4/1. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 1199 — Accepting Allah’s Charity
The Prayer Of The Traveler
Qasr Prayer Hadith: Shortening Prayer Is Allah’s Charity
Sunan Abi Dawud : 1199
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 1199
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ حَنْبَلٍ، وَمُسَدَّدٌ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنِ ابْنِ جُرَيْجٍ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا خُشَيْشٌ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ أَصْرَمَ - حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، عَنِ ابْنِ جُرَيْجٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي عَمَّارٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ بَابَيْهِ، عَنْ يَعْلَى بْنِ أُمَيَّةَ، قَالَ قُلْتُ لِعُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ أَرَأَيْتَ إِقْصَارَ النَّاسِ الصَّلاَةَ وَإِنَّمَا قَالَ تَعَالَى { إِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَنْ يَفْتِنَكُمُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا } فَقَدْ ذَهَبَ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمُ . فَقَالَ عَجِبْتُ مِمَّا عَجِبْتَ مِنْهُ فَذَكَرْتُ ذَلِكَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " صَدَقَةٌ تَصَدَّقَ اللَّهُ بِهَا عَلَيْكُمْ فَاقْبَلُوا صَدَقَتَهُ " .
Ya'la b. Umayyah Narrated from:
I remarked to 'Umar al-Khattab: Have you seen the shortening of the prayer by the people today while Allah has said: "If you fear that those who are infidels may afflict you", whereas those days are gone now? He replied: I have wondered about the same matter for which you wondered. So I mentioned this to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He said: It is an act of charity which Allah has done to you, so accept his charity.
[1] An-Nisā' 4:101.Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1199In-book reference : Book 4, Hadith 2English translation : Book 4, Hadith 1195
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 1199
This travel prayer hadith answers a question about shortening prayer. Ya'la b. Umayyah asked Umar about people shortening the prayer even though the verse mentions fear from disbelievers, while that fear had passed. Umar said he had wondered the same thing and had asked the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم replied that it is an act of charity which Allah has given to them, so they should accept His charity. The core teaching is simple: qasr prayer is not only tied to the fear mentioned in the question. In this report, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم describes it as Allah’s charity. The wording calls believers to accept what Allah has granted.
What we learn from this hadith
- Ya'la asked Umar about shortening prayer after fear had passed.
- Umar had asked the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم the same question.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم described it as a charity from Allah.
- The instruction in the hadith is to accept Allah’s charity.
