2/158. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 874 — Night Prayer
What A Person Should Say In His Ruku' And Prostration
Hadith About the Prophet’s Long Night Prayer
Sunan Abi Dawud : 874
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 874
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْوَلِيدِ الطَّيَالِسِيُّ، وَعَلِيُّ بْنُ الْجَعْدِ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ مُرَّةَ، عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ، مَوْلَى الأَنْصَارِ عَنْ رَجُلٍ، مِنْ بَنِي عَبْسٍ عَنْ حُذَيْفَةَ، أَنَّهُ رَأَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَكَانَ يَقُولُ " اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ - ثَلاَثًا - ذُو الْمَلَكُوتِ وَالْجَبَرُوتِ وَالْكِبْرِيَاءِ وَالْعَظَمَةِ " . ثُمَّ اسْتَفْتَحَ فَقَرَأَ الْبَقَرَةَ ثُمَّ رَكَعَ فَكَانَ رُكُوعُهُ نَحْوًا مِنْ قِيَامِهِ وَكَانَ يَقُولُ فِي رُكُوعِهِ " سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ " . ثُمَّ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ الرُّكُوعِ فَكَانَ قِيَامُهُ نَحْوًا مِنْ رُكُوعِهِ يَقُولُ " لِرَبِّيَ الْحَمْدُ " . ثُمَّ سَجَدَ فَكَانَ سُجُودُهُ نَحْوًا مِنْ قِيَامِهِ فَكَانَ يَقُولُ فِي سُجُودِهِ " سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الأَعْلَى " . ثُمَّ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ السُّجُودِ وَكَانَ يَقْعُدُ فِيمَا بَيْنَ السَّجْدَتَيْنِ نَحْوًا مِنْ سُجُودِهِ وَكَانَ يَقُولُ " رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي " . فَصَلَّى أَرْبَعَ رَكَعَاتٍ فَقَرَأَ فِيهِنَّ الْبَقَرَةَ وَآلَ عِمْرَانَ وَالنِّسَاءَ وَالْمَائِدَةَ أَوِ الأَنْعَامَ شَكَّ شُعْبَةُ .
Hudhaifa Narrated from:
Hudhayfah saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) praying at night. He said: Allah is most great" three times, "Possessor of kingdom, grandeur, greatness and majesty." He then began (his prayer) and recited Surah al-Baqarah; then he bowed and he paused in bowing as long as he stood up; he said while bowing, "Glory be to my mighty Lord," "Glory be to my mighty Lord"; then he raised his head, after bowing: then he stood up and he paused as long as he paused in bowing and said, "Praise be to my Lord"; then he prostrated and paused in prostration as long as he paused in the standing position; he said while prostrating: "Glory be to my most high Lord"; then he raised his head after prostration, and sat as long as he prostrated, and said while sitting: "O my Lord forgive me." He offered four rak'ahs of prayer and recited in them Surah al-Baqarah, Aal Imran, an-Nisa, al-Ma'idah, or al-An'am.The narrator Shu'bah doubted.
[1] Meaning that he started with one of the opening supplications, or that he began reciting.Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 874In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 484English translation : Book 3, Hadith 873
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 874
This hadith gives a detailed picture of the Prophet’s night prayer. Hudhayfah saw him pray at night. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) began with Allahu Akbar three times and words praising Allah’s kingdom, greatness, and majesty. He recited al-Baqarah, then bowed for about as long as he had stood, saying “Glory be to my mighty Lord.” After ruku, he stood for a long time saying praise. His sujud was also long, and between the two prostrations he sat for a long time saying, “O my Lord forgive me.” The hadith is often searched as long night prayer hadith. It teaches calm worship, long recitation, steady postures, and asking Allah for forgiveness between sujud.
What we learn from this hadith
- Night prayer may include long standing and recitation.
- Ruku and sujud were described as long in this report.
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) asked for forgiveness between the two prostrations.
- The prayer included praise, glorification, and calm movement.
