Hadith #188
Arabic Text
حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ عَنِ الْأَعْرَجِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَقَدْ هَمَمْتُ أَنْ آمُرَ رَجُلًا فَيُقِيمَ الصَّلَاةَ ثُمَّ آمُرَ فِتْيَانِي وَقَالَ سُفْيَانُ مَرَّةً فِتْيَانًا فَيُخَالِفُونَ إِلَى قَوْ
مٍ لَا يَأْتُونَهَا فَيُحَرِّقُونَ عَلَيْهِمْ بُيُوتَهُمْ بِحُزَمِ الْحَطَبِ وَلَوْ عَلِمَ أَحَدُكُمْ أَنَّهُ يَجِدُ عَظْمًا سَمِينًا أَوْ مِرْمَاتَيْنِ حَسَنَتَيْنِ إِذًا لَشَهِدَ الصَّلَوَاتِ وَقَالَ سُفْيَانُ مَرَّةً الْعِشَاءَ
Isnad Chain
English Translation
It was narrated from Abu Hurayra (رضي الله عنه) — via Sufyan, from Abu al-Zinad, from al-A'raj — that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: 'I have certainly intended to command a man to lead the prayer, then command my young men' — Sufyan said on another occasion: 'some young men' — 'to go [while the prayer is being held] to those people who do not attend [the congregation] and burn their houses over them with bundles of firewood. And if any of you knew he would find a fat [meaty] bone or two fine cuts of meat [mirmatayn hasanatayn — the cloven parts of the sheep's hoof, small pieces of food], he would certainly attend the prayers.' Sufyan said on another occasion: 'the 'Isha prayer.'
Quran References
Reference: Musnad Ahmad, Book 17, Hadith 188
Sunnah.com ref: Musnad Ahmad 7026
Islam.wiki ID: IWH-43416