Azami 2352

Muslim narrated it in the Book of Mosques (652), from Ahmad bin Abdullah bin Yunus, who said, Zuhayr narrated to us, who said, Abu Ishaq narrated to us, from Abu Ahwas, who heard it from him, from Abdullah bin Masud, and he mentioned it.Ibn Khuzayma likewise narrated it (1853), as did Ahmad (3816), through chains from Zuhayr, with the same wording. Bayhaqi said (3/56), "What all the other narrations indicate is that he used the word 'Jumuah' to mean the congregational prayer."I say, Abu Ishaq is Amr bin Abdullah Sabi, whose memory became confused toward the end of his life, and Zuhayr is Ibn Muawiya bin Khadij, who was a reliable and precise narrator, except that his hearing from Abu Ishaq came late, after the confusion had set in.Imam Ahmad narrated it (3742) from Yahya bin Adam, who said, Israil narrated to us, from Abu Ishaq, from Abu Ahwas, from Abdullah, that the Prophet ﷺ said, "I have thought of ordering a man to lead the people in prayer, and then ordering men who do not pray with us to have their houses burned down over them."Israil is Ibn Yunus bin Abu Ishaq Sabi, who was reliable, and his hearing from his grandfather came before the confusion set in, so his version is the one to be relied upon. The mention of "Jumuah" is either an error, or it is to be interpreted, as Bayhaqi said, as meaning the congregational prayer, since the Friday prayer is not performed in houses, and moreover this severe threat of burning down houses was not reported in connection with failing to attend the Friday prayer.