5/3. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 1257 — Praying Fajr Sunnah Even When Late
Making Them Brief
Fajr Sunnah Hadith: The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم Still Prayed the Two Rak'ahs
Sunan Abi Dawud : 1257
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 1257
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ حَنْبَلٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْمُغِيرَةِ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو زِيَادَةَ، عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ زِيَادٍ الْكِنْدِيُّ عَنْ بِلاَلٍ، أَنَّهُ حَدَّثَهُ أَنَّهُ، أَتَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لِيُؤْذِنَهُ بِصَلاَةِ الْغَدَاةِ فَشَغَلَتْ عَائِشَةُ - رضى الله عنها - بِلاَلاً بِأَمْرٍ سَأَلَتْهُ عَنْهُ حَتَّى فَضَحَهُ الصُّبْحُ فَأَصْبَحَ جِدًّا قَالَ فَقَامَ بِلاَلٌ فَآذَنَهُ بِالصَّلاَةِ وَتَابَعَ أَذَانَهُ فَلَمْ يَخْرُجْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَلَمَّا خَرَجَ صَلَّى بِالنَّاسِ وَأَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ شَغَلَتْهُ بِأَمْرٍ سَأَلَتْهُ عَنْهُ حَتَّى أَصْبَحَ جِدًّا وَأَنَّهُ أَبْطَأَ عَلَيْهِ بِالْخُرُوجِ فَقَالَ " إِنِّي كُنْتُ رَكَعْتُ رَكْعَتَىِ الْفَجْرِ " . فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّكَ أَصْبَحْتَ جِدًّا . قَالَ " لَوْ أَصْبَحْتُ أَكْثَرَ مِمَّا أَصْبَحْتُ لَرَكَعْتُهُمَا وَأَحْسَنْتُهُمَا وَأَجْمَلْتُهُمَا " .
Bilal Narrated from:
Ziyadah al-Kindi reported on the authority of Bilal that he (Bilal) came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) to inform him about the dawn prayer. Aisha kept Bilal engaged in a matter which she asked him till the day was bright and it became fairly light. Bilal then stood up and called him to prayer and called him repeatedly. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) did not yet come out.When he came out, he led the people in prayer and he (Bilal) informed him that Aisha had kept him engaged in a matter which she asked him till it became fairly light; hence he became late in reaching him (in time). He (Bilal) said: Messenger of Allah, the dawn became fairly bright. He said: If the dawn became brighter than it is now, I would pray them (the two rak'ahs of the sunnah prayer), offer them well and in a more beautiful manner.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1257In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 8English translation : Book 5, Hadith 1252
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 1257
This Fajr Sunnah hadith from Bilal describes a delay before the dawn prayer. Bilal came to inform the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم about the prayer, but Aishah kept him busy with a matter she asked about until the day became bright. Bilal called the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم to prayer more than once. When the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم came out, he led the people in prayer. Bilal then explained what happened and mentioned that the dawn had become fairly bright. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم replied that he had prayed the two rak'ahs of Fajr, and said that even if it had become brighter, he would pray them well and beautifully. The hadith shows his care for these two rak'ahs.
What we learn from this hadith
- Bilal came to call the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم for the dawn prayer.
- A delay happened because Aishah had asked Bilal about a matter.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم still prayed the two rak'ahs of Fajr.
- He spoke about praying them well even if the morning became brighter.
