5/7. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 825 — Length of Zuhr Prayer
The recitation for the Zuhr and the ‘Asr
Length of Zuhr Prayer in the Prophet’s Practice
Sunan Ibn Majah : 825
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 825
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا زَيْدُ بْنُ الْحُبَابِ، حَدَّثَنَا مُعَاوِيَةُ بْنُ صَالِحٍ، حَدَّثَنَا رَبِيعَةُ بْنُ يَزِيدَ، عَنْ قَزَعَةَ، قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيَّ عَنْ صَلاَةِ، رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ فَقَالَ لَيْسَ لَكَ فِي ذَلِكَ خَيْرٌ . قُلْتُ بَيِّنْ رَحِمَكَ اللَّهُ . قَالَ كَانَتِ الصَّلاَةُ تُقَامُ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ الظُّهْرَ فَيَخْرُجُ أَحَدُنَا إِلَى الْبَقِيعِ فَيَقْضِي حَاجَتَهُ وَيَجِيءُ فَيَتَوَضَّأُ فَيَجِدُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ فِي الرَّكْعَةِ الأُولَى مِنَ الظُّهْرِ .
It was narrated that Qaza’ah said: “I asked Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He said: ‘There is nothing good in that for you.’* I said: ‘Explain it, may Allah have mercy on you.’ He said: ‘The Iqamah would be given for the Zuhr prayer for the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), then one of us would go out to Al- Baqi’, relieve himself, then come back and perform ablution, and he would find the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) still in the first Rak’ah of Zuhr.’”
[1] Meaning, "If you do not act upon it." See explanation by Sindī .Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 825In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 23English translation : Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 825
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 825
This Hadith about the length of Zuhr prayer describes what Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri reported when asked about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم). He explained that the Iqamah would be given for Zuhr. Then someone could go to Al-Baqi’, relieve himself, return, make ablution, and still find the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) in the first rak’ah of Zuhr. The report gives a vivid picture of the first rak’ah being long enough for these actions to happen. It does not give an exact number of verses or a command for every imam. It simply describes what was observed in that setting, with the focus on Zuhr prayer and its first rak’ah.
What we learn from this hadith
- The first rak’ah of Zuhr was described as lengthy in this report.
- The narration gives an observed example rather than a fixed measurement.
- Abu Sa’eed answered only after Qaza’ah asked him to explain.
- The Hadith shows that prayer details were learned through direct observation.
