حَدَّثَنَا
مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ نُمَيْرٍ ، حَدَّثَنَا
أَبِي ، حَدَّثَنَا
عَمْرُو بْنُ عُثْمَانَ ، حَدَّثَنَا
مُوسَى بْنُ طَلْحَةَ ، حَدَّثَنِي
عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي الْعَاصِ الثَّقَفِيُّ ، " أَنّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ، قَالَ لَهُ : أُمَّ قَوْمَكَ ، قَالَ : قُلْتُ : يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ، إِنِّي أَجِدُ فِي نَفْسِي شَيْئًا ، قَالَ : ادْنُهْ ، فَجَلَّسَنِي بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ ، ثُمَّ وَضَعَ كَفَّهُ فِي صَدْرِي بَيْنَ ثَدْيَيَّ ، ثُمَّ قَالَ : تَحَوَّلْ ، فَوَضَعَهَا فِي ظَهْرِي بَيْنَ كَتِفَيَّ ، ثُمَّ قَالَ : أُمَّ قَوْمَكَ ، فَمَنْ أَمَّ قَوْمًا ، فَلْيُخَفِّفْ ، فَإِنَّ فِيهِمُ الْكَبِيرَ ، وَإِنَّ فِيهِمُ الْمَرِيضَ ، وَإِنَّ فِيهِمُ الضَّعِيفَ ، وَإِنَّ فِيهِمُ ذَا الْحَاجَةِ ، وَإِذَا صَلَّى أَحَدُكُمْ وَحْدَهُ ، فَلْيُصَلِّ كَيْفَ شَاءَ " .
'Uthman bin Abu'l-'As at-Thaqafi reported: The Apostle of Allah (ﷺ) said to him: Lead your people in prayer. I said: Messenger of Allah. I perceive something (disturbing) in my soul. He (the Holy Prophet) asked me to draw near him and making me sit down in front of him he placed his hand on my breast between my nipples. and then, telling me to turn round, he placed it on my back between my shoulders. He then said: Act as an Imam for your people. He who acts as Imam of the people, he must be brief, for among them are the aged, among them are the sick, among them are the weak, and among them are the people who have business to attend. But when any of you prays alone, he may pray as he likes.
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Uthman bin Abu'l-'As reported: The last thing which the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) instructed me was: When you lead the people in prayer, be brief.
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Related hadith on this topic
Explanation & Benefits
Shaykh Maulana Abdul Aziz Alvi
Hadith Commentary: Benefits and Issues: ➊ The phrase (anni ajidu fi nafsi) has been interpreted by scholars in various ways:
1. I fear that by becoming the imam, I may fall into self-admiration (‘ujb) and arrogance (takabbur).
2. I feel shyness and a weakness in fulfilling this task.
3. I am afflicted by distractions (waswasah) during the prayer, and this is supported by the narration of Uthman Thaqafi radi Allahu anhu, in which it is mentioned: I said, “O Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, Satan causes difficulty in my prayer and makes me forget what I am reciting of the Qur’an.” By the blessing of the noble hand of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, this problem of his was removed.
➋ From these ahadith, it is understood that everyone should participate in the prayer, and one’s weakness, illness, or need should not be made an excuse to stay behind from the congregation. The imam should also be considerate of his followers (muqtadis).
Source: Tuhfat al-Muslim: Commentary on Sahih Muslim, Page: 1050
Shaykh Maulana Abdul Aziz Alvi
Hadith Footnote:
Vocabulary of the Hadith:
‘Ahida ilayhi’:
(s)
He was advised and instructed.
Source: Tuhfat al-Muslim: Commentary on Sahih Muslim, Page: 1051