5/27. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 1352 — Prophet's Night Prayer Routine
On The Night Prayer
Prophet's Night Prayer Routine: Eight Rak'ahs, Witr, and Rest
Sunan Abi Dawud : 1352
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 1352
حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الأَعْلَى، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ، عَنِ الْحَسَنِ، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ هِشَامٍ، قَالَ : قَدِمْتُ الْمَدِينَةَ فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَى عَائِشَةَ فَقُلْتُ : أَخْبِرِينِي عَنْ صَلاَةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم . قَالَتْ : إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ صَلاَةَ الْعِشَاءِ، ثُمَّ يَأْوِي إِلَى فِرَاشِهِ فَيَنَامُ، فَإِذَا كَانَ جَوْفُ اللَّيْلِ قَامَ إِلَى حَاجَتِهِ وَإِلَى طَهُورِهِ فَتَوَضَّأَ، ثُمَّ دَخَلَ الْمَسْجِدَ فَصَلَّى ثَمَانِ رَكَعَاتٍ يُخَيَّلُ إِلَىَّ أَنَّهُ يُسَوِّي بَيْنَهُنَّ فِي الْقِرَاءَةِ وَالرُّكُوعِ وَالسُّجُودِ، ثُمَّ يُوتِرُ بِرَكْعَةٍ، ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ، ثُمَّ يَضَعُ جَنْبَهُ، فَرُبَّمَا جَاءَ بِلاَلٌ فَآذَنَهُ بِالصَّلاَةِ، ثُمَّ يُغْفِي، وَرُبَّمَا شَكَكْتُ أَغَفَى أَوْ لاَ، حَتَّى يُؤْذِنَهُ بِالصَّلاَةِ، فَكَانَتْ تِلْكَ صَلاَتَهُ حَتَّى أَسَنَّ وَلَحُمَ، فَذَكَرَتْ مِنْ لَحْمِهِ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ، وَسَاقَ الْحَدِيثَ .
A'isha Narrated from:
Sa'd ibn Hisham said: I came to Medina and called upon Aisha, and said to her: Tell me about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). She said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to lead the people in the night prayer, and then go to his bed and sleep.When midnight came he got up, went to answer the call of nature and to perform ablution with water. Having performed ablution, he entered the mosque and prayed eight rak'ahs. To my mind he performed the recitation of the Qur'an, bowing and prostrating equally. He then observed witr with one rak'ah and prayed two rak'ahs sitting. Then he lay down on the ground.Sometimes Bilal came to him and called him for prayer. He then dozed, and sometimes I doubted whether he dozed or not, till he (Bilal) called him for prayer. This is the prayer he offered till he grew old or put on weight. She then mentioned how he put on weight as Allah wished.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1352In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 103English translation : Book 5, Hadith 1347
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 1352
This Hadith gives another clear account of the Prophet's night prayer routine. Aishah said he led the people in the night prayer, went to bed, and slept. Around midnight he got up, attended to his need, performed ablution, entered the mosque, and prayed eight rak'ahs. The narrator says it seemed that recitation, bowing, and prostration were equal. He then observed witr with one rak'ah, prayed two rak'ahs sitting, and lay down. Sometimes Bilal came to call him for prayer, and the narrator noticed a light doze or was unsure about it. This Hadith is useful for searches about tahajjud prayer method and witr after eight rak'ahs.
What we learn from this hadith
- The report describes sleep before the later night prayer.
- The Prophet performed ablution before entering the mosque for prayer.
- He prayed eight rak'ahs, then one rak'ah of witr, then two sitting rak'ahs.
- The narration mentions Bilal coming to call him for prayer.
