِهَا كَانَتْ لَكَ نَافِلَةً وَإِلاَّ كُنْتَ قَدْ أَحْرَزْتَ صَلاَتَكَ ‏”‏ ‏.‏
Reference  : Sahih Muslim 648 b
In-book reference  : Book 5, Hadith 302
USC-MSA web (English) reference  : Book 4, Hadith 1354
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Abu Dharr reported:

My friend (the Holy Prophet) bade me to hear and obey (the ruler) even if he is a slave having his feet and arms cut off, and observe prayer at its prescribed time. (And further said): It you find people having observed the prayer, you in fact saved your prayer, otherwise (if you join with them) that would be a Nafl prayer for you.
وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ إِدْرِيسَ، عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي عِمْرَانَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الصَّامِتِ، عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ، قَالَ إِنَّ خَلِيلِي أَوْصَانِي أَنْ أَسْمَعَ وَأُطِيعَ وَإِنْ كَانَ عَبْدًا مُجَدَّعَ الأَطْرَافِ وَأَنْ أُصَلِّيَ الصَّلاَةَ لِوَقْتِهَا ‏ “‏ فَإِنْ أَدْرَكْتَ الْقَوْمَ وَقَدْ صَلَّوْا كُنْتَ قَدْ أَحْرَزْتَ صَلاَتَكَ وَإِلاَّ كَانَتْ لَكَ نَافِلَةً ‏”‏ ‏.‏
Reference  : Sahih Muslim 648 c
In-book reference  : Book 5, Hadith 303
USC-MSA web (English) reference  : Book 4, Hadith 1355
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Abu Dharr reported:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) struck my thigh and said: How would you act if you survive among the people who would delay prayers beyond their (prescribed) time? He (Abu Dharr) said: What do you command (under this situation)? He (the Holy Prophet) slid: Observe prayer at its prescribed time, then go (to meet) your needs, and if the Iqama is pronounced, and you are present in the mosque, then observe prayer (along with the Jama’at).
وَحَدَّثَنِي يَحْيَى بْنُ حَبِيبٍ الْحَارِثِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدُ بْنُ الْحَارِثِ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ بُدَيْلٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْعَالِيَةِ، يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الصَّامِتِ، عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَضَرَبَ فَخِذِي ‏”‏ كَيْفَ أَنْتَ إِذَا بَقِيتَ فِي قَوْمٍ يُؤَخِّرُونَ الصَّلاَةَ عَنْ وَقْتِهَا ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ قَالَ مَا تَأْمُرُ قَالَ ‏”‏ صَلِّ الصَّلاَةَ لِوَقْتِهَا ثُمَّ اذْهَبْ لِحَاجَتِكَ فَإِنْ أُقِيمَتِ الصَّلاَةُ وَأَنْتَ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ فَصَلِّ ‏”‏ ‏.‏
Reference  : Sahih Muslim 648 d
In-book reference  : Book 5, Hadith 304
USC-MSA web (English) reference  : Book 4, Hadith 1356
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‘Abu’l-‘Aliyat al-Bara reported:

Ibn Ziyad delayed the prayer. ‘Abdullah b. Samit came to me and I placed a chair for him and he sat in it and I made a mention of whit Ibn Ziyad had done. He bit hit lips (as a sign of extreme anger and annoyance) and struck at my thigh and said: I asked Abu Dharr as you have asked me, and he struck my thigh just as I have struck your thigh, and said: I asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as you have asked me and he struck my thigh just as I have struck your thigh, and he (the Holy Prophet) said: Observe prayer at its prescribed time, and if you can say prayer along with them. do so, and do not say.” I have observed prayer and so I shall not pray.”
وَحَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، عَنْ أَبِي الْعَالِيَةِ الْبَرَّاءِ، قَالَ أَخَّرَ ابْنُ زِيَادٍ الصَّلاَةَ فَجَاءَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الصَّامِتِ فَأَلْقَيْتُ لَهُ كُرْسِيًّا فَجَلَسَ عَلَيْهِ فَذَكَرْتُ لَهُ صَنِيعَ ابْنِ زِيَادٍ فَعَضَّ عَلَى شَفَتِهِ وَضَرَبَ فَخِذِي وَقَالَ إِنِّي سَأَلْتُ أَبَا ذَرٍّ كَمَا سَأَلْتَنِي فَضَرَبَ فَخِذِي كَمَا ضَرَبْتُ فَخِذَكَ وَقَالَ إِنِّي سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَمَا سَأَلْتَنِي فَضَرَبَ فَخِذِي كَمَا ضَرَبْتُ فَخِذَكَ وَقَالَ ‏ “‏ صَلِّ الصَّلاَةَ لِوَقْتِهَا فَإِنْ أَدْرَكَتْكَ الصَّلاَةُ مَعَهُمْ فَصَلِّ وَلاَ تَقُلْ إِنِّي قَدْ صَلَّيْتُ فَلاَ أُصَلِّي ‏”‏ ‏.‏
Reference  : Sahih Muslim 648 e
In-book reference  : Book 5, Hadith 305
USC-MSA web (English) reference  : Book 4, Hadith 1357
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Abu Dharr reported:

(The Messenger of Allah) said: How would you, or how would thou, act if you survive to live among people who defer prayer beyond the (prescribed) time? (The narrator said: Allah and His Messenger know best). whereupon he said: Observe prayer at its prescribed time, but if the Iqama is pronounced for (congregational) prayer, then observe prayer along with them. for herein is an excess of virtue.
وَحَدَّثَنَا عَاصِمُ بْنُ النَّضْرِ التَّيْمِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدُ بْنُ الْحَارِثِ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ أَبِي نَعَامَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الصَّامِتِ، عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ، قَالَ قَالَ ‏ “‏ كَيْفَ أَنْتُمْ – أَوْ قَالَ كَيْفَ أَنْتَ – إِذَا بَقِيتَ فِي قَوْمٍ يُؤَخِّرُونَ الصَّلاَةَ عَنْ وَقْتِهَا فَصَلِّ الصَّلاَةَ لِوَقْتِهَا ثُمَّ إِنْ أُقِيمَتِ الصَّلاَةُ فَصَلِّ مَعَهُمْ فَإِنَّهَا زِيَادَةُ خَيْرٍ ‏”‏ ‏.‏
Reference  : Sahih Muslim 648 f
In-book reference  : Book 5, Hadith 306
USC-MSA web (English) reference  : Book 4, Hadith 1358
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Abu’l-‘Aliyat al-Bara’ reported:

I said to ‘Abdullah b. Samit: We say our Jumu’a prayer behind those rulers who defer the prayer. He (‘Abdullah b. Samit), struck. my thigh that I felt pain and said: I asked Abu Dharr about it, he struck my thigh and said: I asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) about it. Upon this he said: Observe prayer at its prescribed time, and treat prayer along with them (along with those Imams who deter prayer) as Nafl. ‘Abdullah said: It was narrated to me that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) struck the thigh of Abd Dharr.
وَحَدَّثَنِي أَبُو غَسَّانَ الْمِسْمَعِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا مُعَاذٌ، – وَهْوَ ابْنُ هِشَامٍ – حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي، عَنْ مَطَرٍ، عَنْ أَبِي الْعَالِيَةِ الْبَرَّاءِ، قَالَ قُلْتُ لِعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الصَّامِتِ نُصَلِّي يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ خَلْفَ أُمَرَاءَ فَيُؤَخِّرُونَ الصَّلاَةَ – قَالَ – فَضَرَبَ فَخِذِي ضَرْبَةً أَوْجَعَتْنِي وَقَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا ذَرٍّ عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَضَرَبَ فَخِذِي وَقَالَ سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ ‏ “‏ صَلُّوا الصَّلاَةَ لِوَقْتِهَا وَاجْعَلُوا صَلاَتَكُمْ مَعَهُمْ نَافِلَةً ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ وَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ ذُكِرَ لِي أَنَّ نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ضَرَبَ فَخِذَ أَبِي ذَرٍّ ‏.‏
Reference  : Sahih Muslim 648 g
In-book reference  : Book 5, Hadith 307
USC-MSA web (English) reference  : Book 4, Hadith 1359
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(84)
Chapter: Excellence Of Prayers In Congregation And Grim Warning For Remaining Away From It
(42)
باب فَضْلِ صَلاَةِ الجَمَاعَةِ وَبَيَانِ التَّشْدِيدِ فِي التَّخَلُّفِ عَنْهَا ‏

Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:

Prayer said in a congregation is twenty-five degrees more excellent than prayer said by a single person.
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، قَالَ قَرَأْتُ عَلَى مَالِكٍ عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ الْمُسَيَّبِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ “‏ صَلاَةُ الْجَمَاعَةِ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ صَلاَةِ أَحَدِكُمْ وَحْدَهُ بِخَمْسَةٍ وَعِشْرِينَ جُزْءًا ‏”‏ ‏.‏
Reference  : Sahih Muslim 649 a
In-book reference  : Book 5, Hadith 308
USC-MSA web (English) reference  : Book 4, Hadith 1360
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Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Apostle (ﷺ) as saying:

Prayer said in a congregation is twenty-five degrees more excellent than prayer said by a single person. He (Abu Huraira further) said: The angels of the night and the angels of the day meet together. Abu Huraira said: Recite it you like:” Surely the recital of the Qur’an at dawn is witnessed” (al-Qur’an, xvii. 78).
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الأَعْلَى، عَنْ مَعْمَرٍ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ الْمُسَيَّبِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏”‏ تَفْضُلُ صَلاَةٌ فِي الْجَمِيعِ عَلَى صَلاَةِ الرَّجُلِ وَحْدَهُ خَمْسًا وَعِشْرِينَ دَرَجَةً ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏”‏ وَتَجْتَمِعُ مَلاَئِكَةُ اللَّيْلِ وَمَلاَئِكَةُ النَّهَارِ فِي صَلاَةِ الْفَجْرِ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ اقْرَءُوا إِنْ شِئْتُمْ ‏{‏ وَقُرْآنَ الْفَجْرِ إِنَّ قُرْآنَ الْفَجْرِ كَانَ مَشْهُودًا‏}‏
Reference  : Sahih Muslim 649 b
In-book reference  : Book 5, Hadith 309
USC-MSA web (English) reference  : Book 4, Hadith 1361
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A hadith like this has been narrated by Abu Huraira with another chain of transmitters with a very slight change of words.

وَحَدَّثَنِي أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَانِ، أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي سَعِيدٌ، وَأَبُو سَلَمَةَ أَنَّ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ‏.‏ بِمِثْلِ حَدِيثِ عَبْدِ الأَعْلَى عَنْ مَعْمَرٍ إِلاَّ أَنَّهُ قَالَ ‏ “‏ بِخَمْسٍ وَعِشْرِينَ جُزْءًا ‏”‏ ‏.‏
Reference  : Sahih Muslim 649 c
In-book reference  : Book 5, Hadith 310
USC-MSA web (English) reference  : Book 4, Hadith 1362
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Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:

Prayer said in a congregation is equivalent to twenty-five (prayers) as compared with the prayer said by a single person.
وَحَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ بْنِ قَعْنَبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَفْلَحُ، عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ حَزْمٍ، عَنْ سَلْمَانَ الأَغَرِّ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ “‏ صَلاَةُ الْجَمَاعَةِ تَعْدِلُ خَمْسًا وَعِشْرِينَ مِنْ صَلاَةِ الْفَذِّ ‏”‏ ‏.‏
Reference  : Sahih Muslim 649 d
In-book reference  : Book 5, Hadith 311
USC-MSA web (English) reference  : Book 4, Hadith 1363
  (deprecated numbering scheme)

Abu Huraira reported:

The Messenger of Allah (way peace be upon him) said: Prayer along with the Imam is twenty-five times more excellent than prayer said by a single person.
حَدَّثَنِي هَارُونُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَاتِمٍ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا حَجَّاجُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، قَالَ قَالَ ابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ أَخْبَرَنِي عُمَرُ بْنُ عَطَاءِ بْنِ أَبِي الْخُوَارِ، أَنَّهُ بَيْنَا هُوَ جَالِسٌ مَعَ نَافِعِ بْنِ جُبَيْرِ بْنِ مُطْعِمٍ إِذْ مَرَّ بِهِمْ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ خَتَنُ زَيْدِ بْنِ زَبَّانٍ مَوْلَى الْجُهَنِيِّينَ فَدَعَاهُ نَافِعٌ فَقَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ “‏ صَلاَةٌ مَعَ الإِمَامِ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ خَمْسٍ وَعِشْرِينَ صَلاَةً يُصَلِّيهَا وَحْدَهُ ‏”‏ ‏.‏
Reference  : Sahih Muslim 649 e
In-book reference  : Book 5, Hadith 312
USC-MSA web (English) reference  : Book 4, Hadith 1364
  (deprecated numbering scheme)

Ibn Umar reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) assaying:

Prayer said in a congregation is twenty-seven degrees more excellent than prayer said by a single person.
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، قَالَ قَرَأْتُ عَلَى مَالِكٍ عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ “‏ صَلاَةُ الْجَمَاعَةِ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ صَلاَةِ الْفَذِّ بِسَبْعٍ وَعِشْرِينَ دَرَجَةً ‏”‏ ‏.‏
Reference  : Sahih Muslim 650 a
In-book reference  : Book 5, Hadith 313
USC-MSA web (English) reference  : Book 4, Hadith 1365
  (deprecated numbering scheme)

Ibn ‘Umar reported Allah’s Apostle (ﷺ) as saying:

The prayer of a person in congregation is twenty-seven times in excess to the prayer said alone.
وَحَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي نَافِعٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ “‏ صَلاَةُ الرَّجُلِ فِي الْجَمَاعَةِ تَزِيدُ عَلَى صَلاَتِهِ وَحْدَهُ سَبْعًا وَعِشْرِينَ ‏”‏ ‏.‏
Reference  : Sahih Muslim 650 b
In-book reference  : Book 5, Hadith 314
USC-MSA web (English) reference  : Book 4, Hadith 1366
  (deprecated numbering scheme)


Our Lord! Forgive us our sins as well as those of our brethren who proceeded us in faith and let not our hearts entertain any unworthy thoughts or feelings against [any of] those who have believed. Our Lord! You are indeed full of kindness and Most Merciful (59:10)