Hadithcore
Sunan Abi Dawud, 88
sahih· Al-Albani

Narrated Abdullah ibn al-Arqam:

Urwah reported on the authority of his father that Abdullah ibn al-Arqam travelled for performing hajj (pilgrimage) or umrah. He was accompanied by the people whom he led in prayer. One day when he was leading them in the dawn (fajr) prayer, he said to them: One of you should come forward. He then went away to relieve himself. He said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: When any of you feels the need of relieving himself while the congregational prayer is ready, he should go to relieve himself.

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ يُونُسَ، حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرٌ، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الأَرْقَمِ، أَنَّهُ خَرَجَ حَاجًّا أَوْ مُعْتَمِرًا وَمَعَهُ النَّاسُ وَهُوَ يَؤُمُّهُمْ فَلَمَّا كَانَ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ أَقَامَ الصَّلاَةَ صَلاَةَ الصُّبْحِ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِيَتَقَدَّمْ أَحَدُكُمْ ‏.‏ وَذَهَبَ إِلَى الْخَلاَءِ فَإِنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ‏

‏ إِذَا أَرَادَ أَحَدُكُمْ أَنْ يَذْهَبَ الْخَلاَءَ وَقَامَتِ الصَّلاَةُ فَلْيَبْدَأْ بِالْخَلاَءِ ‏

‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ رَوَى وُهَيْبُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ وَشُعَيْبُ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ وَأَبُو ضَمْرَةَ هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ رَجُلٍ حَدَّثَهُ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَرْقَمَ وَالأَكْثَرُ الَّذِينَ رَوَوْهُ عَنْ هِشَامٍ قَالُوا كَمَا قَالَ زُهَيْرٌ ‏.‏

References2 variants
In-Book Reference
Book 1, Hadith 88
English Reference
Book 1, Hadith 88
Sharh · explanationclick to expand
Humility and contemplation enable the Muslim to turn his heart toward his Lord in prayer, so that his heart is occupied only with remembrance and supplication.In this Hadith, `Abdullah ibn Al-Arqam (may Allah be pleased with him) says: that he "went out for Hajj or `Umrah with people accompanying him, and he was leading them in prayer. One day, he called the Iqamah for prayer" — which was "the Fajr prayer — then said: 'Let one of you step forward'" as Imam for the people in prayer, "and he went to relieve himself" to fulfill his need. Then he informed the people of what he had heard from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), saying: "I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say: 'When one of you wants to relieve himself and the prayer is established, let him begin'" first "with relieving himself." This is because if he enters prayer while holding back his need, his heart will not be free for prayer, and he will be preoccupied with what is inappropriate.This Hadith encourages avoiding any distraction of the mind during prayer by anything external to it. It also shows the eagerness of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) to implement the Hadiths of the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)..