Sahih Muslim #836
The Book of Prayers
The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُعَاذٍ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لَهُ - حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ يَعْلَى، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ عَطَاءٍ - سَمِعَ أَبَا عَلْقَمَةَ، سَمِعَ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ، يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم
" إِنَّمَا الإِمَامُ جُنَّةٌ فَإِذَا صَلَّى قَاعِدًا فَصَلُّوا قُعُودًا وَإِذَا قَالَ سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ . فَقُولُوا اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْدُ . فَإِذَا وَافَقَ قَوْلُ أَهْلِ الأَرْضِ قَوْلَ أَهْلِ السَّمَاءِ غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ " .
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Verily the Imam is a shield, say prayer sitting when he says prayer sitting. And when he says:" Allah listens to him who praises Him," say:" O Allah, our Lord, to Thee be the praise." and when the utterance of the people of the earth synchronises with that of the beings of heaven (angels), all the previous sins would be pardoned.
Narrated by Abu Huraira reported:
Context
In this hadith, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ describes the Imam as a shield for the congregation during prayer. He instructs followers to mirror the Imam's actions and emphasizes the significance of synchronizing their praises with the angels, which leads to forgiveness of sins.
Modern Application
In contemporary prayer settings, this hadith highlights the importance of community and unity in worship. Muslims are encouraged to follow the Imam closely and engage in collective prayer, fostering a sense of togetherness and spiritual connection.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Prayer and Community because it illustrates the role of the Imam in leading the congregation and the collective nature of prayer in Islam.
Related Ayahs
سُورَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Al-Baqara (The Cow)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
ءَامَنَ ٱلرَّسُولُ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مِن رَّبِّهِۦ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ۚ كُلٌّ ءَامَنَ بِٱللَّهِ وَمَلَٰٓئِكَتِهِۦ وَكُتُبِهِۦ وَرُسُلِهِۦ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍۢ مِّن رُّسُلِهِۦ ۚ وَقَالُوا۟ سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا ۖ غُفْرَانَكَ رَبَّنَا وَإِلَيْكَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ
The Messenger has believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord, and [so have] the believers. All of them have believed in Allah and His angels and His books and His messengers, [saying], "We make no distinction between any of His messengers." And they say, "We hear and we obey. [We seek] Your forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the [final] destination."
سُورَةُ النِّسَاءِ
An-Nisaa (The Women)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
فَإِذَا قَضَيْتُمُ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ فَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ قِيَٰمًۭا وَقُعُودًۭا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِكُمْ ۚ فَإِذَا ٱطْمَأْنَنتُمْ فَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَٰبًۭا مَّوْقُوتًۭا
And when you have completed the prayer, remember Allah standing, sitting, or [lying] on your sides. But when you become secure, re-establish [regular] prayer. Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times.
سُورَةُ الحُجُرَاتِ
Al-Hujuraat (The Inner Apartments)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَغُضُّونَ أَصْوَٰتَهُمْ عِندَ رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱمْتَحَنَ ٱللَّهُ قُلُوبَهُمْ لِلتَّقْوَىٰ ۚ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌۭ وَأَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ
Indeed, those who lower their voices before the Messenger of Allah - they are the ones whose hearts Allah has tested for righteousness. For them is forgiveness and great reward.
سُورَةُ النُّورِ
An-Noor (The Light)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
إِنَّمَا ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ وَإِذَا كَانُوا۟ مَعَهُۥ عَلَىٰٓ أَمْرٍۢ جَامِعٍۢ لَّمْ يَذْهَبُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ يَسْتَـْٔذِنُوهُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَسْتَـْٔذِنُونَكَ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ ۚ فَإِذَا ٱسْتَـْٔذَنُوكَ لِبَعْضِ شَأْنِهِمْ فَأْذَن لِّمَن شِئْتَ مِنْهُمْ وَٱسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمُ ٱللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ
The believers are only those who believe in Allah and His Messenger and, when they are [meeting] with him for a matter of common interest, do not depart until they have asked his permission. Indeed, those who ask your permission, [O Muhammad] - those are the ones who believe in Allah and His Messenger. So when they ask your permission for something of their affairs, then give permission to whom you will among them and ask forgiveness for them of Allah. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
سُورَةُ الجِنِّ
Al-Jinn (The Jinn)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَأَنَّهُۥ لَمَّا قَامَ عَبْدُ ٱللَّهِ يَدْعُوهُ كَادُوا۟ يَكُونُونَ عَلَيْهِ لِبَدًۭا
And that when the Servant of Allah stood up supplicating Him, they almost became about him a compacted mass."
Common Words
113 total89 unique12 repeated
ٱلله6x
ٱلذين5x
إن4x
بٱلله3x
فإذا3x
ٱلصلوة3x
ءامن2x
من2x
على2x
أولئك2x
لهم2x
ورسوله2x
ٱلرسول1x
بما1x
أنزل1x
إليه1x
ربه1x
وٱلمؤمنون1x
كل1x
وملئكته1x
Related Hadiths
About Sahih Muslim
This hadith is #836 from Sahih Muslim, in the Book of The Book of Prayers. It is graded Sahih and narrated by Abu Huraira reported:.