Congregation of Two (Ahadith 665-667)

Salam,
Bismillah.

Hadith no. 664 is a repeat. Read it here.

Volume 1, Book 11, Number 665:

Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas:

Once I passed the night in the house of my aunt Maimuna. Allah’s Apostle offered the ‘Isha’ prayer and then came to the house and offered four Rakat an slept. Later on, he woke up and stood for the prayer and I stood on his left side. He drew me to his right and prayed five Rakat and then two. He then slept till I heard him snoring (or heard his breath sounds). Afterwards he went out for the morning prayer.

Volume 1, Book 11, Number 666:

Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas:

One night I slept at the house of (my aunt) Maimuna and the Prophet was there on that night. He performed ablution and stood up for the prayer. I joined him and stood on his left side but he drew me to his right and prayed thirteen Rakat and then slept till I heard his breath sounds. And whenever he slept, he used to breathe with audible sounds. The Mu’adhdhin came to the Prophet and he went out and prayed the morning prayer) without repeating the ablution.

Volume 1, Book 11, Number 667:

Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas:

Once I passed the night in the house of my aunt Maimuna. The Prophet stood for the night prayer and I joined him and stood on his left side but he drew me to his right by holding me by the head.

• If only two persons are offering Salah in congregation, the follower will be on the right side of the Imaam in the same line.
• The Salah of neither would be invalid if the follower stood on the left side of the Imaam and the Imaam drew him to his right side.
• If the Imaam has not had the intention of the leading the prayer and then someone joins him, he can lead him in the prayer. Which suggests that niyyah (intention) of Salah can be changed during Salah.

Wassalam.

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Imaam’s Mistake (Hadith No. 663)

Salam,
Bismillah.

Volume 1, Book 11, Number 663:

Narrated Abu Huraira:

Allah’s Apostle said, “If the Imam leads the prayer correctly then he and you will receive the rewards, but if he makes a mistake (in the prayer) then you will receive the reward for the prayer and the sin will be his.”

If the Imaam makes a mistake during Salah, you won’t be punished for it. Politely correct the Imaam for his mistake after Salah. He’s a human, he forgets too. But don’t charge off announcing that everybody’s Salah will be void because of the one mistake the Imaam made.

Wassalam.

Can A Slave Lead The Prayer? (Ahadith 661-662)

Salam,
Bismillah.

Imaam Bukhari says:

A`ishah (RA) was led in the Salat (prayer) by her slave Dhakwan who used to recite from the Mushaf [the written Qur’an (not from memory)]. Can an intelligent boy, a Bedouin or a boy who has not reached the age of puberty lead the Salat? (It is permissible according to) the statement of the Prophet (SAW) that the Imaam should be a person who knows the Qur’an more than the others.

Volume 1, Book 11, Number 661:

Narrated Ibn ‘Umar:

When the earliest emigrants came to Al-‘Usba a place in Quba’, before the arrival of the Prophet, Salim – the slave of Abu Hudhaifa – who knew the Qur’an more than the others, used to lead them in prayer.

Volume 1, Book 11, Number 662:

Narrated Anas:

The Prophet said, “Listen and obey (your chief) even if an Ethiopian whose head is like a raisin were made your chief.”

It’s not wealth or status or lineage that makes a person worthy of leadership. Rather it’s knowledge, wisdom and intellect. And once someone has been appointed leader over you, you have to obey him regardless of his age, wealth, appearance, lineage etc. Only when he asks you to do something against Allah’s laws, can you defy him.

Wassalam.

Head of a Donkey (Hadith No. 660)

Salam,
Bismillah.

Volume 1, Book 11, Number 660:

Narrated Abu Huraira:

The Prophet said, “Isn’t he who raises his head before the Imam afraid that Allah may transform his head into that of a donkey or his figure (face) into that of a donkey?”

Isn’t he afraid? There was a man we get to know about, who challenged this Hadith. He raised his head before the Imaam intentionally during prayer, and Allah turned his face into that of a donkey (or somewhat similar to it). Later on, he repented. [Can’t find a historic reference for this incidence. Let me know if you can help with it. Jzk.]

Anyway, the lesson here is: ‘follow’ your Imaam. Wait for him to make his move, and then repeat after him. During Salah, wait for the Imaam to say his takbeer, change his position, and then change yours. ‘Kay? :)

Wassalam.

When Should Those Who Are Behind The Imaam Prostrate? (Ahadith 658-659)

Salam,
Bismillah.

Volume 1, Book 11, Number 658:

Narrated Al-Bara’ (and he was not a liar):

When Allah’s Apostle said, “Sami`a-llahu liman hamidah ” none of us bent his back (for prostrations) till the Prophet prostrated and then we would prostrate after him.

Volume 1, Book 11, Number 659:

Narrated Abu Ishaq:

as above.

If you can see the Imaam in front of you, wait for him to change his position fully, and then change yours. Don’t just follow the takbeers.
This Salah discipline teaches you life discipline as well. Always wait for your leader’s signal before going about an action. It’s called ‘following’.

Wassalam.