6/13. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 336e — Umm Hani and Duha Prayer
It is recommended to pray Duha, the least of which is two rak`ah, the best of which is eight, and the average of which is four or six, and encouragement to do so regularly
Umm Hani’s Hadith on the Prophet’s صلى الله عليه وسلم Eight Rak'ahs of Duha
Sahih Muslim : 336e
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 336e
وَحَدَّثَنِي حَرْمَلَةُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ الْمُرَادِيُّ، قَالاَ أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي ابْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْحَارِثِ، أَنَّ أَبَاهُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ الْحَارِثِ بْنِ نَوْفَلٍ، قَالَ سَأَلْتُ وَحَرَصْتُ عَلَى أَنْ أَجِدَ أَحَدًا مِنَ النَّاسِ يُخْبِرُنِي أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم سَبَّحَ سُبْحَةَ الضُّحَى فَلَمْ أَجِدْ أَحَدًا يُحَدِّثُنِي ذَلِكَ غَيْرَ أَنَّ أُمَّ هَانِئٍ بِنْتَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ أَخْبَرَتْنِي أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَتَى بَعْدَ مَا ارْتَفَعَ النَّهَارُ يَوْمَ الْفَتْحِ فَأُتِيَ بِثَوْبٍ فَسُتِرَ عَلَيْهِ فَاغْتَسَلَ ثُمَّ قَامَ فَرَكَعَ ثَمَانِيَ رَكَعَاتٍ لاَ أَدْرِي أَقِيَامُهُ فِيهَا أَطْوَلُ أَمْ رُكُوعُهُ أَمْ سُجُودُهُ كُلُّ ذَلِكَ مِنْهُ مُتَقَارِبٌ - قَالَتْ - فَلَمْ أَرَهُ سَبَّحَهَا قَبْلُ وَلاَ بَعْدُ . قَالَ الْمُرَادِيُّ عَنْ يُونُسَ . وَلَمْ يَقُلْ أَخْبَرَنِي .
Abdullah b. Harith b. Naufal Narrated from:
I had been asking about, as I was desirous to find one among people who should inform me, whether the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) observed the forenoon prayer, but I found none to narrate that to me except Umm Hani, daughter of Abu Talib (the real sister of Hadrat 'Ali), who told me that on the day of the Conquest the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came (to our house) after the dawn had (sufficiently) arisen.A cloth was brought and privacy was provided for him (the Holy Prophet). He took a bath and then stood up and observed eight rak'ahs. I do not know whether his Qiyam (standing posture) was longer, or bending or prostration or all of them were of equal duration. She (Umm Hani) further said: I never saw him saying this Nafl prayer prior to it or subsequently.(Al-Muradi narrated on the authority of Yunus that he made no mention of the words:" He informed me.")
Reference : Sahih Muslim 336eIn-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 98USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1554
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 336e
This Hadith gives a detailed report from Umm Hani through Abdullah b. Harith b. Naufal. He said he searched for someone who could tell him whether the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم observed the forenoon prayer, and he found no one except Umm Hani. She said that on the day of the Conquest, after the day had risen, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم came, privacy was provided with a cloth, he bathed, and then prayed eight rak'ahs. She said the standing, bowing, and prostration seemed close in length, and she had not seen him offer that Nafl prayer before or after. The core topic is Umm Hani and Duha prayer, and the narration should be read with its specific details.
What we learn from this hadith
- Abdullah b. Harith searched for a witness to the Prophet’s صلى الله عليه وسلم forenoon prayer.
- Umm Hani reported the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم prayed eight rak'ahs after bathing.
- The narration mentions that privacy was provided with a cloth.
- Umm Hani said she did not see him pray that Nafl prayer before or after.
