Can the Imam offer the Salat (prayer) with only those who are present (for the prayer)? And can be deliver a Khutba (religious talk) on Friday if it is raining?
حَدَّثَنَا بِشْرُ بْنُ الْحَكَمِ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي طَلْحَةَ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَنَسَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ يَقُولُ اشْتَكَى ابْنٌ لأَبِي طَلْحَةَ ـ قَالَ ـ فَمَاتَ وَأَبُو طَلْحَةَ خَارِجٌ، فَلَمَّا رَأَتِ امْرَأَتُهُ أَنَّهُ قَدْ مَاتَ هَيَّأَتْ شَيْئًا وَنَحَّتْهُ فِي جَانِبِ الْبَيْتِ، فَلَمَّا جَاءَ أَبُو طَلْحَةَ قَالَ كَيْفَ الْغُلاَمُ قَالَتْ قَدْ هَدَأَتْ نَفْسُهُ، وَأَرْجُو أَنْ يَكُونَ قَدِ اسْتَرَاحَ. وَظَنَّ أَبُو طَلْحَةَ أَنَّهَا صَادِقَةٌ، قَالَ فَبَاتَ، فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحَ اغْتَسَلَ، فَلَمَّا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَخْرُجَ، أَعْلَمَتْهُ أَنَّهُ قَدْ مَاتَ، فَصَلَّى مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ثُمَّ أَخْبَرَ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِمَا كَانَ مِنْهُمَا، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لَعَلَّ اللَّهَ أَنْ يُبَارِكَ لَكُمَا فِي لَيْلَتِكُمَا " قَالَ سُفْيَانُ فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ فَرَأَيْتُ لَهُمَا تِسْعَةَ أَوْلاَدٍ كُلُّهُمْ قَدْ قَرَأَ الْقُرْآنَ
Narrated Anas bin Malik:
One of the sons of Abu Talha became sick and died and Abu Talha at that time was not at home. When his wife saw that he was dead, she prepared him (washed and shrouded him) and placed him somewhere in the house. When Abu Talha came, he asked, "How is the boy?" She said, "The child is quiet and I hope he is in peace." Abu Talha thought that she had spoken the truth. Abu Talha passed the night and in the morning took a bath and when he intended to go out, she told him that his son had died, Abu Talha offered the (morning) prayer with the Prophet (ﷺ) and informed the Prophet (ﷺ) of what happened to them. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "May Allah bless you concerning your night. (That is, may Allah bless you with good offspring)." Sufyan said, "One of the Ansar said, 'They (i.e. Abu Talha and his wife) had nine sons and all of them became reciters of the Qur'an (by heart).' "
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 1301 In-book : Book 23, Hadith 60 USC-MSA web (English) : Vol. 2, Book 23, Hadith 388 (deprecated)
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