5/5. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 819 — Longer First Rak’ah in Prayer
Recitation of the Fajr Prayer
Hadith About Longer First Rak’ah in Prayer
Sunan Ibn Majah : 819
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 819
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بِشْرٍ، بَكْرُ بْنُ خَلَفٍ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عَدِيٍّ، عَنْ حَجَّاجٍ الصَّوَّافِ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ، وَعَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ، قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ يُصَلِّي بِنَا فَيُطِيلُ فِي الرَّكْعَةِ الأُولَى مِنَ الظُّهْرِ وَيُقْصِرُ فِي الثَّانِيَةِ وَكَذَلِكَ فِي الصُّبْحِ .
Abu Qatadah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to lead us in prayer, and he would lengthen the first Rak’ah of the Zuhr and shorten the second Rak’ah, and he would do likewise in the Subh.”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 819In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 17English translation : Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 819
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 819
This hadith about the longer first Rak’ah in prayer reports from Abu Qatadah that the Messenger of Allah used to lead the people and lengthen the first Rak’ah of Zuhr while shortening the second. He would do the same in Subh. The hadith is about the pattern between the first and second Rak’ah in these prayers. It does not give the exact verses or surahs recited. It simply tells us that the first Rak’ah was longer and the second was shorter. For readers searching for prayer Rak’ah length in the Sunnah, this narration gives a clear example from the Prophet’s leading of Zuhr and Subh prayers.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet lengthened the first Rak’ah of Zuhr.
- He shortened the second Rak’ah compared with the first.
- The same pattern is reported for Subh prayer.
- The hadith shows attention to balance and order in prayer recitation.
