13/35. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1159l — Dawud’s Night Prayer
Prohibition of Fasting for a lifetime for the one who will be harmed by that or who will neglect other duties, or does not break his fast on the two 'Ids or during the days of At-Tashriq; It is better to fast alternate days
Prayer of Dawud and Alternate Day Fasting
Sahih Muslim : 1159l
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1159l
وَحَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَافِعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي عَمْرُو، بْنُ دِينَارٍ أَنَّ عَمْرَو بْنَ أَوْسٍ، أَخْبَرَهُ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ، - رضى الله عنهما - أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " أَحَبُّ الصِّيَامِ إِلَى اللَّهِ صِيَامُ دَاوُدَ كَانَ يَصُومُ نِصْفَ الدَّهْرِ وَأَحَبُّ الصَّلاَةِ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ صَلاَةُ دَاوُدَ - عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ - كَانَ يَرْقُدُ شَطْرَ اللَّيْلِ ثُمَّ يَقُومُ ثُمَّ يَرْقُدُ آخِرَهُ يَقُومُ ثُلُثَ اللَّيْلِ بَعْدَ شَطْرِهِ " . قَالَ قُلْتُ لِعَمْرِو بْنِ دِينَارٍ أَعَمْرُو بْنُ أَوْسٍ كَانَ يَقُولُ يَقُومُ ثُلُثَ اللَّيْلِ بَعْدَ شَطْرِهِ قَالَ نَعَمْ .
Abdullah bin 'Amr bin Al-'as Narrated from:
Abdullah b. 'Amr b. al-'As reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: The best fasting in the eye of Allah is that of David, for he fasted for half of the age (he fasted on alternate days), and the best prayer in the eye of Allah, the Exalted and Majestic, is that of David (peace be upon him), for he slept for half of the night and then stood for prayer and then again slept. He prayed for one-third of the night after midnight. He (the narrator) said: I asked 'Amr b. Dinar whether 'Amr b. Aus said that he stood for prayer one-third of the night after midnight. He said: Yes.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1159lIn-book reference : Book 13, Hadith 246USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 6, Hadith 2596
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1159l
This Hadith gives more detail about the prayer of Dawud and the fast of Dawud. The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said that the best fasting in the sight of Allah is the fasting of Dawud, because he fasted half of the age by fasting on alternate days. The best prayer in the sight of Allah is also described through Dawud’s pattern: he slept for half the night, then stood for prayer, and then slept again. The narrator also confirms the wording that he stood for one-third of the night after midnight. For readers searching for Dawud night prayer Hadith, this report gives a balanced schedule that includes rest and worship together.
What we learn from this hadith
- The fast of Dawud is described as half of the age.
- Dawud’s night prayer included both sleep and standing in prayer.
- The narration highlights one-third of the night after midnight.
- Balanced worship can include planned rest.
