Sahih al-Bukhari 3875

Hadith text

Narrated `Abdullah:We used to greet the Prophet (ﷺ) while he used to be in prayers, and he used to reply to our greetings. But when we came back from Najashi (the King of Ethiopia) we greeted him (while he was praying) and he did not reply to us. We said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! We used to greet you in the past and you used to reply to us." He said, "Verily The Mind is occupied and busy with more important matter during the prayer." (So one cannot return One's greetings)

Abdullah bataate hain: Hum Nabi ko namaz ke dauran salaam karte the aur woh humare salaam ka jawab dete the. Magar jab hum An-Najashi (yaani Ethiopia ke raja) se wapas aaye, humne unhe (namaz padhte huye) salaam kiya aur unhone humein jawab nahi diya. Humne kaha, "Ya Allah ke Rasool! Hum aapko pahle salaam karte the aur aap humein jawab dete the." Unhone kaha, "Beshak, dimaag namaz ke dauran zyada mahatvapurna maamlon mein masroof aur vyast ho jata hai," (isliye insaan apna salaam ka jawab nahi de sakta).

Sahih al-Bukhari 3875 · Book 63, Hadith 100