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 621 in the Book of Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat).

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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#620

#621

Sunan Abu Dawud

#622

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Sunan Abu Dawud #621

Q: What is Sunan Abu Dawud 621 about?

This hadith from Sunan Abu Dawud (Book of Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat)) states: "Al-Bara b.‘Azib said ; we used to pray along with the prophet (ﷺ); none of us bowed his back until he saw that the prophet (ﷺ) bowed (his back)."

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 زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، وَهَارُونُ بْنُ مَعْرُوفٍ، - الْمَعْنَى - قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ أَبَانَ بْنِ تَغْلِبَ، - قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ قَالَ زُهَيْرٌ حَدَّثَنَا الْكُوفِيُّونَ، أَبَانُ وَغَيْرُهُ - عَنِ الْحَكَمِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي لَيْلَى، عَنِ الْبَرَاءِ، قَالَ كُنَّا نُصَلِّي مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَلاَ يَحْنُو أَحَدٌ مِنَّا ظَهْرَهُ حَتَّى يَرَى النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَضَعُ ‏.‏

Al-Bara b.‘Azib said ; we used to pray along with the prophet (ﷺ); none of us bowed his back until he saw that the prophet (ﷺ) bowed (his back).

Context

Al-Bara b. 'Azib recounts how he and others prayed with the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), emphasizing the importance of following his actions in prayer. The companions waited to bow until they saw the Prophet (ﷺ) bow, illustrating the significance of unity and synchronization in communal prayer. This reflects the discipline and attentiveness required in performing Salah.

Modern Application

In our daily prayers, this hadith encourages us to remain attentive and focused, ensuring that we follow the imam's actions closely. This practice fosters a sense of community and collective worship, enhancing the spiritual experience of Salah.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Prayer because it highlights the importance of following the Prophet's (ﷺ) actions during prayer.

Prayer