"Jibril came down and led the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) in prayer." 'Umar said: "Watch what you are saying, O 'Urwah!" He said: "I heard Bashir bin Abi Mas'ud say: 'I heard Abu Mas'ud say: "I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: 'Jibril came down and led me in prayer, and I prayed with him, then I prayed with him, then I prayed with him, then I prayed with him, then I prayed with him - and he counted off five prayers on his fingers.'"
Hadith Text & Context
"Jibril came down and led the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) in prayer." 'Umar said: "Watch what you are saying, O 'Urwah!" He said: "I heard Bashir bin Abi Mas'ud say: 'I heard Abu Mas'ud say: "I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: 'Jibril came down and led me in prayer, and I prayed with him, then I prayed with him, then I prayed with him, then I prayed with him, then I prayed with him - and he counted off five prayers on his fingers.'"
Reference: Sunan an-Nasa'i 494 | Book: The Book of the Times (of Prayer) | Author: Sunan an-Nasa'i
Scholarly Commentary
This noble hadith establishes the divine origin of the five daily prayers through Angel Jibril's direct instruction to the Prophet (ﷺ). The repetition emphasizes the certainty and importance of this ritual.
The counting on fingers signifies the precise determination of prayer times. Each "I prayed with him" corresponds to one of the five prescribed prayers: Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, and Isha.
'Umar's caution to 'Urwah demonstrates the Companions' meticulous care in transmitting religious knowledge, ensuring only verified reports were circulated.
Legal & Spiritual Significance
This incident occurred during the Isra' and Mi'raj, establishing the five daily prayers as a fundamental pillar of Islam directly ordained by Allah.
The presence of Jibril, the trusted angel of revelation, confirms the prayers' heavenly origin and obligatory nature upon the Ummah.
The method of instruction shows Allah's mercy in gradually teaching the prayer times through practical demonstration rather than immediate imposition.