Chapter: The reprehensibility of leaving the mosque after the call to prayer unless one has a valid excuse, and this until the obligatory prayer has been performed.

1785 – Abu al-Shaʿthāʾ reported: “We were sitting with Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) in the mosque when the muʾadhdhin announced the adhān. A man then rose and began to walk out of the mosque. Abu Hurayrah followed him with his eyes until the man left, whereupon he said, ‘This fellow has disobeyed Abū al-Qāsim,’ meaning the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.” Narrated by Muslim.

[Commentary]
The author—may Allah have mercy on him—entitles this chapter “The Reprehensibility of Leaving the Mosque after the Adhān until the Obligatory Prayer Is Performed.” When the muʾadhdhin calls the adhān he is, in effect, telling the people, “ḥayya ʿalā al-ṣalāh” (“Come to the prayer”). To walk out of the mosque after that call is therefore an act of disobedience, for he is being summoned to approach while he turns away.

The author then cites the ḥadīth of Abu al-Shaʿthāʾ: they were seated with Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) when a man stood and began to walk off; Abu Hurayrah watched him until he exited the mosque and then said, “This man has disobeyed Abū al-Qāsim ﷺ.” Abu Hurayrah kept his gaze on him to see whether he was merely shifting to another part of the mosque or had some other intention; once the man actually left