5/11. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 1281 — Two Rak'ahs Before Maghrib
The Prayer Before Maghrib
Two Rak'ahs Before Maghrib Hadith: An Optional Prayer With Care
Sunan Abi Dawud : 1281
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 1281
حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُمَرَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَارِثِ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ الْمُعَلِّمِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ بُرَيْدَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْمُزَنِيِّ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " صَلُّوا قَبْلَ الْمَغْرِبِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ " . ثُمَّ قَالَ " صَلُّوا قَبْلَ الْمَغْرِبِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ لِمَنْ شَاءَ " . خَشْيَةَ أَنْ يَتَّخِذَهَا النَّاسُ سُنَّةً .
'Abd Allah al-Muzani Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Pray two rak'ahs before the Maghrib prayer. He then said (again): Pray two rak'ahs before the Maghrib prayer, it applies to those who wish to do so. That was because he feared that the people might treat it as sunnah.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1281In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 32English translation : Book 5, Hadith 1276
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 1281
This two rakahs before Maghrib hadith teaches a clear and balanced point about optional prayer. The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said to pray two rak'ahs before the Maghrib prayer, then repeated it. After that, he added that it is for those who wish to do so. The wording matters. It shows that this prayer was encouraged, yet not made binding on everyone. The report also says he feared that people might treat it as sunnah in a fixed way. So the main lesson is not only about praying before Maghrib, but also about keeping optional worship in its proper place. A believer can love extra prayer while still respecting the exact limits given in the hadith.
What we learn from this hadith
- Two rak'ahs before Maghrib are mentioned as an optional act for those who wish.
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) clarified the matter so people would not treat it as fixed for all.
- Extra worship should be practiced with care and with respect for the wording of the hadith.
- Optional prayer has value, but it should not be presented as an obligation.
