Sahabah's suspending trade at the time of Salaat

Hadhrat Abdullah bin 'Umar (Radhiyallaho anho) once visited the market. He noticed that at the time of Salaat, everybody closed his shop and  flocked to the masjid. He remarked:

"These are people about whom Allah has remarked:

 رِجَالٌ لَا تُلْهِيهِمْ تِجَارَةٌ وَلَا بَيْعٌ عَنْ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَإِقَامِ الصَّلَاةِ وَإِيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ يَخَافُونَ 
يَوْمًا تَتَقَلَّبُ فِيهِ الْقُلُوبُ وَالْأَبْصَارُ

"Men whom neither merchandise nor sale beguileth from remembrance of Allah and constancy in Salaat
and paying to the poor their due; who fear a day when hearts and eyeballs will be overturned. (XXIV: 37)"

Hadhrat Ibn Abbas (Radhiyallaho anho) says:
"These people were completely absorbed in their trade, but when they heard Azaan they left everything and hastened towards the masjid."

He once remarked: "By Allah, they were such traders whose trade did not hinder them from the remembrance of  Allah."




Hadhrat Abdullah bin Masood (Radhiyallaho anho) once chanced to be in the market when Azaan was called out. He noticed everybody leaving his shop as it was, and proceeding to the masjid. He remarked:
"These are surely the persons of whom Allah says:


 رِجَالٌ لَا تُلْهِيهِمْ تِجَارَةٌ وَلَا بَيْعٌ عَنْ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَإِقَامِ الصَّلَاةِ وَإِيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ يَخَافُونَ 
يَوْمًا تَتَقَلَّبُ فِيهِ الْقُلُوبُ وَالْأَبْصَارُ


'Men whom neither merchandise nor sale beguileth from remembrance of Allah and constancy in Salaat
and paying to the poor their due. (XXIV:37).'

Another Hadith has it:
"All the people shall be gathered on the Day of Judgement, when it will be asked, 'Who are those who glorified Allah in ease and adversity?" A group will arise and enter Paradise without any reckoning. Again it
will be asked, 'who are those who kept away from their beds and passed their nights in worshiping their Creator.'Another group will arise and enter Paradise without any reckoning. The angel will ask yet again, 'where are those whom trade did not hinder from remembering Allah.' And yet another group will arise and enter Paradise without any reckoning. After these three groups have departed, and reckoning would commence for the people in general."