Sunan an-Nasa'i #1187
The Book of Forgetfulness (In Prayer)
The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
أَخْبَرَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ آدَمَ، عَنْ مِسْعَرٍ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ ابْنِ الْقِبْطِيَّةِ، عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ سَمُرَةَ، قَالَ كُنَّا نُصَلِّي خَلْفَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَنُسَلِّمُ بِأَيْدِينَا فَقَالَ
" مَا بَالُ هَؤُلاَءِ يُسَلِّمُونَ بِأَيْدِيهِمْ كَأَنَّهَا أَذْنَابُ خَيْلٍ شُمْسٍ أَمَا يَكْفِي أَحَدَهُمْ أَنْ يَضَعَ يَدَهُ عَلَى فَخِذِهِ ثُمَّ يَقُولَ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمُ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ " .
"We used to pray behind the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and we would greet (others) with our hands. He said: 'What is the matter with those who greet (others) with their hands as if they were tails of wild horses? It is sufficient for any one of you to put his hand on his thigh and say: "As-salamu 'alaikum, as-salamu 'alaikum."
Narrated by It was narrated that Jabir bin Samurah said:
Context
In this hadith, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) observed his companions greeting each other with their hands during prayer, likening it to the tails of wild horses. He advised them to simply place their hand on their thigh and greet with peace instead. This highlights the importance of maintaining decorum and simplicity in worship.
Modern Application
In daily salah, this teaching encourages individuals to maintain simplicity and focus on the essence of prayer rather than getting caught up in unnecessary gestures. It promotes a more sincere and humble approach to worship.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Prayer and Prophetic Conduct because it emphasizes the importance of simplicity and decorum in the practice of prayer.
Related Ayahs
سُورَةُ المَائـِدَةِ
Al-Maaida (The Table)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا قُمْتُمْ إِلَى ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ فَٱغْسِلُوا۟ وُجُوهَكُمْ وَأَيْدِيَكُمْ إِلَى ٱلْمَرَافِقِ وَٱمْسَحُوا۟ بِرُءُوسِكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُمْ إِلَى ٱلْكَعْبَيْنِ ۚ وَإِن كُنتُمْ جُنُبًۭا فَٱطَّهَّرُوا۟ ۚ وَإِن كُنتُم مَّرْضَىٰٓ أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ أَوْ جَآءَ أَحَدٌۭ مِّنكُم مِّنَ ٱلْغَآئِطِ أَوْ لَٰمَسْتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فَلَمْ تَجِدُوا۟ مَآءًۭ فَتَيَمَّمُوا۟ صَعِيدًۭا طَيِّبًۭا فَٱمْسَحُوا۟ بِوُجُوهِكُمْ وَأَيْدِيكُم مِّنْهُ ۚ مَا يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ لِيَجْعَلَ عَلَيْكُم مِّنْ حَرَجٍۢ وَلَٰكِن يُرِيدُ لِيُطَهِّرَكُمْ وَلِيُتِمَّ نِعْمَتَهُۥ عَلَيْكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
O you who have believed, when you rise to [perform] prayer, wash your faces and your forearms to the elbows and wipe over your heads and wash your feet to the ankles. And if you are in a state of janabah, then purify yourselves. But if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women and do not find water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and hands with it. Allah does not intend to make difficulty for you, but He intends to purify you and complete His favor upon you that you may be grateful.
سُورَةُ الذَّارِيَاتِ
Adh-Dhaariyat (The Winnowing Winds)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
إِذْ دَخَلُوا۟ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالُوا۟ سَلَٰمًۭا ۖ قَالَ سَلَٰمٌۭ قَوْمٌۭ مُّنكَرُونَ
When they entered upon him and said, "[We greet you with] peace." He answered, "[And upon you] peace, [you are] a people unknown.
سُورَةُ النِّسَاءِ
An-Nisaa (The Women)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَإِذَا كُنتَ فِيهِمْ فَأَقَمْتَ لَهُمُ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ فَلْتَقُمْ طَآئِفَةٌۭ مِّنْهُم مَّعَكَ وَلْيَأْخُذُوٓا۟ أَسْلِحَتَهُمْ فَإِذَا سَجَدُوا۟ فَلْيَكُونُوا۟ مِن وَرَآئِكُمْ وَلْتَأْتِ طَآئِفَةٌ أُخْرَىٰ لَمْ يُصَلُّوا۟ فَلْيُصَلُّوا۟ مَعَكَ وَلْيَأْخُذُوا۟ حِذْرَهُمْ وَأَسْلِحَتَهُمْ ۗ وَدَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَوْ تَغْفُلُونَ عَنْ أَسْلِحَتِكُمْ وَأَمْتِعَتِكُمْ فَيَمِيلُونَ عَلَيْكُم مَّيْلَةًۭ وَٰحِدَةًۭ ۚ وَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ إِن كَانَ بِكُمْ أَذًۭى مِّن مَّطَرٍ أَوْ كُنتُم مَّرْضَىٰٓ أَن تَضَعُوٓا۟ أَسْلِحَتَكُمْ ۖ وَخُذُوا۟ حِذْرَكُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ أَعَدَّ لِلْكَٰفِرِينَ عَذَابًۭا مُّهِينًۭا
And when you are among them and lead them in prayer, let a group of them stand [in prayer] with you and let them carry their arms. And when they have prostrated, let them be [in position] behind you and have the other group come forward which has not [yet] prayed and let them pray with you, taking precaution and carrying their arms. Those who disbelieve wish that you would neglect your weapons and your baggage so they could come down upon you in one [single] attack. But there is no blame upon you, if you are troubled by rain or are ill, for putting down your arms, but take precaution. Indeed, Allah has prepared for the disbelievers a humiliating punishment.
سُورَةُ صٓ
Saad (The letter Saad)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَخُذْ بِيَدِكَ ضِغْثًۭا فَٱضْرِب بِّهِۦ وَلَا تَحْنَثْ ۗ إِنَّا وَجَدْنَٰهُ صَابِرًۭا ۚ نِّعْمَ ٱلْعَبْدُ ۖ إِنَّهُۥٓ أَوَّابٌۭ
[We said], "And take in your hand a bunch [of grass] and strike with it and do not break your oath." Indeed, We found him patient, an excellent servant. Indeed, he was one repeatedly turning back [to Allah].
سُورَةُ عَبَسَ
Abasa (He frowned)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
عَبَسَ وَتَوَلَّىٰٓ
The Prophet frowned and turned away
Common Words
152 total125 unique18 repeated
أو4x
من4x
عليكم4x
إلى3x
كنتم3x
ٱلله3x
ٱلذين2x
ٱلصلوة2x
وأيديكم2x
وإن2x
مرضى2x
يريد2x
طائفة2x
معك2x
وليأخذوا2x
أسلحتكم2x
ولا2x
إن2x
يأيها1x
ءامنوا1x
Related Hadiths
About Sunan an-Nasa'i
This hadith is #1187 from Sunan an-Nasa'i, in the Book of The Book of Forgetfulness (In Prayer). It is graded Sahih and narrated by It was narrated that Jabir bin Samurah said:.