2/149. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 844 — Sitting Straight Before Rising
Standing Up In The Single (Odd Numbered Rak'ah)
Hadith About Sitting Straight Before Standing in Salah
Sunan Abi Dawud : 844
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 844
حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا هُشَيْمٌ، عَنْ خَالِدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي قِلاَبَةَ، عَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ الْحُوَيْرِثِ، أَنَّهُ رَأَى النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا كَانَ فِي وِتْرٍ مِنْ صَلاَتِهِ لَمْ يَنْهَضْ حَتَّى يَسْتَوِيَ قَاعِدًا .
Abu Qilaba Narrated from:
Malik b. al-Huwairith saw that the prophet (may peace by upon him) would not stand at the end of the first or the third rak’ah until he sat down straight.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 844In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 454English translation : Book 2, Hadith 843
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 844
This hadith about sitting straight before standing in salah describes a specific movement of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. Malik b. al-Huwairith saw that when the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was in an odd rak’ah of his prayer, he would not rise until he sat down straight. The wording points to calm movement between prostration and standing. It is useful for people searching for sitting before standing in prayer, jalsa after sujood, and Prophet’s prayer posture. The hadith does not give a long explanation. It simply reports what was seen: before rising from the first or third rak’ah, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم sat straight. This teaches that the prayer was not rushed. Even the transition between positions had order and care.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم sat straight before rising from an odd rak’ah.
- Prayer transitions should be calm and controlled.
- Observed practice is an important way the Companions learned salah.
- This hadith highlights careful posture between sujood and standing.
