We were at a place which was a thoroughfare for the people, and the caravans used to pass by us and
we would ask them, "What is wrong with the people? What is wrong with the people? Who is that
man?. They would say, "That man claims that Allah has sent him (as an Apostle), that he has been
divinely inspired, that Allah has revealed to him such-and-such." I used to memorize that (Divine)
Talk, and feel as if it was inculcated in my chest (i.e. mind) And the 'Arabs (other than Quraish)
delayed their conversion to Islam till the Conquest (of Mecca). They used to say." "Leave him (i.e.
Muhammad) and his people Quraish: if he overpowers them then he is a true Prophet. So, when
Mecca was conquered, then every tribe rushed to embrace Islam, and my father hurried to embrace
Islam before (the other members of) my tribe. When my father returned (from the Prophet) to his
tribe, he said, "By Allah, I have come to you from the Prophet (ﷺ) for sure!" The Prophet (ﷺ) afterwards said
to them, 'Offer such-and-such prayer at such-and-such time, and when the time for the prayer becomes
due, then one of you should pronounce the Adhan (for the prayer), and let the one amongst you who
knows Qur'an most should, lead the prayer." So they looked for such a person and found none who
knew more Qur'an than I because of the Qur'anic material which I used to learn from the caravans.
They therefore made me their Imam ((to lead the prayer) and at that time I was a boy of six or seven
years, wearing a Burda (i.e. a black square garment) proved to be very short for me (and my body
became partly naked). A lady from the tribe said, "Won't you cover the anus of your reciter for us?"
So they bought (a piece of cloth) and made a shirt for me. I had never been so happy with anything
before as I was with that shirt.
Narrated by Narrated `Amr bin Salama:
Context
This narration recounts how the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) instructed a group of people on the proper conduct of prayer after they embraced Islam. The Prophet (ﷺ) emphasized the importance of leading prayers based on knowledge of the Qur'an, showcasing the value of education and community leadership. The young narrator, Amr bin Salama, was chosen to lead due to his memorization of the Qur'an, highlighting the significance of knowledge in Islamic practices.
Modern Application
In today's world, this hadith emphasizes the importance of knowledge and preparation in community leadership roles. It encourages individuals to engage in learning and to take responsibility in guiding others, especially in spiritual and communal activities.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Community and Prophetic Teachings because it reflects the communal aspect of prayer and the teachings of the Prophet (ﷺ) regarding leadership in worship.
O children of Adam, We have bestowed upon you clothing to conceal your private parts and as adornment. But the clothing of righteousness - that is best. That is from the signs of Allah that perhaps they will remember.
Say, "Indeed, my Lord has guided me to a straight path - a correct religion - the way of Abraham, inclining toward truth. And he was not among those who associated others with Allah."
And We have enjoined upon man, to his parents, good treatment. His mother carried him with hardship and gave birth to him with hardship, and his gestation and weaning [period] is thirty months. [He grows] until, when he reaches maturity and reaches [the age of] forty years, he says, "My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents and to work righteousness of which You will approve and make righteous for me my offspring. Indeed, I have repented to You, and indeed, I am of the Muslims."
This hadith is #4119 from Sahih al-Bukhari, in the Book of Military Expeditions led by the Prophet (pbuh) (Al-Maghaazi). It is graded Sahih and narrated by Narrated `Amr bin Salama:.