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 Sunan Abu Dawud, which contains 5,276 hadiths across 43 books. It is hadith number 603 in the Book of Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat).

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#603

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Sunan Abu Dawud #603

Q: What is Sunan Abu Dawud 603 about?

This hadith from Sunan Abu Dawud (Book of Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat)), narrated by Narrated AbuHurayrah:, states: "The Prophet (ﷺ) said: The imam is appointed only to be followed; when he says "Allah is most great," say "Allah is most great" and do not say "Allah is most great" until he says "Allah is most great."…"

Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat)

Sahih

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

حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، وَمُسْلِمُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، - الْمَعْنَى - عَنْ وُهَيْبٍ، عَنْ مُصْعَبِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ إِنَّمَا جُعِلَ الإِمَامُ لِيُؤْتَمَّ بِهِ فَإِذَا كَبَّرَ فَكَبِّرُوا وَلاَ تُكَبِّرُوا حَتَّى يُكَبِّرَ وَإِذَا رَكَعَ فَارْكَعُوا وَلاَ تَرْكَعُوا حَتَّى يَرْكَعَ وَإِذَا قَالَ سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ فَقُولُوا اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْدُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ مُسْلِمٌ ‏"‏ وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ ‏"‏ وَإِذَا سَجَدَ فَاسْجُدُوا وَلاَ تَسْجُدُوا حَتَّى يَسْجُدَ وَإِذَا صَلَّى قَائِمًا فَصَلُّوا قِيَامًا وَإِذَا صَلَّى قَاعِدًا فَصَلُّوا قُعُودًا أَجْمَعُونَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ ‏"‏ اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْدُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ أَفْهَمَنِي بَعْضُ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ ‏.‏

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: The imam is appointed only to be followed; when he says "Allah is most great," say "Allah is most great" and do not say "Allah is most great" until he says "Allah is most great." When he bows; bow; and do not bow until he bows. And when he says "Allah listens to him who praise Him," say "O Allah, our Lord, to Thee be the praise." The version recorded by Muslim goes: "And to Thee be the praise: And when he prostrate; and do not prostrate until he prostrates. When he prays standing, pray standing, and when he prays sitting, all of you pray sitting. Abu Dawud said: The words "O Allah, our Lord, to You be the praise" reported by Sulaiman were explained to me by some of our companions.

Narrated by Narrated AbuHurayrah:

Context

Abu Hurairah narrates that the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) instructed followers to follow the imam during prayer. This hadith emphasizes the importance of unity and discipline in congregational prayers, ensuring that everyone prays in harmony and follows the lead of the imam.

Modern Application

In daily salah, this principle encourages worshippers to maintain focus and unity during congregational prayers. It fosters a sense of community and collective worship, enhancing the spiritual experience for all participants.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Prayer and Prophetic Conduct because it teaches the proper etiquette of following the imam during prayer.

Prayer Prophetic Conduct

Related Ayahs

سُورَةُ الأَعۡرَافِ

Al-A'raaf (The Heights)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

قُلْ أَمَرَ رَبِّى بِٱلْقِسْطِ ۖ وَأَقِيمُوا۟ وُجُوهَكُمْ عِندَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍۢ وَٱدْعُوهُ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ ٱلدِّينَ ۚ كَمَا بَدَأَكُمْ تَعُودُونَ

Say, [O Muhammad], "My Lord has ordered justice and that you maintain yourselves [in worship of Him] at every place [or time] of prostration, and invoke Him, sincere to Him in religion." Just as He originated you, you will return [to life] -

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 الحِجۡرِ

Al-Hijr (The Rock)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

فَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ وَكُن مِّنَ ٱلسَّٰجِدِينَ

So exalt [Allah] with praise of your Lord and be of those who prostrate [to Him].

سُورَةُ النَّجۡمِ

An-Najm (The Star)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

۩ Sajdah

فَٱسْجُدُوا۟ لِلَّهِ وَٱعْبُدُوا۟ ۩

So prostrate to Allah and worship [Him].

سُورَةُ الحَجِّ

Al-Hajj (The Pilgrimage)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

۩ Sajdah

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱرْكَعُوا۟ وَٱسْجُدُوا۟ وَٱعْبُدُوا۟ رَبَّكُمْ وَٱفْعَلُوا۟ ٱلْخَيْرَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ ۩

O you who have believed, bow and prostrate and worship your Lord and do good - that you may succeed.

Common Words

56 total52 unique3 repeated

ٱلصلوة3x

فإذا2x

وٱعبدوا2x

قل1x

أمر1x

ربى1x

بٱلقسط1x

وأقيموا1x

وجوهكم1x

عند1x

كل1x

مسجد1x

وٱدعوه1x

مخلصين1x

له1x

ٱلدين1x

كما1x

بدأكم1x

تعودون1x

قضيتم1x

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About Sunan Abu Dawud

This hadith is #603 from Sunan Abu Dawud, in the Book of Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat). It is graded Sahih and narrated by Narrated AbuHurayrah:.

Browse all Sunan Abu Dawud All Hadith Collections

Sunan Abu Dawud #603

Context

Modern Application

Topics

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Common Words

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About Sunan Abu Dawud

About This Hadith