Sahih Muslim , Hadith 540

Jabir reported: The Messenger of Allah sent me on an errand. I (having done the business assigned to me came back and) joined him as he was going (on a ride). Qutaiba said that he was saying prayer while he rode. I greeted him. He gestured to me. When he completed the prayer. he called me and said: You greeted me just now while I was engaged in prayer. (Qutaiba said): His (Prophet's face) was towards the east, as he was praying.

حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا لَيْثٌ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رُمْحٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ أَبِي الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ جَابِرٍ، أَنَّهُ قَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بَعَثَنِي لِحَاجَةٍ ثُمَّ أَدْرَكْتُهُ وَهُوَ يَسِيرُ - قَالَ قُتَيْبَةُ يُصَلِّي - فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَأَشَارَ إِلَىَّ فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ دَعَانِي فَقَالَ ‏ "‏ إِنَّكَ سَلَّمْتَ آنِفًا وَأَنَا أُصَلِّي ‏" ‏ ‏.‏ وَهُوَ مُوَجِّهٌ حِينَئِذٍ قِبَلَ الْمَشْرِقِ ‏.‏

sunnah.com

Jabir reported: The Messenger of Allah sent me (on an errand) while he was going to Banu Mustaliq. I came to him and he was engaged in prayer on the back of his camel. I talked to him and he gestured to me With his hand, and Zuhair gestured with his hand. I then again talked and he again (gestured to me with his hand). Zuhair pointed with his hand towards the ground. I heard him (the Holy Prophet) reciting the Qur'an and making a sign with his head. When he com- pleted the prayer he sa'id: What have you done (with regard to that business) for which I sent you? I could not talk with you but for the fact that I was engaged in prayer. Zuhair told that Abu Zubair was sitting with his face turned towards Qibla (as he transmitted this hadith). Abu Zuhair pointed towards Banu Mustaliq with his hand and the direction to which he pointed with his hand was not towards the Ka'ba.

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ يُونُسَ، حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرٌ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ جَابِرٍ، قَالَ أَرْسَلَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَهُوَ مُنْطَلِقٌ إِلَى بَنِي الْمُصْطَلِقِ فَأَتَيْتُهُ وَهُوَ يُصَلِّي عَلَى بَعِيرِهِ فَكَلَّمْتُهُ فَقَالَ لِي بِيَدِهِ هَكَذَا - وَأَوْمَأَ زُهَيْرٌ بِيَدِهِ - ثُمَّ كَلَّمْتُهُ فَقَالَ لِي هَكَذَا - فَأَوْمَأَ زُهَيْرٌ أَيْضًا بِيَدِهِ نَحْوَ الأَرْضِ - وَأَنَا أَسْمَعُهُ يَقْرَأُ يُومِئُ بِرَأْسِهِ فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ قَالَ ‏ "‏ مَا فَعَلْتَ فِي الَّذِي أَرْسَلْتُكَ لَهُ فَإِنَّهُ لَمْ يَمْنَعْنِي أَنْ أُكَلِّمَكَ إِلاَّ أَنِّي كُنْتُ أُصَلِّي ‏" ‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ زُهَيْرٌ وَأَبُو الزُّبَيْرِ جَالِسٌ مُسْتَقْبِلَ الْكَعْبَةِ فَقَالَ بِيَدِهِ أَبُو الزُّبَيْرِ إِلَى بَنِي الْمُصْطَلِقِ فَقَالَ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى غَيْرِ الْكَعْبَةِ ‏.‏

sunnah.com

Jabir reported: We were in the company of the Messenger of Allah, and he sent me on an errand, and when I came back (I saw him) saying prayer on his ride and his face was not turned towards Qibla. I greeted him but he did not respond to me. As he completed the prayer, he said: Nothing prevented me from responding to your greeting but the fact that I was praying.

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كَامِلٍ الْجَحْدَرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ كَثِيرٍ، عَنْ عَطَاءٍ، عَنْ جَابِرٍ، قَالَ كُنَّا مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَبَعَثَنِي فِي حَاجَةٍ فَرَجَعْتُ وَهُوَ يُصَلِّي عَلَى رَاحِلَتِهِ وَوَجْهُهُ عَلَى غَيْرِ الْقِبْلَةِ فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَلَمْ يَرُدَّ عَلَىَّ فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفَ قَالَ ‏ "‏ إِنَّهُ لَمْ يَمْنَعْنِي أَنْ أَرُدَّ عَلَيْكَ إِلاَّ أَنِّي كُنْتُ أُصَلِّي ‏" ‏ ‏.‏

sunnah.com

This hadith that the Messenger of Allah sent Jabir on an errand has been reported by him through another chain of transmitters.

وَحَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَاتِمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُعَلَّى بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَارِثِ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا كَثِيرُ بْنُ شِنْظِيرٍ، عَنْ عَطَاءٍ، عَنْ جَابِرٍ، قَالَ بَعَثَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي حَاجَةٍ ‏.‏ بِمَعْنَى حَدِيثِ حَمَّادٍ ‏.‏

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