44/31. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2479a — Night Prayer Lesson
The Virtues Of 'Abdullah Bin 'Umar (RA)
Hadith About Ibn Umar and Night Prayer
Sahih Muslim : 2479a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2479a
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَعَبْدُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لِعَبْدٍ - قَالاَ أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ، الرَّزَّاقِ أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ سَالِمٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ كَانَ الرَّجُلُ فِي حَيَاةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا رَأَى رُؤْيَا قَصَّهَا عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَتَمَنَّيْتُ أَنْ أَرَى رُؤْيَا أَقُصُّهَا عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ وَكُنْتُ غُلاَمًا شَابًّا عَزَبًا وَكُنْتُ أَنَامُ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَرَأَيْتُ فِي النَّوْمِ كَأَنَّ مَلَكَيْنِ أَخَذَانِي فَذَهَبَا بِي إِلَى النَّارِ فَإِذَا هِيَ مَطْوِيَّةٌ كَطَىِّ الْبِئْرِ وَإِذَا لَهَا قَرْنَانِ كَقَرْنَىِ الْبِئْرِ وَإِذَا فِيهَا نَاسٌ قَدْ عَرَفْتُهُمْ فَجَعَلْتُ أَقُولُ أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ النَّارِ أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ النَّارِ أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ النَّارِ - قَالَ - فَلَقِيَهُمَا مَلَكٌ فَقَالَ لِي لَمْ تُرَعْ . فَقَصَصْتُهَا عَلَى حَفْصَةَ فَقَصَّتْهَا حَفْصَةُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " نِعْمَ الرَّجُلُ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ لَوْ كَانَ يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ " . قَالَ سَالِمٌ فَكَانَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ لاَ يَنَامُ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً .
Ibn 'Umar Narrated from:
When a person saw anything in sleep during the lifetime of Allah's Messenger (may peace he upon him) he narrated it to Allah's Messenger, and I also had a longing that I should also see in a dream something which I should narrate to Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) and I was at that time an unmarried young man. I was sleeping in the mosque during the lifetime of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) tl) at I saw in a dream as if two Angels have taken hold of me and they have carried me to the fire, and, lo, it was built like the easing of a well and had two pillars like those of a well; and, lo, there were people in it whom I knew and I cried out: I seek refuge with Allah from Hell-fire; I seek refuge with Allah from Hell-fire. Then another Angel joined the two others, and said unto me: You need not fear I narrated this dream to llafsa and she narrated it to Allah's Messenger, whereupon Allah's Apostle said: Worthy is this man Abdullah, O that he would pray at night, and Silim added that Abdullah afterwards slept only but for a small part of the night.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2479aIn-book reference : Book 44, Hadith 200USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 31, Hadith 6057
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2479a
This Hadith about night prayer begins with Ibn Umar explaining that people used to tell their dreams to Allah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم. As a young unmarried man sleeping in the mosque, he wished to see a dream he could narrate. He then saw two angels taking him to the Fire. He sought refuge with Allah from Hell-fire, and another angel told him not to fear. The dream was told to Hafsa, who told the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said Abdullah was a worthy man, and he added, “O that he would pray at night.” Salim then says Abdullah slept only a small part of the night after that. The lesson is direct: the dream led to a gentle push toward night prayer.
What we learn from this hadith
- Ibn Umar sought refuge with Allah from Hell-fire in the dream.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم praised Abdullah and encouraged night prayer.
- After this, Abdullah reduced his sleep at night.
