Have you become a hypocrite, so and so? He said: I swear by Allah that I have not, but I will certainly go to Messenger of Allah ﷺ and will inform (him) about this. He then came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said: Messenger of Allah, we look after camels used for watering and work by day. Mu'adh said the night prayer with you. He then came and began with Surat al-Baqara. Messenger of Allah ﷺ then turned to Mu'adh and said: Are you there to (put the people) to trial? Recite such and recite such (and such a surah). It is transmitted on the authority of Jabir, as told by Sufyan, that he (the Holy Prophet) had said: "By the sun and its morning brightness" (Surah xci), "By brightness" (Surah xciii), "By the night when it spreads" (Surah xcii), and "Glorify the name of thy most high Lord" (Surah lxxxii).  

كَانَ مُعَاذٌ يُصَلِّي مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ ثُمَّ يَأْتِي فَيَؤُمُّ قَوْمَهُ فَصَلَّى لَيْلَةً مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ الْعِشَاءَ ثُمَّ أَتَى قَوْمَهُ فَأَمَّهُمْ فَافْتَتَحَ بِسُورَةِ الْبَقَرَةِ فَانْحَرَفَ رَجُلٌ فَسَلَّمَ ثُمَّ صَلَّى وَحْدَهُ وَانْصَرَفَ فَقَالُوا لَهُ أَنَافَقْتَ يَا فُلاَنُ قَالَ لاَ وَاللَّهِ وَلآتِيَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَلأُخْبِرَنَّهُ فَأَتَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّا أَصْحَابُ نَوَاضِحَ نَعْمَلُ بِالنَّهَارِ وَإِنَّ مُعَاذًا صَلَّى مَعَكَ الْعِشَاءَ ثُمَّ أَتَى فَافْتَتَحَ بِسُورَةِ الْبَقَرَةِ فَأَقْبَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَلَى مُعَاذٍ فَقَالَ يَا مُعَاذُ أَفَتَّانٌ أَنْتَ اقْرَأْ بِكَذَا وَاقْرَأْ بِكَذَا قَالَ سُفْيَانُ فَقُلْتُ لِعَمْرٍو إِنَّ أَبَا الزُّبَيْرِ حَدَّثَنَا عَنْ جَابِرٍ أَنَّهُ قَالَ اقْرَأْ وَالشَّمْسِ وَضُحَاهَا وَالضُّحَى وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَى وَسَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الأَعْلَى فَقَالَ عَمْرٌو نَحْوَ هَذَا  

"I heard Jabir bin 'Abdullah say: 'Mu'adh used to pray with the Prophet ﷺ then he would go back to his people to lead them in a prayer. He stayed late one night and prayed with the Prophet ﷺ then he went back to his people to lead them in prayer, and he recited Surat Al-Baqarah. When a man from his people heard that, he stepped aside and prayed (on his own), then he left. They said: 'You have become a hypocrite, 0 so and-so!' He said: 'By Allah, I have not become a hypocrite, and I will go to the Prophet ﷺ and tell him (about that),' So he went to the Prophet and said: '0 Messenger of Allah ﷺ, Muadh prays with you, then he comes to lead us in prayer. You delayed the prayer, and he prayed with you then he came back to lead us in prayer, and he started to recite Shut Al-Baqarah. When I heard that, I stepped aside and prayed by myself, because we are people who bring water with the camels and we work hard.' The Prophet ﷺ said to him: '0 Muadh, do you want to cause hardship to the people? Recite such and such a Surah, and such and such a Surah."'  

سَمِعْتُ جَابِرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ يَقُولُ كَانَ مُعَاذٌ يُصَلِّي مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ ثُمَّ يَرْجِعُ إِلَى قَوْمِهِ يَؤُمُّهُمْ فَأَخَّرَ ذَاتَ لَيْلَةٍ الصَّلاَةَ وَصَلَّى مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ ثُمَّ رَجَعَ إِلَى قَوْمِهِ يَؤُمُّهُمْ فَقَرَأَ سُورَةَ الْبَقَرَةِ فَلَمَّا سَمِعَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ تَأَخَّرَ فَصَلَّى ثُمَّ خَرَجَ فَقَالُوا نَافَقْتَ يَا فُلاَنُ فَقَالَ وَاللَّهِ مَا نَافَقْتُ وَلآتِيَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَأُخْبِرُهُ فَأَتَى النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ مُعَاذًا يُصَلِّي مَعَكَ ثُمَّ يَأْتِينَا فَيَؤُمُّنَا وَإِنَّكَ أَخَّرْتَ الصَّلاَةَ الْبَارِحَةَ فَصَلَّى مَعَكَ ثُمَّ رَجَعَ فَأَمَّنَا فَاسْتَفْتَحَ بِسُورَةِ الْبَقَرَةِ فَلَمَّا سَمِعْتُ ذَلِكَ تَأَخَّرْتُ فَصَلَّيْتُ وَإِنَّمَا نَحْنُ أَصْحَابُ نَوَاضِحَ نَعْمَلُ بِأَيْدِينَا فَقَالَ لَهُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يَا مُعَاذُ أَفَتَّانٌ أَنْتَ اقْرَأْ بِسُورَةِ كَذَا وَسُورَةِ كَذَا  

Mu’adh b. Jabal used to pray along with the Prophet ﷺ; then he returned and led us in prayer. Sometimes he (the narrator) said: then he returned and led his people in prayer. One night the Prophet ﷺ delayed the prayer. Sometimes he (the narrator) mentioned the word “the night prayer”. Then Mu’adh prayed along with the Prophet ﷺ, then returned to his people and led them in prayer, and recited Surat al-Baqarah. A man turned aside and prayed alone. The people said to him: Have you become a hypocrite, so and so? He replied: I did not become a hypocrite. He then came to the Prophet ﷺ and said (to him): Messenger of Allah, Mu’adh prays along with you and then returns and leads us in prayers. We look after camels used for watering and work for by day. He came to us leading us in prayer, and he recited Surah al-Baqarah (in prayer). He (the Prophet) said: Mu’adh, are you a trouble maker? Recite such and such ; recite such and such (surahs) The narrator Abu al-Zubair said (recite) “Glorify the name of the most high lord” (surah lxxxvii) and “By the night when it covers over” (surah xcii). We mentioned this to ‘Amr. He said I think he mentioned it (the names of some surahs). (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 790)  

عَنْ عَمْرٍو سَمِعَهُ مِنْ جَابِرٍ كَانَ مُعَاذٌ يُصَلِّي مَعَ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ ثُمَّ يَرْجِعُ فَيَؤُمُّنَا وَقَالَ مَرَّةً ثُمَّ يَرْجِعُ فَيُصَلِّي بِقَوْمِهِ فَأَخَّرَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ لَيْلَةً وَقَالَ مَرَّةً الصَّلَاةَ وَقَالَ مَرَّةً الْعِشَاءَ فَصَلَّى مُعَاذٌ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ ثُمَّ جَاءَ يَؤمُّ قَوْمَهُ فَقَرَأَ الْبَقَرَةَ فَاعْتَزَلَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ فَصَلَّى فَقِيلَ نَافَقْتَ يَا فُلَانُ قَالَ مَا نَافَقْتُ فَأَتَى النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَقَالَ إِنَّ مُعَاذًا يُصَلِّي مَعَكَ ثُمَّ يَرْجِعُ فَيَؤُمُّنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ أَصْحَابُ نَوَاضِحَ وَنَعْمَلُ بِأَيْدِينَا وَإِنَّهُ جَاءَ يَؤُمُّنَا فَقَرَأَ سُورَةَ الْبَقَرَةِ فَقَالَ يَا مُعَاذُ أَفَتَّانٌ أَنْتَ؟ أَفَتَّانٌ أَنْتَ؟ اقْرَأْ بِكَذَا وَكَذَا قَالَ أَبُو الزُّبَيْرِ بِسَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الْأَعْلَى وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَى فَذَكَرْنَا لِعَمْرٍو فَقَالَ أُرَاهُ قَدْ ذَكَرَهُ  

[Machine] Mu'adh used to pray with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ then he would go back to his people and pray with them. The Prophet ﷺ delayed the prayer one night, so Mu'adh led his people in prayer and recited Surah Al-Baqarah. When a man from his people saw this, he went to a side of the mosque and prayed alone. They said, "You have become a hypocrite." He said, "No, I will surely inform the Messenger of Allah ﷺ." So, he went to the Prophet ﷺ and said, "Mu'adh prays with you and then comes back and leads us in prayer. And you delayed the prayer last night." So, the Prophet ﷺ came and led us in prayer. He recited Surah Al-Baqarah. I was delayed, so I prayed alone, O Messenger of Allah. Indeed, we are clear and we work with our own hands. The Prophet ﷺ said, "O Mu'adh, are you reciting Surah Al-Baqarah to them? Recite Surah Al-Lail and Glorify the name of your Lord, the Most High. And the heaven, We have built it with craftsmanship."  

كَانَ مُعَاذٌ يُصَلِّي مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ ثُمَّ يَرْجِعُ إِلَى قَوْمِهِ فَيُصَلِّي بِهِمْ فَأَخَّرَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ الصَّلَاةَ ذَاتَ لَيْلَةٍ فَرَجَعَ مُعَاذٌ فَأَمَّهُمْ فَقَرَأَ بِسُورَةِ الْبَقَرَةِ فَلَمَّا رَأَى ذَلِكَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ انْحَرَفَ إِلَى نَاحِيَةِ الْمَسْجِدِ فَصَلَّى وَحْدَهُ فَقَالُوا نَافَقْتَ قَالَ لَا وَلَآتِيَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَلَأُخْبِرَنَّهُ فَأَتَى النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَقَالَ إِنَّ مُعَاذًا يُصَلِّي مَعَكَ ثُمَّ يَرْجِعُ فَيَؤُمُّنَا وَإِنَّكَ أَخَّرْتَ الصَّلَاةَ الْبَارِحَةَ فَجَاءَ فَأَمَّنَا فَقَرَأَ بِسُورَةِ الْبَقَرَةِ وَإِنِّي تَأَخَّرْتُ عَنْهُ فَصَلَّيْتُ وَحْدِي يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَإِنَّا نَحْنُ أَصْحَابُ نَوَاضِحَ وَإِنَّا نَعْمَلُ بِأَيْدِينَا فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ «يَا مُعَاذُ أَفَتَّانٌ أَنْتَ؟ اقْرَأْ بِهِمْ سُورَةَ وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَى وسَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الْأَعْلَى وَالسَّمَاءِ ذَاتِ الْبُرُوجِ»  

[Machine] Muadh ibn Jabal used to pray with the Prophet ﷺ and then go back to his people and lead them in prayer. One night, the Prophet ﷺ delayed the Isha prayer, and Muadh ibn Jabal prayed with him, then returned to us and led us in prayer. He started reciting Surat Al-Baqarah, and when a man from the people saw this, he stepped aside and prayed by himself, then left. We asked him, "What happened, O so and so? Did you pretend or do nifāq (hypocrisy)?" He replied, "I did not pretend or do nifāq, but I will inform the Prophet ﷺ about this." So he went to the Prophet ﷺ and said, "O Messenger of Allah, Muadh prays with you and then goes back and leads us in prayer. Also, you delayed Isha prayer last night and Muadh prayed with you, then came back and led us in prayer. He started reciting Surat Al-Baqarah, and when I saw that, I stepped aside and prayed alone." The Prophet ﷺ said, "Is it that you, O Muadh, who caused fitnah? Is it that you, O Muadh, who caused fitnah? Recite Surat such and such and Surat such and such."  

كَانَ مُعَاذُ بْنُ جَبَلٍ يُصَلِّي مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ ثُمَّ يَرْجِعُ إِلَى قَوْمِهِ فَيَؤُمُّهُمْ قَالَ فَأَخَّرَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ الْعِشَاءَ ذَاتَ لَيْلَةٍ فَصَلَّى مَعَهُ مُعَاذُ بْنُ جَبَلٍ ثُمَّ رَجَعَ إِلَيْنَا فَتَقَدَّمَ لَيَؤُمَّنَا فَافْتَتَحَ سُورَةَ الْبَقَرَةِ فَلَمَّا رَأَى ذَلِكَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ تَنَحَّى فَصَلَّى وَحْدَهُ ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ فَقُلْنَا لَهُ مَا لَكَ يَا فُلَانُ أَنَافَقْتَ؟ قَالَ مَا نَافَقْتُ وَلَآتِيَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَلَأُخْبِرَنَّهُ فَأَتَى النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ مُعَاذًا يُصَلِّي مَعَكَ ثُمَّ يَرْجِعُ فَيَؤُمُّنَا وَإِنَّكَ أَخَّرْتَ الْعِشَاءَ الْبَارِحَةَ فَصَلَّى مَعَكَ ثُمَّ رَجَعَ إِلَيْنَا فَتَقَدَّمَ لَيَؤُمَّنَا فَافْتَتَحَ سُورَةَ الْبَقَرَةِ فَلَمَّا رَأَيْتُ ذَلِكَ تَنَحَّيْتُ فَصَلَّيْتُ وَحْدِي أَيْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَإِنَّمَا نَحْنُ أَصْحَابُ نَوَاضِحَ وَإِنَّمَا نَعْمَلُ بِأَيْدِينَا فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ «أَفَتَّانٌ أَنْتَ يَا مُعَاذُ؟ أَفَتَّانٌ أَنْتَ يَا مُعَاذُ؟ اقْرَأْ بِسُورَةِ كَذَا وَسُورَةِ كَذَا»  

"I heard Jabir bin 'Abdullah say: 'Mu'adh used to pray with the Prophet ﷺ then he would go back to his people to lead them in a prayer. He stayed late one night and prayed with the Prophet ﷺ then he went back to his people to lead them in prayer, and he recited Surat Al-Baqarah. When a man from his people heard that, he stepped aside and prayed (on his own), then he left. They said: 'You have become a hypocrite, 0 so and-so!' He said: 'By Allah, I have not become a hypocrite, and I will go to the Prophet ﷺ and tell him (about that),' So he went to the Prophet and said: '0 Messenger of Allah ﷺ, Muadh prays with you, then he comes to lead us in prayer. You delayed the prayer, and he prayed with you then he came back to lead us in prayer, and he started to recite Shut Al-Baqarah. When I heard that, I stepped aside and prayed by myself, because we are people who bring water with the camels and we work hard.' The Prophet ﷺ said to him: '0 Muadh, do you want to cause hardship to the people? Recite such and such a Surah, and such and such a Surah."' (Using translation from Nasāʾī 835)  

سَمِعْتُ جَابِرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللهِ يَقُولُ كَانَ مُعَاذٌ يُصَلِّي مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ ثُمَّ يَرْجِعُ إِلَى قَوْمِهِ يَؤُمُّهُمْ فَأَخَّرَ ذَاتَ لَيْلَةٍ الصَّلَاةَ فَصَلَّى مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ ثُمَّ رَجَعَ إِلَى قَوْمِهِ يَؤُمُّهُمْ فَقَرَأَ بِسُورَةِ الْبَقَرَةِ فَلَمَّا سَمِعَ ذَلِكَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ تَأَخَّرَ فَصَلَّى ثُمَّ خَرَجَ فَقَالُوا نَافَقْتَ يَا فُلَانُ فَقَالَ وَاللهِ مَا نَافَقْتُ وَلَآتِيَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَأُخْبِرَهُ فَأَتَى النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنَّ مُعَاذًا يُصَلِّي مَعَكَ ثُمَّ يَأْتِينَا فَيَؤُمُّنَا وَإِنَّكَ أَخَّرْتَ الصَّلَاةَ الْبَارِحَةَ فَصَلَّى مَعَكَ ثُمَّ رَجَعَ فَأَمَّنَا فَاسْتَفْتَحَ سُورَةَ الْبَقَرَةِ فَلَمَّا سَمِعْتُ ذَلِكَ تَأَخَّرْتُ فَصَلَّيْتُ وَإِنَّمَا نَحْنُ أَصْحَابُ نَوَاضِحَ نَعْمَلُ بِأَيْدِينَا فَقَالَ لَهُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ «يَا مُعَاذُ أَفَتَّانٌ أَنْتَ اقْرَأْ بِسُورَةِ كَذَا وَسُورَةِ كَذَا»