What is Sahih Muslim 958 about?

This hadith from Sahih Muslim (Book of The Book of Prayers), narrated by Anas b. Malik reported the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) having said:, states: "When I begin the prayer I Intend to make it long, but I hear a boy cry. ing; I then shorten it because of his mother's feelings."

Is this hadith authentic?

This hadith is graded Sahih. Sahih hadiths are considered the most authentic grade in hadith classification.

Which collection is this hadith from?

This hadith is from Sahih Muslim, which contains 7,459 hadiths across 57 books. It is hadith number 958 in the Book of The Book of Prayers.

I searched for a different number — is this the right hadith?

Hadith numbering varies across editions and translations (USC-MSA, Dar as-Salam, Fath al-Bari, and others). If you followed a link citing a different number but landed here, you may have been redirected to the canonical version in our library. If you were looking for a different hadith entirely, use the search bar to find it by text.

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#957

#958

Sahih Muslim

#959

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Sahih Muslim #958

The Book of Prayers

Sahih

The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.

وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مِنْهَالٍ الضَّرِيرُ، حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ زُرَيْعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ أَبِي عَرُوبَةَ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ إِنِّي لأَدْخُلُ الصَّلاَةَ أُرِيدُ إِطَالَتَهَا فَأَسْمَعُ بُكَاءَ الصَّبِيِّ فَأُخَفِّفُ مِنْ شِدَّةِ وَجْدِ أُمِّهِ بِهِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

When I begin the prayer I Intend to make it long, but I hear a boy cry. ing; I then shorten it because of his mother's feelings.

Narrated by Anas b. Malik reported the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) having said:

Context

Anas b. Malik recounts how the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) would adjust his prayer length upon hearing a child cry. This behavior illustrates the Prophet's compassion and understanding of human emotions, particularly the feelings of a distressed mother. It serves as a reminder that while prayer is a significant act of worship, the well-being of individuals in the community is equally important.

Modern Application

In daily salah, this principle encourages flexibility and empathy in worship. For instance, leaders and worshippers alike can be mindful of the needs of others, ensuring that the prayer experience remains inclusive and considerate of those who may be in distress.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Prayer because it demonstrates the importance of compassion and consideration for others during the act of worship.

Prayer