Hadith 15166

(حديث مرفوع) حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ عِيسَى , قَالَ : حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادٌ يَعْنِي ابْنَ زَيْدٍ , عَنْ كَثِيرِ بْنِ شِنْظِيرٍ , عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ أَبِي رَبَاحٍ , عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ , قَالَ : بَعَثَنِي النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي حَاجَةٍ , فَلَمَّا رَجَعْتُ , سَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَلَمْ يَرُدَّ عَلَيَّ , فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ , قُلْتُ : يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ , سَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْكَ , فَلَمْ تَرُدَّ عَلَيَّ ! قَالَ : " إِنِّي كُنْتُ أُصَلِّي " ، وَهُوَ عَلَى رَاحِلَتِهِ مُتَوَجِّهًا لِغَيْرِ الْقِبْلَةِ .
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) that once the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sent me for some task of his. I went, and when I returned after completing the task, I greeted the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) with salam, but he did not reply. When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) finished the prayer, I said: O Messenger of Allah! I greeted you with salam, but you did not reply. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: I was performing prayer at that time. At that time, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was on his mount and was not facing the qiblah.
Hadith Reference مسند احمد / مسند المكثرين من الصحابة / 15166
Hadith Grading حکم دارالسلام: حديث صحيح، وهذا إسناد حسن، خ: 1217، م: 540