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Thirty Three Ways of developing Khushoo’ in Salaah
Writer: Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid • Sections: 1
Section 28
Not praying behind someone who is talking (or sleeping)
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) forbade this; he said: “Do not pray behind one who is sleeping or one who is talking.” (Reported by Abu Dawood, no. 694; Saheeh al-Jaami’, no. 375. He said, a hasan hadeeth).
- because one who is talking will distract the worshipper with his talk, and one who is sleeping may expose something that will distract the worshipper.
Al-Khattaabi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “As for praying behind people who are talking, al-Shaafa'i and Ahmad ibn Hanbal considered this to be makrooh, because their talk distracts the worshipper from his prayer.” (‘Awn al-Ma’bood, 2/388).
As regards not praying behind someone who is sleeping, a number of scholars thought that the evidence for this was weak (including Abu Dawood in his Sunan, Kitaab al-
Salaah, Tafree’ Abwaab al-Witr, Baab al-Du’aa’, and Ibn Hajar in Fath al-Baari, Sharh Baab al-Salaah khalf al-Naa’im, Kitaab al-Salaah).
Al-Bukhaari, may Allaah have mercy on him, quoted the hadeeth of ‘Aa’ishah in his Saheeh, Baab al-Salaah khalf al-Naa’im: “The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to pray whilst I was lying across from him on his bed…” (Saheeh al-Bukhaari, Kitaab al-Salaah).
Mujaahid, Taawoos and Maalik thought it makrooh to pray facing someone who was sleeping, lest he expose something that would distract the worshipper from his prayer. (Fath al-Baari, ibid.)
If there is no risk of that happening, then it is not makrooh to pray behind someone who is sleeping. And Allaah knows best.
- because one who is talking will distract the worshipper with his talk, and one who is sleeping may expose something that will distract the worshipper.
Al-Khattaabi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “As for praying behind people who are talking, al-Shaafa'i and Ahmad ibn Hanbal considered this to be makrooh, because their talk distracts the worshipper from his prayer.” (‘Awn al-Ma’bood, 2/388).
As regards not praying behind someone who is sleeping, a number of scholars thought that the evidence for this was weak (including Abu Dawood in his Sunan, Kitaab al-
Salaah, Tafree’ Abwaab al-Witr, Baab al-Du’aa’, and Ibn Hajar in Fath al-Baari, Sharh Baab al-Salaah khalf al-Naa’im, Kitaab al-Salaah).
Al-Bukhaari, may Allaah have mercy on him, quoted the hadeeth of ‘Aa’ishah in his Saheeh, Baab al-Salaah khalf al-Naa’im: “The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to pray whilst I was lying across from him on his bed…” (Saheeh al-Bukhaari, Kitaab al-Salaah).
Mujaahid, Taawoos and Maalik thought it makrooh to pray facing someone who was sleeping, lest he expose something that would distract the worshipper from his prayer. (Fath al-Baari, ibid.)
If there is no risk of that happening, then it is not makrooh to pray behind someone who is sleeping. And Allaah knows best.
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