Riyad as-Salihin, 859

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him)reported in the Hadith concerning the person who was at fault in performing his Salat (prayer):

He came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and greeted him. The Prophet (ﷺ) responded to the greeting and said, "Go back and repeat your Salat because you have not performed the Salat (properly).'' He again performed Salat as he had prayed before and came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and greeted him. The Prophet (ﷺ) responded to the greetings (and repeated his words to him). This act of repeating (the Salat and the Salam) was done thrice. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه في حديث المسيء صلاته أنه جاء فصلى، ثم جاء النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، فسلم عليه، فرد عليه السلام، فقال‏:‏ ‏

‏ارجع فصلِ، فإنك لم تصلِ‏

‏ فرجع فصلى، ثم جاء فسلم على النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، حتى فعل ذلك ثلاث مرات” ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏

References1 variant

In-Book Reference: Book 5, Hadith 16

Sharh · explanationclick to expand

Guidance from the Hadith: 1) Repetition of the greeting is a favor from Allah Almighty upon His servants, for it is a means for reaping more rewards. 2) A teacher should make his students eager for knowledge and useful information. The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) did not teach the man who prayed wrong from the first time. But, he kept him longing for knowledge. When a person gets something after badly needing it, it stays with him. 3) It shows the Prophet’s mercy towards his Ummah and his keenness to teach and guide them.

Related hadiths1

Riyad as-Salihin852