Sahabah’s Suspending Trade at the Time of Salah
Abdullah Ibn Umar (radiyallahu anhu) once visited the market. He saw that at the time of salah they all closed their shops and flocked to the Masjid. he said: “These are the people about whom Allah Ta’ala Has said: ” Men whom neither merchandise nor sale beguileth from remembrance of Allah Ta’ala and constancy in salah and paying to the poor their due; who dear a day when hearts and eyeballs will be overturned. (al-nur 37).
Ibn Abbas (radiyallahu anhu) says: “These people were completely absorbed in their trade, but when they heard the adhan, they left everything and hastened towards the mosque.” He once remarked: “By Allah, they were such traders whose trade did not hinder them from the remembrance of Allah Ta’ala.”
Abdullah Ibn Masud (radiyallahu anhu) one chanced to be in the market when adhan was called out he saw everybody leaving his shop as it was, and proceeding to the mosque. He said: “There are surely the persons of whom Allah Ta’ala says: Men whom neither merchandise nor sale beguileth from remembrance of Allah and constancy in salah. (al-nur 37)
Another Hadith has it: “All the people shall be gathered on the day of Qiyamah, when it will be asked, ‘Who are those who glorified Allah Ta’ala in ease and adversity?’ A group will arise and enter Jannah without any reckoning. Again it will be asked, ‘Who are those who kept away from their beds and passed their nights in worshipping their Creator.’ Another group will arise and enter Jannah without any reckoning. The angel will ask yet again, ‘Where are those whom trade did not hinder from remembering Allah Ta’ala.’ And yet another group will arise and enter Jannah without any reckoning. After these three groups have departed, the reckoning would commence for the people in general.”