13/38. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1163b — Muharram and Night Prayer
The virtue of fasting Muharram
Best Fast After Ramadan and Best Night Prayer
Sahih Muslim : 1163b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1163b
وَحَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ بْنِ عُمَيْرٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ، الْمُنْتَشِرِ عَنْ حُمَيْدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، - رضى الله عنه - يَرْفَعُهُ قَالَ سُئِلَ أَىُّ الصَّلاَةِ أَفْضَلُ بَعْدَ الْمَكْتُوبَةِ وَأَىُّ الصِّيَامِ أَفْضَلُ بَعْدَ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فَقَالَ " أَفْضَلُ الصَّلاَةِ بَعْدَ الصَّلاَةِ الْمَكْتُوبَةِ الصَّلاَةُ فِي جَوْفِ اللَّيْلِ وَأَفْضَلُ الصِّيَامِ بَعْدَ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ صِيَامُ شَهْرِ اللَّهِ الْمُحَرَّمِ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
He (the Messenger of Allah) was asked as to which prayer was most excellent after the prescribed prayer, and which fast was most excellent after the month of Ramadan. He said: Prayer offered in the middle of the night and the most excellent fast after (fasting) in the month of Ramadan is the fast in God's month al-Muharram.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1163bIn-book reference : Book 13, Hadith 262USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 6, Hadith 2612
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1163b
This Hadith gives a question-and-answer form about two acts of worship. Abu Huraira reported that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) was asked which prayer was most excellent after the prescribed prayer and which fast was most excellent after Ramadan. He answered that prayer in the middle of the night is the most excellent prayer after the obligatory prayer, and fasting in Allah’s month al-Muharram is the most excellent fast after Ramadan. The main search term is best fast after Ramadan Hadith. The narration is easy to understand because it names the acts directly. It does not list every voluntary prayer or every voluntary fast; it highlights night prayer and Muharram fasting in this specific answer.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم answered a clear question about prayer and fasting.
- Night prayer is named after the prescribed prayer.
- Fasting in Muharram is named after Ramadan.
- The Hadith teaches that extra worship has strong value when kept within the wording of the report.
