Hadithcore
Sahih al-Bukhari, 659
sahih

Narrated Abu Huraira:

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "The angels keep on asking for Allah's Blessing and Forgiveness for anyone of you as long as he is at his Musalla (praying place) and does not do Hadath (passes wind). The angels say, 'O Allah! Forgive him and be Merciful to him.' Each one of you is in the prayer as long as he is waiting for the prayer and nothing but the prayer detains him from going to his family."

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏

‏ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ تُصَلِّي عَلَى أَحَدِكُمْ مَا دَامَ فِي مُصَلاَّهُ مَا لَمْ يُحْدِثْ اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَهُ، اللَّهُمَّ ارْحَمْهُ‏.‏ لاَ يَزَالُ أَحَدُكُمْ فِي صَلاَةٍ مَا دَامَتِ الصَّلاَةُ تَحْبِسُهُ، لاَ يَمْنَعُهُ أَنْ يَنْقَلِبَ إِلَى أَهْلِهِ إِلاَّ الصَّلاَةُ ‏

‏‏.‏

References2 variants
In-Book Reference
Book 10, Hadith 53
USC-MSA web (English) reference
Vol. 1, Book 11, Hadith 628 (deprecated numbering scheme)
Sharh · explanationclick to expand
Being attached to prayer and waiting for it is indicative of a sincere faith in Allah (may He be exalted), and is a means of attaining immense reward with Allah (may He be glorified and exalted). In this hadith, the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) highlights the virtue of waiting for the prayer in the mosque. He tells us that the angels pray for forgiveness for the believer, so long as he remains in the place where he prayed, or the place that is prepared for prayer. This meaning includes those who are praying and those who are waiting for the prayer. This reward also includes a woman, if she prays in a place in her house that is allocated for prayer, and sits there waiting for the prayer, if what is keeping her from getting up and going about her business is the prayer. This reward is conditional, and it depends on the one who is waiting for the prayer not committing sin by causing offence to someone by backbiting, insulting or the like. And it was said that what is meant by the word translated here as “committing sin” is invalidating his wudu’, because when wudu’ is invalidated the prayer is also invalidated, so he can no longer be in a state of prayer. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said that the angels say, praying for forgiveness for the person: “O Allah forgive him; O Allah have mercy on him.” The difference between forgiveness and mercy is that forgiveness is concealment and pardon of sins, whereas mercy is showing kindness and generosity. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) also highlighted the reward for the one who sits, waiting for the prayer. He stated that the worshipper will have reward throughout the period when he is waiting, so long as what is keeping him there and preventing him from going back to his family is nothing except the prayer. This implies that if his intention changes for any reason, the reward mentioned will cease. The same applies if anything else becomes mixed with his intention. This hadith highlights the virtue of sitting in one’s place of prayer in a state of purity. It also encourages the Muslim to be devote his time to obeying and worshipping Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) and doing good, and remaining steadfast in that..
Related hadiths9
Compare isnād across 9 related chains →