5/4. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 1261 — Fajr Sunnah and Resting on the Right Side
Lying Down On One's Side After It
Fajr Sunnah Hadith: Lying on the Right Side After Two Rak'ahs
Sunan Abi Dawud : 1261
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 1261
حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، وَأَبُو كَامِلٍ وَعُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُمَرَ بْنِ مَيْسَرَةَ قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَاحِدِ، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِذَا صَلَّى أَحَدُكُمُ الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ الصُّبْحِ فَلْيَضْطَجِعْ عَلَى يَمِينِهِ " . فَقَالَ لَهُ مَرْوَانُ بْنُ الْحَكَمِ أَمَا يُجْزِئُ أَحَدَنَا مَمْشَاهُ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ حَتَّى يَضْطَجِعَ عَلَى يَمِينِهِ قَالَ عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ فِي حَدِيثِهِ قَالَ لاَ . قَالَ فَبَلَغَ ذَلِكَ ابْنَ عُمَرَ فَقَالَ أَكْثَرَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ . قَالَ فَقِيلَ لاِبْنِ عُمَرَ هَلْ تُنْكِرُ شَيْئًا مِمَّا يَقُولُ قَالَ لاَ وَلَكِنَّهُ اجْتَرَأَ وَجَبُنَّا . قَالَ فَبَلَغَ ذَلِكَ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ فَمَا ذَنْبِي إِنْ كُنْتُ حَفِظْتُ وَنَسُوا .
AbuHurayrah Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: If any of you prays two rak'ahs before the dawn prayer, he should lie at his right side. Marwan ibn al-Hakam said to him: Is it not enough that one of us walks to the mosque until he lies at his right side? According to the version of Ubaydullah, he (AbuHurayrah) replied: No. This statement (of AbuHurayrah) reached Ibn Umar. He said: AbuHurayrah exceed limits on himself. He was asked: Do you look askance at what he says? He replied: No, but he dared and we showed cowardice. This (criticism of Ibn Umar) reached AbuHurayrah. He said: What is my sin if I remembered and they forgot?
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1261In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 12English translation : Book 5, Hadith 1256
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 1261
This hadith about Fajr Sunnah teaches a simple practice after praying the two rak'ahs before the dawn prayer. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said that when one of you prays these two rak'ahs, he should lie on his right side. The report also shows a respectful discussion among the Companions. Marwan asked whether walking to the mosque would be enough instead of lying down. Abu Hurairah answered no, based on what he remembered. Ibn Umar did not reject the narration, but said Abu Hurairah had been bold in narrating while others had been cautious. Abu Hurairah then said, what was his fault if he remembered and they forgot? The main lesson is about following the Sunnah of Fajr and valuing accurate memory in narrating hadith.
What we learn from this hadith
- The two rak'ahs before Fajr have a special Sunnah connected to them.
- The hadith directly mentions lying on the right side after these two rak'ahs.
- The Companions discussed narrations carefully and did not treat memory lightly.
- Remembering and sharing a hadith is a trust when done with care.
