Fath al-Rabbani

Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: Sayyiduna Mu'adh bin Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) used to lead his people in prayer. One day, Haram (bin Milhan) (may Allah be pleased with him) entered (the mosque), while he also intended to water his date palms. He entered the mosque to pray with the people, but when he saw that Sayyiduna Mu'adh (may Allah be pleased with him) was prolonging the prayer, he performed a brief prayer and went to water his date palms. When Sayyiduna Mu'adh (may Allah be pleased with him) completed the prayer, he was informed that Haram (may Allah be pleased with him) had entered the mosque, but when he saw your lengthy prayer, he prayed briefly and went to water his date palms. Sayyiduna Mu'adh (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Surely, he is a hypocrite! Does he hasten from the prayer for the sake of watering his date palms! Sayyiduna Haram (may Allah be pleased with him) came to the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) while Sayyiduna Mu'adh (may Allah be pleased with him) was also sitting there. He said: O Messenger of Allah! My intention was to water my date palms, but I first came to the mosque so that I could pray with the people. But when I saw that he was leading a long prayer, I prayed briefly and went to water my date palms, so Sayyiduna Mu'adh (may Allah be pleased with him) said that I am a hypocrite. Upon hearing this, the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) turned to Sayyiduna Mu'adh (may Allah be pleased with him) and said: Are you a cause of tribulation! Are you a cause of tribulation! Do not lead them in long prayers, and recite Surah Al-A'la, Surah Ash-Shams, and similar surahs.

Sayyiduna Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) says: Sayyiduna Mu'adh (may Allah be pleased with him) used to pray with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), then return from there and lead us in prayer. In another narration, it is mentioned: then he would return and lead his people in prayer. One night, the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) delayed the 'Isha prayer. Sayyiduna Mu'adh (may Allah be pleased with him) prayed with him (as was his usual practice), then went to his people and began reciting Surah al-Baqarah in the prayer. (Due to this lengthy standing,) a man separated himself and prayed alone. It was said to him: O so-and-so! You have become a hypocrite. But he said: I have not become a hypocrite. Then he went to the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: O Messenger of Allah! Indeed, Sayyiduna Mu'adh (may Allah be pleased with him) prays with you, then returns from here and leads us in prayer. We are people with camels and work with our own hands, but when Sayyiduna Mu'adh (may Allah be pleased with him) leads us in prayer, he begins reciting Surah al-Baqarah. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Mu'adh! Are you a cause of tribulation? Do you want to put people to trial? Recite such-and-such surahs. Abu Zubair (while narrating the hadith) says: So recite Surah al-A'la and Surah al-Layl. Then we mentioned this to 'Amr ibn Dinar, and he said that I think Sayyiduna Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) had mentioned this.

(Second Chain) Sayyiduna Jabir bin Abdullah Ansari رضي الله عنه reports: An Ansari man came, and he had two camels with him. The sun had already set, and Sayyiduna Mu'adh رضي الله عنه was leading the Maghrib prayer, so he also joined the prayer. Sayyiduna Mu'adh رضي الله عنه began reciting Surah Al-Baqarah or Surah An-Nisa. When this man saw the situation, he prayed separately and left. When he found out that Sayyiduna Mu'adh رضي الله عنه had criticized him (saying he was a hypocrite), he conveyed this to the Noble Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم said: O Mu'adh! Are you a cause of tribulation? Mu'adh! Are you a cause of tribulation? Why did you not recite Surahs like {سَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّکَ الْاَعْلٰی} and {وَالشَّمْسِ وَضُحَاھَا}? The reason is that behind you are elderly, needy, and weak people also praying.

Mu’adh bin Rifaa’ah Al-Ansari narrates from a man named Sulaim from Banu Salamah. He says: O Messenger of Allah! Sayyiduna Mu’adh bin Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) comes to us (to lead the ‘Isha prayer) at a time when we have already fallen asleep, while during the day we are busy with our work. Then he gives the call to prayer, and when we come to pray, he leads a long prayer. Upon hearing this, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: O Mu’adh! Do not become a cause of trial (fitnah), either pray with me ((and do not go back to lead the people in prayer)), or lighten the prayer for your people. Then he said: O Sulaim! How much Qur’an do you have memorized? He replied: I ask Allah for Paradise and seek His protection from the Fire. By Allah! I cannot hum (recite) like you and Mu’adh hum. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: My and Mu’adh’s humming is also just this, that we ask Allah for Paradise and seek His protection from the Fire. Then Sulaim (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Tomorrow you will see, if Allah wills, when the people meet the enemy. At that time, the people were preparing for the Battle of Uhud. Then he went out and became one of the martyrs (of that day). Upon him be Allah’s mercy and His pleasure.

Sayyiduna Buraidah Aslami رضي الله عنه narrates: Indeed, Sayyiduna Mu'adh bin Jabal رضي الله عنه led his companions in the 'Isha prayer, and in it he recited the {اِقْتَرَبَتِ السَّاعَۃُ} surah. A man stood up before the prayer was finished, performed the prayer separately, and left. Sayyiduna Mu'adh رضي الله عنه spoke very harshly about him. That man went to the Noble Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم and, apologizing, said: I had been carrying water (so I was tired and prayed in this way). The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم said (to Sayyiduna Mu'adh رضي الله عنه): Lead the prayer with surahs like Surah ash-Shams.