8/5. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 1429 — Ubayy ibn Ka'b and Qunut in Ramadan
The Qunut During Witr
Ramadan Qunut Hadith: Ubayy ibn Ka'b Leading Prayer
Sunan Abi Dawud : 1429
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 1429
حَدَّثَنَا شُجَاعُ بْنُ مَخْلَدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا هُشَيْمٌ، أَخْبَرَنَا يُونُسُ بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ، عَنِ الْحَسَنِ، أَنَّ عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ، جَمَعَ النَّاسَ عَلَى أُبَىِّ بْنِ كَعْبٍ فَكَانَ يُصَلِّي لَهُمْ عِشْرِينَ لَيْلَةً وَلاَ يَقْنُتُ بِهِمْ إِلاَّ فِي النِّصْفِ الْبَاقِي فَإِذَا كَانَتِ الْعَشْرُ الأَوَاخِرُ تَخَلَّفَ فَصَلَّى فِي بَيْتِهِ فَكَانُوا يَقُولُونَ أَبَقَ أُبَىٌّ . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَهَذَا يَدُلُّ عَلَى أَنَّ الَّذِي ذُكِرَ فِي الْقُنُوتِ لَيْسَ بِشَىْءٍ وَهَذَانِ الْحَدِيثَانِ يَدُلاَّنِ عَلَى ضَعْفِ حَدِيثِ أُبَىٍّ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَنَتَ فِي الْوِتْرِ .
Al-Hasan Narrated from:
Umar ibn al-Khattab gathered the people (in tarawih prayer) behind Ubayy ibn Ka'b (who led them). He used to lead them for twenty days (during Ramadan, and would not recite the supplication except in the second half of it (i.e. Ramadan). When the last ten days remained, he kept away from them, and prayed in his house. They used to say: Ubayy ran away. Abu Dawud said: This tradition shows that whatever has been reported about the recitation of the supplication is not tenable. Moreover, these two traditions from Ubayy b. Ka'b indicate that another tradition which tells that the Prophet (ﷺ) recited the supplication in the witr is weak.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1429In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 14English translation : Book 8, Hadith 1424
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 1429
This hadith about Ramadan qunut describes Umar ibn al-Khattab gathering the people behind Ubayy ibn Ka'b for prayer. Ubayy led them for twenty nights in Ramadan and did not recite qunut except in the remaining half. When the last ten days came, he stayed away from them and prayed in his house, and people said that Ubayy had run away. Abu Dawud then comments that these reports show weakness in a report saying the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) recited qunut in witr. The hadith is useful for people searching tarawih witr qunut because it gives a careful report, including timing and the compiler's note.
What we learn from this hadith
- Umar gathered people behind Ubayy ibn Ka'b for Ramadan prayer.
- Ubayy recited qunut only in the remaining half of Ramadan.
- The narration includes Abu Dawud's note about weakness in another report.
