5/17. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 1304 — Surah Al-Muzzammil and Night Prayer
The Abrogation Of The (Obligation Of) Night Prayer And Facilitation (Of Choice) Regarding It
Surah Al-Muzzammil Night Prayer Hadith and Easy Qur'an Recitation
Sunan Abi Dawud : 1304
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 1304
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الْمَرْوَزِيُّ ابْنُ شَبُّويَةَ، حَدَّثَنِي عَلِيُّ بْنُ حُسَيْنٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ النَّحْوِيِّ، عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ فِي الْمُزَّمِّلِ { قُمِ اللَّيْلَ إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً * نِصْفَهُ } نَسَخَتْهَا الآيَةُ الَّتِي فِيهَا { عَلِمَ أَنْ لَنْ تُحْصُوهُ فَتَابَ عَلَيْكُمْ فَاقْرَءُوا مَا تَيَسَّرَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ } وَنَاشِئَةُ اللَّيْلِ أَوَّلُهُ وَكَانَتْ صَلاَتُهُمْ لأَوَّلِ اللَّيْلِ يَقُولُ هُوَ أَجْدَرُ أَنْ تُحْصُوا مَا فَرَضَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكُمْ مِنْ قِيَامِ اللَّيْلِ وَذَلِكَ أَنَّ الإِنْسَانَ إِذَا نَامَ لَمْ يَدْرِ مَتَى يَسْتَيْقِظُ وَقَوْلُهُ { أَقْوَمُ قِيلاً } هُوَ أَجْدَرُ أَنْ يُفْقَهَ فِي الْقُرْآنِ وَقَوْلُهُ { إِنَّ لَكَ فِي النَّهَارِ سَبْحًا طَوِيلاً } يَقُولُ فَرَاغًا طَوِيلاً .
Abdullah ibn Abbas Narrated from:
In Surat al-Muzzammil (73), the verse:"Keep vigil at night but a little, a half thereof" (2-3)has been abrogated by the following verse:"He knoweth that ye count it not, and turneth unto you in mercy. Recite then of the Qur'an that which is easy for you" (v.20). The phrase "the vigil of the night" (nashi'at al-layl) means the early hours of the night. They (the companions) would pray (the tahajjud prayer) in the early hours of the night. He (Ibn Abbas) says: It is advisable to offer the prayer at night (tahajjud), prescribed by Allah for you (in the early hours of the night). This is because when a person sleeps, he does not know when he will awake. The words "speech more certain" (aqwamu qilan) means that this time is more suitable for the understanding of the Qur'an. He says: The verse:"Lo, thou hast by day a chain of business" (v.7)means engagement for long periods (in the day's work).
[1] Al-Muzzammil 73:2,3.[2] Al-Muzzammil 73:20.[3] Al-Muzzammil 73:6.[1] Al-Muzzammil 73:6.[2] Al-Muzzammil 73:7.Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1304In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 55English translation : Book 5, Hadith 1299
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 1304
This narration is centered on Surah Al-Muzzammil night prayer and the command to recite what is easy from the Qur'an. Ibn Abbas explains that the earlier verses about standing at night were abrogated by the later verse that says Allah knew they could not count it fully and turned to them in mercy. He also explains that nashi'at al-layl refers to the early hours of the night. The hadith says the Companions prayed in the early part of the night because a person who sleeps does not know when he will wake up. It also says this time is better for understanding the Qur'an, while the day contains long work and engagement.
What we learn from this hadith
- The later verse brought ease in night recitation.
- Ibn Abbas linked early-night prayer with being able to complete it.
- The report connects night worship with understanding the Qur'an.
- The text notes that daytime has long periods of work.
