5/27. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 1364 — Ibn Abbas Witnesses the Night Prayer
On The Night Prayer
Hadith About the Prophet's Night Prayer Observed by Ibn Abbas
Sunan Abi Dawud : 1364
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 1364
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ بْنُ شُعَيْبِ بْنِ اللَّيْثِ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي، عَنْ جَدِّي، عَنْ خَالِدِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي هِلاَلٍ، عَنْ مَخْرَمَةَ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ، أَنَّ كُرَيْبًا، مَوْلَى ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّهُ، قَالَ : سَأَلْتُ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ كَيْفَ كَانَتْ صَلاَةُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِاللَّيْلِ قَالَ : بِتُّ عِنْدَهُ لَيْلَةً وَهُوَ عِنْدَ مَيْمُونَةَ، فَنَامَ حَتَّى إِذَا ذَهَبَ ثُلُثُ اللَّيْلِ أَوْ نِصْفُهُ اسْتَيْقَظَ فَقَامَ إِلَى شَنٍّ فِيهِ مَاءٌ فَتَوَضَّأَ وَتَوَضَّأْتُ مَعَهُ، ثُمَّ قَامَ فَقُمْتُ إِلَى جَنْبِهِ عَلَى يَسَارِهِ فَجَعَلَنِي عَلَى يَمِينِهِ، ثُمَّ وَضَعَ يَدَهُ عَلَى رَأْسِي كَأَنَّهُ يَمَسُّ أُذُنِي كَأَنَّهُ يُوقِظُنِي فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ خَفِيفَتَيْنِ، قُلْتُ : فَقَرَأَ فِيهِمَا بِأُمِّ الْقُرْآنِ فِي كُلِّ رَكْعَةٍ ثُمَّ سَلَّمَ ثُمَّ صَلَّى حَتَّى صَلَّى إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً بِالْوِتْرِ، ثُمَّ نَامَ فَأَتَاهُ بِلاَلٌ فَقَالَ : الصَّلاَةُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ . فَقَامَ فَرَكَعَ رَكْعَتَيْنِ، ثُمَّ صَلَّى لِلنَّاسِ .
The client of Ibn 'Abbas said that he asked him: How would the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) pray during the night ? He replied: I spent a night with him when he was with Maimunah. He slept and awoke when half the night or one-third of it had passed. He stood up and went to a leather bad containing water. He performed ablution and I also performed ablution with him. He then stood up and I also stood at his left side. He made me stand at his right side. He then put his hand upon my head, as he was touching my ear and awakening me. He then prayed two light rak'ahs and recited Surah al-Fatihah in each of them, and uttered the salutation. He then prayed eleven rak'ahs observing the witr and slept. Then Bilal came to him and said: Prayer, Messenger of Allah. He got up and prayed two rak'ahs, and then led the people in the prayer.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1364In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 115English translation : Book 5, Hadith 1359
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 1364
This hadith about the Prophet's night prayer gives a close report from Ibn Abbas through the client of Ibn Abbas. He spent the night while the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) was with Maimunah. After sleeping for part of the night, the Prophet got up, performed ablution, and Ibn Abbas did the same. Ibn Abbas first stood on the left, and the Prophet moved him to the right. The Prophet then touched his head and ear, as the report says, as if awakening him. He prayed two light rak'ahs with Surah al-Fatihah in each, then continued until he prayed eleven rak'ahs with witr. After sleeping again, Bilal came to call him, and he prayed two rak'ahs before leading the people. This narration is useful for searches about tahajjud prayer, witr, and the Prophet's night routine because it gives a step-by-step report from the text itself.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) began his night prayer after waking and performing ablution.
- Ibn Abbas was gently moved from the left side to the right side during prayer.
- The report mentions two light rak'ahs before the longer night prayer and witr.
- The Prophet prayed two rak'ahs after Bilal called him, then led the people.
