Hadith

The Prophet(Pbuh) explains why the imam must make the congregational prayer light. It is to care for the weaker elements in the group. People may be sick, tired, weak, having pressing business, etc. Such people will not be comfortable if the prayer is made long. Hence the Prophet says that when we pray individually, we can make our prayer as long as we desire, but when we lead a congregation, then the prayer should not be made difficult, even for an elderly or sick person.


The Prophet (peace be upon him) had an eye to what people felt and what they might be going through. He encouraged his companions to express their feelings, so that he would address their concerns if that were within his ability. If they desired anything legitimate or permissible, he would help them to have it. Sometimes the Prophet received delegations from other tribes, who wanted to find out about Islam. Then there were Muslims wanting to learn more about their faith so that they could relay it to their people. We have many Hadiths about the visits of such delegations, each giving some insight into what the Prophet emphasised to people whose stay with him was limited. Malik ibn Al-Huwayrith was a member of one such delegation, and he reports:


“We visited the Prophet (peace be upon him) and we were all young men of similar age. We stayed with him for twenty days. He then sensed that we missed our families, so he questioned us about our people whom we left behind. He was both caring and compassionate. He said to us: ‘Go back to your people and teach them, and explain to them their duties. Pray as you have seen me pray. When a prayer is due let one of you call the adhan, and let your eldest lead you in prayer.’ (Related by Al-Bukhari, Muslim, Ahmad and Al-Nassaie).


The reporter of this Hadith was a young man who visited the Prophet with some friends and stayed with him for 20 days. Since the members of this delegation were all young men, of similar age, and learned from the Prophet over the same period, they were equally qualified in their knowledge of Islam and the standard of their recitation of the Qur’an. Hence the Prophet told them whom to choose as their leader in prayer. Normally, the imam who leads the congregational prayer should be the one who recites the Qur’an best. If two or more were of equal standard, then the one who knows more about Islam and its teachings is preferred. Should there be two or more of similar standard, then the eldest. The next aspect of preference when all these are equal is the one who is known to be more God-fearing. If several people equally meet all these qualities, then the congregation may choose any of them.


All this applies when there is no one that qualifies on other basis. Normally, the leader of prayer is the ruler, or his deputy, or the local governor, or the regular imam in a mosque. If a congregational prayer is held in a house, then the house owner is to lead the prayer, unless he asks one of his guests to take over.


But we note also in this Hadith how the Prophet was keenly aware of the concerns of the delegation. Realising that those young men must have left behind people who were close to them, he asked them about their families and friends. As they told him, he must have shown the sort of care that merits the reporter’s description, “he was caring and compassionate.” He did not wish to detain them further, although any young Muslim would have greatly benefitted by remaining close to the Prophet. He let them go back, instructing them on how to instruct their people and give them the knowledge of Islam they gathered during their stay in Madinah.


That the Prophet was caring is reflected in many situations. Sometimes we feel that Islamic requirements, as explained by some scholars, are difficult. People insist on asking more than what is sufficient, feeling that the more they ask people to do the more God-fearing and righteous they will be. But the Prophet’s guidance shows that he always preferred the easier option, as long as it was permissible. Even in matters of worship, he always impressed on his followers to choose the easier option. Abu Hurayrah quotes the Prophet as saying: “When any of you leads the prayer in a congregation, let him make his prayer light and short, for the congregation may include a sick or weak or elderly person. If you are praying alone, you may make your prayer as long as you wish.”
The Prophet here explains why the imam must make the congregational prayer light. It is to care for the weaker elements in the group. People may be sick, tired, weak, having pressing business, etc. Such people will not be comfortable if the prayer is made long. Hence the Prophet says that when we pray individually, we can make our prayer as long as we desire, but when we lead a congregation, then the prayer should not be made difficult, even for an elderly or sick person.
The Prophet(Pbuh)also provides practical guidance on this question. Anas ibn Malik reports: “The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: ‘I begin a prayer intending to make it long. I then hear a child crying, and I make my prayer short, because I know that the child’s mother would be too concerned as she hears it cry.”


In such a situation, the Prophet makes his prayer short for a totally different reason. He may be aware that everyone in the congregation is able and happy to offer a long prayer. Needless to say, hearing the Prophet reciting the Qur’an in prayer is in itself a joy, and joining him in prayer is a great act of worship. Hence, his companions were always happy to stand behind him in prayer. But then the cry of a child makes him change his intention and opt for a short but complete prayer. While the Prophet could be aware that the child is in no danger and would not come to any harm if he cries a little, he realizes that his crying, would inevitably distract the child’s mother. Hence, the Prophet shortens his prayer to allow her to attend to her child. Thus, the whole congregation finds their prayer subject to the needs of a young child expressing distress and demanding care. Only the compassion of the Prophet allows this. He was indeed compassionate, as God describes him in the Qur’an: “Indeed there has come to you a Messenger from among yourselves: One who grieves much that you should suffer; one who is full of concern for you; and who is tender and full of compassion toward the believers.” (9: 128)

Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) was a very simple person all his life. He was very unceremonious and informal in his habits. He ate whatever he was given, wore coarse cloth, and sat on the floor, bare ground or a mat without any hesitation, alone or in the company of others. He ate bread made from coarse flour and even spent days living only on dates. He wore simple clothes and did not like display or show. He liked simplicity and informality in everything.


Worldly things meant little to the Prophet. Ibn Mas‘ud said that Allah’s Messenger slept on a reed mat and got up with the mark of it on his body. He said, “O Allah’s Messenger! I wish you would order us to spread something out for you and make something.” The Prophet replied, “What have I to do with the world? I am like a rider who rests for a while under the shade of a tree, then goes off and leaves it.” ‘Ubaydullah ibn Muhsin reported Allah’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone among you is secure in mind (also, among his family or in his house) in the morning, healthy in body, and has food for the day, it is as though the whole world has been brought into his possession.” Abu Hurayrah reported Allah’s Messenger as saying, “Look at those who are inferior to you and do not look at those who are superior to you, for that is more likely to keep you from despising Allah’s Favor on you.” The Prophet abstained from ostentatious living. He taught his Companions, through his personal example, not to be ostentatious and materialistic.