Hadith Details
Discover timeless wisdom from the authentic teachings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Read this hadith in Arabic and English, share it with others, or explore related narrations from the same chapter.
كتاب الإمامة
The Book of Leading the Prayer (Al-Imamah)
" يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ مَا لَكُمْ حِينَ نَابَكُمْ شَىْءٌ فِي الصَّلاَةِ أَخَذْتُمْ فِي التَّصْفِيقِ إِنَّمَا التَّصْفِيقُ لِلنِّسَاءِ مَنْ نَابَهُ شَىْءٌ فِي صَلاَتِهِ فَلْيَقُلْ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ فَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَسْمَعُهُ أَحَدٌ حِينَ يَقُولُ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ إِلاَّ الْتَفَتَ إِلَيْهِ يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ مَا مَنَعَكَ أَنْ تُصَلِّيَ لِلنَّاسِ حِينَ أَشَرْتُ إِلَيْكَ "
"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) has been delayed (there) and the time for prayer has come, will you lead the people in prayer?" Abu Bakr said: 'Yes, if you wish.' Bilal said the Iqamah and Abu Bakr went forward and said the Takbir for the people. Then the Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) came, passing through the rows (of praying people) and stood in the (first) row and the people started clapping. Abu Bakr would never glance sideways in his prayer but when the people clapped so much he looked back and (ﷺ)Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). The Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) gestured to him to carry on praying. Aha Bakr raised his hands praising Allah the Mighty and Sublime, and retreated till he reached the (first) row. Then the Messenger ofAllah(ﷺ) went forward and led the people in the prayer. When he completed the prayer he turned to face the people and said: '0 people, why did you start clapping when something unusual happened to you in the prayer? Clapping is only for women. So whoever among you comes across something in the prayer should say: 'Subhan Allah' for there is none who will not turn round when they hear him saying Subhan Allah. 0 Abu Bakr! What prevented you from leading the people in the prayer when I gestured to you to do so?' Abu Bakr replied: 'It is not fitting for the son of Abu Quhafah to lead the prayer in the presence of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).'"
More from The Book of Leading the Prayer (Al-Imamah)
Other hadiths from the same chapter
- Hadith 783
"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'A man should not be led in prayer in his place of authority, and no one should sit in his place of honor except with his…
- Hadith 785
"In the last prayer that the Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) prayed with the people, he prayed wrapped up in a single garment, behind Abu Bakr."
- Hadith 782
"when there are three people let one of them lead the prayer, and the one who is most entitled to lead the prayer is the one who has most knowledge of the…
- Hadith 786
It was narrated from Aisha that Abu Bakr led the people in prayer and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)was in the row.
- Hadith 781
"I came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) with a cousin of mine" - once he said, "with a friend of mine" - and he said: 'When you travel, call the Adhan and…
- Hadith 787
"I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: 'When any one of you visits some people,he should not lead them in prayer."'