O people, I only did this so that you can follow my example and learn my prayer.'

Islam > Hadiths > Jurisprudence and juristic principles > Jurisprudence and Juristic Principles

Hadith narrated by Agreed upon

Authenticity grade : Authentic

Hadith text: O people, I only did this so that you can follow my exa…

عن أَبِي حَازِمِ بْن دِينَارٍ: أَنَّ رِجَالًا أَتَوْا سَهْلَ بْنَ سَعْدٍ السَّاعِدِيَّ، وَقَدِ امْتَرَوْا فِي الْمِنْبَرِ مِمَّ عُودُهُ، فَسَأَلُوهُ عَنْ ذَلِكَ، فَقَالَ: وَاللهِ إِنِّي لَأَعْرِفُ مِمَّا هُوَ، وَلَقَدْ رَأَيْتُهُ أَوَّلَ يَوْمٍ وُضِعَ، وَأَوَّلَ يَوْمٍ جَلَسَ عَلَيْهِ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، أَرْسَلَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِلَى فُلَانَةَ -امْرَأَةٍ من الأنصار قَدْ سَمَّاهَا سَهْلٌ-: «مُرِي غُلَامَكِ النَّجَّارَ أَنْ يَعْمَلَ لِي أَعْوَادًا أَجْلِسُ عَلَيْهِنَّ إِذَا كَلَّمْتُ النَّاسَ»، فَأَمَرَتْهُ فَعَمِلَهَا مِنْ طَرْفَاءِ الْغَابَةِ، ثُمَّ جَاءَ بِهَا، فَأَرْسَلَتْ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَأَمَرَ بِهَا فَوُضِعَتْ هَاهُنَا، ثُمَّ رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ صَلَّى عَلَيْهَا وَكَبَّرَ وَهُوَ عَلَيْهَا، ثُمَّ رَكَعَ وَهُوَ عَلَيْهَا، ثُمَّ نَزَلَ الْقَهْقَرَى، فَسَجَدَ فِي أَصْلِ الْمِنْبَرِ ثُمَّ عَادَ، فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ أَقْبَلَ عَلَى النَّاسِ فَقَالَ: «أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ، إِنَّمَا صَنَعْتُ هَذَا لِتَأْتَمُّوا وَلِتَعَلَّمُوا صَلَاتِي».

Abu Hāzim ibn Dinār reported: Some men came to Sahl ibn Sa'd as-Sā‘idi. They were wondering what kind of wood the Pulpit was made of. So, they asked him about it, and he said: "By Allah, I know what it is made of. I saw it the first day it was set up, and the first day the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) sat on it. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) sent to so-and-so - a woman from the Ansār whose name was mentioned by Sahl - telling her: 'Tell your carpenter slave to make for me some pieces of wood that I can sit on when I speak to the people.' So, she told him, and he made it from Tamarisk wood from Al-Ghābah (a place near Madīnah). Then, he brought it, and it was sent to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), who commanded that it be set up here. Then, I saw the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) pray on it and say the takbīr while he was on it, and then he bowed while he was on it, and then he came down backwards and prostrated at the base of the Pulpit; and then he went back. When he finished, he turned to the people and said: 'O people, I only did this so that you can follow my example and learn my prayer.'"

Explanation of the hadith: O people, I only did this so that you can follow my exa…

Lessons: O people, I only did this so that you can follow my exa…

• It is recommended to use a pulpit, and the preacher ascends it. This enables him to deliver an audible sermon that the congregation will hear.
• It is permissible to pray on the pulpit, and it is permissible for the Imām to be in a higher place than those he leads in prayer if needed.
• It is permissible to use the service of craftsmen for the needs of the Muslims.
• Making little movement during the prayer is permissible if necessary.
• It is permissible for a person praying behind the Imām to look at him for the purpose of learning. This does not contradict Khushū‘ (humility and focus).

Categories : Method of Prayer