Cognizant of this fact, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ always advised the prayer leaders to keep the recitation of the Qur'an during the prayer as short as possible for the ease of those who cannot stand for long.
This Prophetic advice is mentioned in Hadith as shared in Sahi al-Bukhārī (Book 10: Call to Prayers (Adhaan) /كتاب الأذان/ Chapter 62: When offering Salat (prayer) alone, one can prolong the Salat as much as one wishes / باب إِذَا صَلَّى لِنَفْسِهِ فَلْيُطَوِّلْ مَا شَاءَ ) as Hadith 703, given herein under:
Narrated by Abu Huraira:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "If anyone of you leads the people in the prayer, he should shorten it for amongst them are the weak, the sick and the old; and if anyone among your prays alone then he may prolong (the prayer) as much as he wishes. "
Arabic Text:
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " إِذَا صَلَّى أَحَدُكُمْ لِلنَّاسِ فَلْيُخَفِّفْ، فَإِنَّ مِنْهُمُ الضَّعِيفَ وَالسَّقِيمَ وَالْكَبِيرَ، وَإِذَا صَلَّى أَحَدُكُمْ لِنَفْسِهِ فَلْيُطَوِّلْ مَا شَاءَ ".
This hadith emphasizes consideration, compassion, and empathy for others during congregational prayer. It teaches the importance of balancing devotion in worship with sensitivity to the needs of the congregation.
Explanation of the Hadith:
"If anyone of you leads the people in the prayer, he should shorten it":
The person leading the prayer (imam) is advised to make the prayer brief enough to accommodate everyone, recognizing that the congregation is diverse and may include individuals who cannot manage long prayers.
The imam’s role is to lead the congregation in worship, and with that comes the responsibility of keeping everyone’s needs in mind. Prolonging the prayer can lead to hardship for some, diminishing the purpose and harmony of collective worship.
"For amongst them are the weak, the sick, and the elderly":
The hadith highlights specific groups in the congregation: those who may be physically weak, those who are ill, and the elderly, who may have less stamina. Prolonged standing, bowing, and prostration can be challenging or even harmful for such individuals.
This hadith underscores the inclusive nature of Islam, showing that religious duties should not cause undue hardship to believers, especially those with physical limitations. The imam’s duty is to ensure the prayer is manageable and comfortable for all.
However, the Hadith also advises believers who are offering prayer by themselves and alone to prolong recitation of Qur'an as much as they can endure. "If anyone among you prays alone, then he may prolong (the prayer) as much as he wishes":
When praying individually, a person has the freedom to extend the prayer according to their ability and desire for devotion. There is no restriction on the length of personal prayer, as the individual is responsible only for themselves.
This part of the hadith respects and encourages a person’s desire to connect with Allah in a more prolonged manner, allowing them to engage deeply in worship without considering others’ needs.
Lessons from the Hadith:
- Consideration and Compassion for Others: This hadith teaches that Islam values empathy and consideration for others. When leading communal worship, Muslims are encouraged to think about those who may have limitations and to be mindful of them.
- Moderation in Worship: Islam emphasizes balance and moderation. This hadith reminds us that acts of worship should not cause excessive difficulty, as the goal of worship is to bring ease, peace, and connection with Allah, not to burden anyone.
- Personal Freedom in Worship: Islam provides flexibility for individual worship. While congregational prayers require accommodation for others, individual worship can be prolonged as desired. This shows that while communal responsibilities prioritize others, personal worship is a private matter between the individual and Allah.
- Responsibilities of the Imam: The imam has a duty to ensure that the congregational prayer is inclusive and comfortable for everyone. This responsibility requires not only leadership but also sensitivity and compassion.
- Accessibility in Worship: This hadith reflects the accessibility of Islamic worship, accommodating the diverse needs of all participants. Whether young, elderly, healthy, or unwell, everyone should be able to participate in congregational prayer without hardship.
Practical Application:
- Shortening Congregational Prayers: The imam can choose shorter verses or chapters from the Qur'an to recite in congregational prayers and avoid prolonging the prayer unnecessarily.
- Personal Worship at One’s Own Pace: Individuals who wish to prolong their prayers or add extra voluntary prayers (nawafil) can do so in their personal worship without concern for others’ limitations.
- Community Sensitivity: Muslims are encouraged to be mindful of the needs and circumstances of others during any communal activity, especially worship, which is meant to be an experience of unity and ease.
This hadith beautifully balances the value of devotion with the importance of empathy. The Prophet (ﷺ) teaches that while individual worship can be extended as desired, communal worship should be accessible to all. This compassionate approach ensures that Islam’s acts of worship remain inclusive, accommodating the varying needs of the Muslim community.
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.
May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.
Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.
Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.
Please refer to our exclusive reference page Collection of Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ about As Salat for more Sunnah and Hadith attributed to Prophet Muhammad exclusive to As Salat.
For more hadiths on varying subjects, refer to our reference page: Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to know more about Hadiths and Sunnah of Prophet of Allah. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.
Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references as given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors. If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.
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