5/16. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 1303 — Four or Six Rak'ahs After Isha
The Prayer After 'Isha
Hadith About Night Prayer After Isha: Four or Six Rak'ahs
Sunan Abi Dawud : 1303
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 1303
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَافِعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا زَيْدُ بْنُ الْحُبَابِ الْعُكْلِيُّ، حَدَّثَنِي مَالِكُ بْنُ مِغْوَلٍ، حَدَّثَنِي مُقَاتِلُ بْنُ بَشِيرٍ الْعِجْلِيُّ، عَنْ شُرَيْحِ بْنِ هَانِئٍ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، - رضى الله عنها - قَالَ سَأَلْتُهَا عَنْ صَلاَةِ، رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَتْ مَا صَلَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم الْعِشَاءَ قَطُّ فَدَخَلَ عَلَىَّ إِلاَّ صَلَّى أَرْبَعَ رَكَعَاتٍ أَوْ سِتَّ رَكَعَاتٍ وَلَقَدْ مُطِرْنَا مَرَّةً بِاللَّيْلِ فَطَرَحْنَا لَهُ نِطْعًا فَكَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَى ثُقْبٍ فِيهِ يَنْبُعُ الْمَاءُ مِنْهُ وَمَا رَأَيْتُهُ مُتَّقِيًا الأَرْضَ بِشَىْءٍ مِنْ ثِيَابِهِ قَطُّ .
A'isha Narrated from:
Shurayh ibn Hani said: I asked Aisha about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). She said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) never offered the night prayer and thereafter came to me but he offered four or six rak'ahs of prayer. One night the rain fell, so we spread a piece of leather (for his prayer), and now I see as if there is a hole in it from which the water is flowing. I never saw him protecting his clothes from the earth (as he did on that occasion).
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1303In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 54English translation : Book 5, Hadith 1298
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 1303
This hadith is about night prayer after Isha, also searched as tahajjud prayer hadith and qiyam al layl hadith. Aisha was asked about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم. She said that whenever he prayed Isha and then came to her, he would offer four or six rak'ahs. The report also describes a rainy night. A piece of leather was spread for him, and Aisha remembered water flowing through a hole in it. She added that she did not see him protecting his clothes from the earth as he did then. The hadith gives a close view of worship in a home setting, with prayer continuing even during difficult weather.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم prayed after Isha when he came to Aisha.
- Aisha described four or six rak'ahs in this report.
- Rain and simple conditions did not stop the prayer mentioned here.
- The report shows a remembered detail from the Prophet's home life.
