Narrated by Abu ad-Darda
There are no three people in a village or in the desert among whom the prayer is not established in congregation, except that Shaytan has gained mastery over them. So keep to the congregation, for the wolf eats the sheep that strays.
Sunan Abi Dawud 547, Sunan an-Nasa'i 847
What this hadith teaches
Even three people together should pray in congregation. Being with the group protects faith like the flock protects the sheep.
Reference and grade
- Grade
- Hasan (al-Albani)
- Narrator
- Abu ad-Darda
- Chapter
- Congregation and rows
The hadith in Arabic نص الحديث
مَا مِنْ ثَلاَثَةٍ فِي قَرْيَةٍ وَلاَ بَدْوٍ لاَ تُقَامُ فِيهِمُ الصَّلاَةُ إِلاَّ قَدِ اسْتَحْوَذَ عَلَيْهِمُ الشَّيْطَانُ فَعَلَيْكَ بِالْجَمَاعَةِ فَإِنَّمَا يَأْكُلُ الذِّئْبُ الْقَاصِيَةَ
Arabic text of Sunan Abi Dawud 547, as given on sunnah.com.