Hadith 3563

(حديث مرفوع) حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ فُضَيْلٍ ، حَدَّثَنَا الْأَعْمَشُ ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ، عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ، قَالَ : كُنَّا نُسَلِّمُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَهُوَ فِي الصَّلَاةِ ، فَيَرُدُّ عَلَيْنَا ، فَلَمَّا رَجَعْنَا مِنْ عِنْدِ النَّجَاشِيِّ سَلَّمْنَا عَلَيْهِ ، فَلَمْ يَرُدَّ عَلَيْنَا ، فَقُلْنَا : يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ، كُنَّا نُسَلِّمُ عَلَيْكَ فِي الصَّلَاةِ ، فَتَرُدُّ عَلَيْنَا ؟ فَقَالَ : " إِنَّ فِيَّ أَوْ فِي الصَّلَاةِ لَشُغْلًا " .
Sayyiduna Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that in the beginning, we used to greet the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) with salam during prayer, and he would respond to us. But when we returned from Najashi and greeted him with salam, he did not respond. We said: O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)! Previously, we used to greet you with salam during prayer and you would respond to us? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Indeed, there is engagement in prayer."
Hadith Reference مسند احمد / مسند المكثرين من الصحابة / 3563
Hadith Grading حکم دارالسلام: إسناده صحيح، خ: 1199، م: 538