Hadith Text

The servant is constantly in prayer so long as he is in a place of worship waiting for the prayer (to be observed in congregation), and the angels invoke (blessings upon him in these words): O Allah! pardon him. O Allah! show mercy to him, (and they continue to do so) till he returns (from the mosque having completed the prayer) or his ablution breaks. I said: How is the ablution broken? He said: By breaking of the wind noiselessly or with noise.

Source Reference

The Book of Mosques and Places of Prayer

Sahih Muslim

Sahih Muslim 649 i

Scholarly Commentary

This noble hadith reveals the immense virtue of remaining in the mosque awaiting congregational prayer. The believer is considered in a state of continuous worship during this waiting period, with angels seeking divine forgiveness and mercy for them.

The condition for this spiritual reward continues until either the prayer is completed and one departs, or until the ritual purity (wudu) is invalidated. The clarification about what breaks ablution demonstrates the importance of maintaining ritual purity for worship.

This teaching encourages Muslims to frequent mosques and remain therein, transforming idle waiting time into continuous worship rewarded by angelic supplications. It emphasizes the mosque's sanctity as a place where ordinary time becomes spiritually charged.

Legal and Spiritual Implications

The ruling indicates that waiting for prayer in the mosque is itself an act of worship equivalent to prayer in reward.

Maintaining ritual purity is essential for this spiritual state to continue, highlighting the connection between physical purity and spiritual rewards.

This hadith encourages early arrival at mosques and remaining therein between prayers, maximizing one's spiritual benefits through angelic intercession.