Story of Juraij جريج : Juraij

The story of Juraij

Allah's Apostle said, "There was an Israeli man called Juraij, while he was praying, his mother came and called him, but he did not respond to her call. He said (to himself) whether he should continue the prayer or reply to his mother. She came to him the second time and called him and said, "O Allah! Do not let him die until he sees the faces of prostitutes." Juraij used to live in a hermitage. A woman said that she would entice Juraij, so she went to him and presented herself (for an evil act) but he refused. She then went to a shepherd and allowed him to commit an illegal sexual intercourse with her and later she gave birth to a boy. She alleged that the baby was from Juraij. The people went to Juraij and broke down his hermitage, pulled him out of it and abused him. He performed ablution and offered the prayer, then he went to the male (baby) and asked him; "O boy! Who is your father?" The baby replied that his father was the shepherd. The people said that they would build for him a hermitage of gold but Juraij asked them to make it of mud only."

Volume 3, Book 43, Number 662 : Narrated by Abu Huraira

The story of Juraij and that of his meditation and prayer became well known among the children of Israel. There was a prostitute who had been known for her beauty, and she said (to the people): "If you like I can seduce him for you." She presented herself to him but he did not pay attention to her. So she went to a shepherd who lived near the hermitage and she offered herself up to him and he had a sexual intercourse with her and so she became pregnant and when she gave birth to a child she said: "This [child] is Juraij's." So they came and asked him to get down and demolished the hermitage and began to beat him. He said: "What is the matter?" They said: "You have committed fornication with this prostitute and she has given birth to a child from your loins." He said: "Where is the child?" When they brought him (the child) he said: "leave me so that I would pray." So he observed prayer and when he finished, he came to the child. He struck his stomach and said: "O boy, who is your father?" The child said: "So-and-so the shepherd." So they turned towards Juraij, kissing him and stroking him (seeking his forgiveness) and said: "We are prepared to construct your temple with gold." He said: "No, just rebuild it with mud as it had been," and they did that."

Moral

One of the main things we learn from the story within this hadith is the importance and status of our mothers in Islam, as long as what they are asking for does not go against the commandments of Allah, we should give them the utmost attention and respect. It is mentioned in the sunnah that the Prophet (May the Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) used to shorten his prayer if he heard a child crying nearby.


Scholars Comments on Ibn Battaal's Hadith:

Juraij was from Bani Israel, just so you know. Commenting on this Hadith (Ibn Battaal), scholars have said that talking during prayer was not forbidden in Juraij’s shari`ah (religious law). He could have answered his mother but he didn’t. As to why and all the other questions in your mind, let’s just not be judgmental. We get to know from the story that his mother’s du`a against him was accepted, but Allah did bring out his innocence towards the end. And that’s all there is to it.

In our shari`ah (Islam), talking during prayer was allowed before this ayah was revealed:

وَقُومُوا لِلَّهِ قَانِتِينَ
“And stand before Allah with obedience [and do not speak to others during the Salat (prayers)].” [Al-Baqarah: 238]

Now, if someone talks deliberately during prayer, his/her prayer is invalidated.

So what if your mom called you while you were praying? You won’t answer her?
:O Yeah, you won’t. Because Prophet (SAW) said:

لا طاعة لمخلوق فى معصية الخالق
“There is no obedience to creation in disobedience to the Creator.”

Meaning, if you respond to your mother’s call during your prayer, you’ll obey your mother but you’ll disobey your Creator. And such obedience is not required. Allah has more rights on us than our parents.

Possible solution: make your prayer light (finish it early) and respond to your mother.

Note:
The prohibition comes only during the obligatory Salah.

It is allowed to interrupt your prayer and answer your parents if you’re performing a voluntary Salah.

Imam Nawawi said in his Riyad-us-Saliheen that honoring one’s parents takes precedence over voluntary prayer and other actions. This is because obeying parents is obligatory whereas continuing with a nafil (voluntary) Salah is voluntary.
The same have also been explained by other scholars.