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Sahih Bukhari: Hadith 3723

63. Merits of the Helpers in Madinah (Ansaar)

صحيح البخاري

10/37 Chapter:

The superiority of going to the mosque (every) morning and in the afternoon and evening [for the congregational Salat (prayers)]

باب فَضْلِ مَنْ غَدَا إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ وَمَنْ رَاحَ

3723
Sahih Bukhari
Sahih
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ حَمَّادٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ كُنَّا نُسَلِّمُ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَهْوَ يُصَلِّي فَيَرُدُّ عَلَيْنَا، فَلَمَّا رَجَعْنَا مِنْ عِنْدِ النَّجَاشِيِّ سَلَّمْنَا عَلَيْهِ فَلَمْ يَرُدَّ عَلَيْنَا، فَقُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّا كُنَّا نُسَلِّمُ عَلَيْكَ فَتَرُدُّ عَلَيْنَا قَالَ ‏‏ إِنَّ فِي الصَّلاَةِ شُغْلاً ‏"‏‏‏ فَقُلْتُ لإِبْرَاهِيمَ كَيْفَ تَصْنَعُ أَنْتَ قَالَ أَرُدُّ فِي نَفْسِي‏‏
Narrated `Abdullah:
We used to greet the Prophet (ﷺ) while he used to be in prayers, and he used to reply to our greetings. But when we came back from Najashi (the King of Ethiopia) we greeted him (while he was praying) and he did not reply to us. We said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! We used to greet you in the past and you used to reply to us." He said, "Verily The Mind is occupied and busy with more important matter during the prayer." (So one cannot return One's greetings.)
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 3875
In-book : Book 63, Hadith 101
USC-MSA web (English) : Vol. 5, Book 58, Hadith 215  (deprecated)