Sahih al-Bukhari, 871
sahihNarrated Anas:
The Prophet (ﷺ) prayed in the house of Um Sulaim; and I, along with an orphan stood behind him while Um Sulaim (stood) behind us.
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو نُعَيْمٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ صَلَّى النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي بَيْتِ أُمِّ سُلَيْمٍ، فَقُمْتُ وَيَتِيمٌ خَلْفَهُ، وَأُمُّ سُلَيْمٍ خَلْفَنَا.
Isnad
4 transmittersReferences2 variants
- In-Book Reference
- Book 10, Hadith 262
- USC-MSA web (English) reference
- Vol. 1, Book 12, Hadith 830 (deprecated numbering scheme)
Sharh · explanationclick to expand
The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) sometimes prayed in the houses of his companions, for the purpose of teaching and so that they might seek blessing (barakah) from his visit. In this hadith, Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) prayed in the house of Umm Sulaym (may Allah be pleased with her), who was the mother of Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him). Anas and an orphan boy – whose name was Damrah or Dumayrah ibn Sa‘d al-Himyari, or something else – stood behind him, and Umm Sulaym (may Allah be pleased with her) stood on her own behind the row in which Anas and the orphan boy stood. This hadith explains where women should stand when offering a congregational prayer with men; they should stand behind the men’s rows, because the issue of women is based on concealment and covering, so as to protect them and protect society; their standing behind the man is more covering for them and is more effective in barring means that could lead to mischief, because there is the fear that men may be tempted by them and distracted from focusing on the prayer and being sincere and mindful, because of what they have of a natural inclination towards women, aswomen look attractive to men and that takes precedence over all their other desires..