5/18. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 1308 — Spouses Waking Each Other for Prayer
The (Voluntary) Night Prayer
Hadith About Husband and Wife Waking for Tahajjud Prayer
Sunan Abi Dawud : 1308
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 1308
حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ عَجْلاَنَ، عَنِ الْقَعْقَاعِ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " رَحِمَ اللَّهُ رَجُلاً قَامَ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَصَلَّى وَأَيْقَظَ امْرَأَتَهُ فَإِنْ أَبَتْ نَضَحَ فِي وَجْهِهَا الْمَاءَ رَحِمَ اللَّهُ امْرَأَةً قَامَتْ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَصَلَّتْ وَأَيْقَظَتْ زَوْجَهَا فَإِنْ أَبَى نَضَحَتْ فِي وَجْهِهِ الْمَاءَ " .
AbuHurayrah Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: May Allah have mercy on a man who gets up at night and prays, and awakens his wife; if she refuses, he should sprinkle water on her face. May Allah have mercy on a woman who gets up at night and prays, and awakens her husband; if he refuses, she would sprinkle water on his face.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1308In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 59English translation : Book 5, Hadith 1303
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 1308
This hadith is about husband and wife waking for tahajjud prayer, also searched as family night prayer hadith and spouse qiyam al layl hadith. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم prayed for Allah's mercy upon a man who gets up at night, prays, and wakes his wife. If she refuses, he sprinkles water on her face. He also prayed for Allah's mercy upon a woman who gets up at night, prays, and wakes her husband. If he refuses, she sprinkles water on his face. The text presents night worship as something a married couple can help each other with. It keeps both sides balanced: the husband helps the wife, and the wife helps the husband.
What we learn from this hadith
- Night prayer can be encouraged within marriage.
- The hadith mentions both husband and wife in a balanced way.
- Waking a spouse for prayer is linked with seeking Allah's mercy.
- The report shows gentle shared effort in worship.
