Question
Is it known why Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam) was angry in the following Hadith?
عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: صَلّى بنا رَسولُ اللهِ ﷺ إحْدى صَلاتَيِ العَشِيِّ، إمّا الظُّهْرَ، وإمّا العَصْرَ، فَسَلَّمَ في رَكْعَتَيْنِ، ثُمَّ أتى جِذْعًا في قِبْلَةِ المَسْجِدِ، فاسْتَنَدَ إلَيْها مُغْضَبًا، وفي القَوْمِ أبو بَكْرٍ وعُمَرَ، فَهابا أنْ يَتَكَلَّما، وخَرَجَ سَرَعانُ النّاسِ، قُصِرَتِ الصَّلاةُ، فَقامَ ذُو اليَدَيْنِ، فَقالَ: يا رَسولَ اللهِ، أقُصِرَتِ الصَّلاةُ أمْ نَسِيتَ؟ فَنَظَرَ النبيُّ ﷺ يَمِينًا وشِمالًا، فَقالَ: ما يقولُ ذُو اليَدَيْنِ؟ قالوا: صَدَقَ، لَمْ تُصَلِّ إلّا رَكْعَتَيْنِ، فَصَلّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ وسَلَّمَ، ثُمَّ كَبَّرَ، ثُمَّ سَجَدَ، ثُمَّ كَبَّرَ فَرَفَعَ، ثُمَّ كَبَّرَ وسَجَدَ، ثُمَّ كَبَّرَ ورَفَعَ. قالَ: وأُخْبِرْتُ عن عِمْرانَ بنِ حُصَيْنٍ أنَّه قالَ: وسَلَّمَ
Answer
Imams Bukhari, Muslim and others (rahimahumullah) have recorded this hadith on the authority of Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu ‘anhu).
(Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 482, and Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 573)
Mulla ‘Ali Qari (rahimahullah) has mentioned that it is possible Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam) was perturbed due to some doubt or hesitation he experienced during the Salah. It is also quite possible that Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam) was affected by something which transpired before the Salah and that is what led to his confusion/hesitation in the Salah.
(Mirqat, Hadith: 1017, Also see: Fathul Bari of Ibn Rajab – rahimahullah – Hadith: 1229, and Fathul Ilah, Hadith: 1017)
Besides this, a few other reasons have been given as well.
Translation
Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) has reported:
“Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam) led us in one of the two afternoon prayers, either Zuhur or ‘Asr, and made salam [i.e. terminated the Salah] at the end of two rak’ahs. Thereafter, he approached a [tree] stump [or log] towards the front of the masjid and leaned on it [seeming] perturbed. Amongst the people were Abu Bakr and ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhuma). However, they were too awestruck to speak. The quickest/first of people to usually leave left [saying]: “The prayer has been shortened.”
Dhul Yadayn then stood up and inquired: “O Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam)! Has the prayer been shortened or have you forgotten?”
Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam) then looked right and left and said: ‘What is Dhul Yadayn saying?’
They [i.e. members of the congregation] replied: “He has spoken the truth, you only performed two rak’ahs.”
Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam) then prayed two rak’ahs, and made salam. Thereafter, he made takbir [i.e. said Allahu Akbar], then prostrated, then made takbir and raised [his head]. He then made takbir, prostrated, made takbir and then raised his head.
One of the narrators [Muhammad ibn Sirin – rahimahullah] said: “And I have been informed via ‘Imran ibn Husayn [rahimahullah] that he said : “and [then] he said the salam [again].””
Note: This is merely an answer regarding the aforementioned text of the Hadith. For queries regarding the Fiqhi ruling and/or implications of this Hadith, kindly refer to a Mufti/Darul Ifta.
And Allah Ta’ala knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Farhan Shariff
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar