Riyad as-Salihin · Chapter 190

The Excellence of waiting for As-Salat (The Prayer)

باب فضل انتظار الصلاة‏:‏

This short chapter is about the time a believer spends waiting for the next prayer, and how that waiting is itself counted as worship. Even the pause between prayers, when the heart stays attached to the mosque, is not idle time.

Read these hadith and notice the reward described: the one who sits waiting for prayer is treated as though he were praying all along, and the angels keep asking forgiveness and mercy for him. Patience for the prayer becomes a quiet, ongoing act of devotion.

Hadith 1061

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال‏:‏ ‏ "‏لا يزال أحدكم في صلاة مادامت الصلاة تحبسه لا يمنعه أن ينقلب إلى أهله إلا الصلاة‏" ‏ ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Everyone among you will be deemed to be occupied in Salat (prayer) constantly so long as Salat (the prayer) detains him (from worldly concerns), and nothing prevents him from returning to his family but Salat." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

In plain words

As long as the prayer is what keeps you waiting, you are counted as being in prayer the whole time, so waiting for it is itself rewarded.

Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1061 In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 71

Hadith 1062

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

وعنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال‏:‏ الملائكة تصلي على أحدكم ما دام في مصلاه الذي صلى فيه ما لم يحدث تقول اللهم اغفر له اللهم ارحمه‏"‏ ‏(‏‏(‏رواه البخاري‏)‏‏)‏

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "The angels supplicate in favour of one of you so long as he remains in the place where he has performed Salat (prayer) in a state of Wudu'. They (the angels) say: 'O Allah! Forgive him, O Allah! Have mercy on him."' [Al- Bukhari].

In plain words

The angels keep praying for the forgiveness and mercy of the one who stays in his place of prayer, still in wudu, after he has prayed.

Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1062 In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 72

Hadith 1063

Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

وعن أنس رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أخر ليلة صلاة العشاء إلى شطر الليل ثم أقبل علينا بوجهه بعدما صلى فقال‏:‏ ‏ "‏صلى الناس ورقدوا ولم تزالوا في صلاة منذ انتظرتموها‏" ‏ ‏(‏‏(‏رواه البخاري‏)‏‏)‏

Once the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) delayed the night prayer ('Isha') till midnight. He (ﷺ) turned to us after Salat (prayer) and said, "The people slept after performing their Salat, but you who waited, will be accounted as engaged in Salat throughout the period of your waiting." [Al-Bukhari].

In plain words

Those who stayed and waited for the delayed night prayer were counted as engaged in prayer the entire time they waited, unlike those who had gone to sleep.

Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1063 In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 73