2/13. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 428 — Guard the Five Prayers
Preserving The Prayer Times
Guard the Five Prayers: A Hadith on Fajr and Asr
Sunan Abi Dawud : 428
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 428
حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عَوْنٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا خَالِدٌ، عَنْ دَاوُدَ بْنِ أَبِي هِنْدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي حَرْبِ بْنِ أَبِي الأَسْوَدِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ فَضَالَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ عَلَّمَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَكَانَ فِيمَا عَلَّمَنِي " وَحَافِظْ عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ الْخَمْسِ " . قَالَ قُلْتُ إِنَّ هَذِهِ سَاعَاتٌ لِي فِيهَا أَشْغَالٌ فَمُرْنِي بِأَمْرٍ جَامِعٍ إِذَا أَنَا فَعَلْتُهُ أَجْزَأَ عَنِّي فَقَالَ " حَافِظْ عَلَى الْعَصْرَيْنِ " . وَمَا كَانَتْ مِنْ لُغَتِنَا فَقُلْتُ وَمَا الْعَصْرَانِ فَقَالَ " صَلاَةٌ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ وَصَلاَةٌ قَبْلَ غُرُوبِهَا " .
Fudalah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) taught me and what he taught me is this: Observe the five prayers regularly. He said: I told (him): I have many works at these times; so give me a comprehensive advice which, if I follow, should be enough for me. He said: Observe the two afternoon prayers (al-asrayn). But the term al-asrayn (two afternoon prayers) was not used in our language. Hence I said: What is al-asrayn? He said: A prayer before the sunrise and a prayer before the sunset (i.e. the dawn and the afternoon prayers).
[1] Some of the versions of the text cite this narration after the following.[2] Meaning to maintain them in their early times.Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 428In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 38English translation : Book 2, Hadith 428
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 428
This Hadith starts with a broad command: observe the five prayers regularly. Fudalah then explained that he had many works at those times and asked for a comprehensive advice that would be enough for him if he followed it. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم told him to observe the two afternoon prayers, called al-asrayn in the report. Since that wording was not familiar in his language, Fudalah asked what it meant. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم explained it as a prayer before sunrise and a prayer before sunset, meaning Fajr and Asr. The core teaching is not to leave the five prayers, while also paying special attention to these two daily prayers that can be easy to miss because of sleep or work.
What we learn from this hadith
- The five prayers should be observed regularly.
- Fajr and Asr receive special attention in this narration.
- The companion asked for clear advice, and the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم explained the term plainly.
