Hadith 9383

حَدَّثَنَا عَفَّانُ ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ ، عَنْ عَاصِمِ بْنِ بَهْدَلَةَ ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَة ، أَنّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَخَّرَ الْعِشَاءَ الْآخِرَةَ ذَاتَ لَيْلَةٍ ، حَتَّى كَادَ يَذْهَبُ ثُلُثُ اللَّيْلِ أَوْ قُرَابُهُ ، قَالَ ثُمَّ جَاءَ وَفِي النَّاسِ رِقَّةٌ , وَهُمْ عِزُونَ ، فَغَضِبَ غَضَبًا شَدِيدًا ، ثُمَّ قَالَ : " لَوْ أَنَّ رَجُلًا نَدَبَ النَّاسَ إِلَى عَرْقٍ أَوْ مِرْمَاتَيْنِ لَأَجَابُوا لَهُ ، وَهُمْ يَتَخَلَّفُونَ عَنْ هَذِهِ الصَّلَاةِ ، لَقَدْ هَمَمْتُ أَنْ آمُرَ رَجُلًا فَيَتَخَلَّفَ عَلَى أَهْلِ هَذِهِ الدُّورِ الَّذِينَ يَتَخَلَّفُونَ عَنْ هَذِهِ الصَّلَاةِ ، فَأُحَرِّقَهَا عَلَيْهِمْ بِالنِّيرَانِ " .
It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) delayed the Isha prayer so much that a third of the night was about to pass. Then he came to the mosque and saw the people in scattered groups. The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) became very angry and said: If someone were to offer a man a bone or two hooves in front of the people, they would surely accept it, but they sit in their homes leaving the prayer. I had intended to order a man to go out in search of those who stay in their homes leaving the prayer and set their houses on fire.
Hadith Reference مسند احمد / مسند المكثرين من الصحابة / 9383
Hadith Grading حکم دارالسلام: حدیث صحیح ، وھذا إسناد حسن ، خ : 2420 ، م : 651