4/34. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 451a — Recitation in Zuhr and Asr Prayer
The Recitation For Zuhr And 'Asr
Zuhr and Asr Prayer Recitation Hadith: Al-Fatihah and Two Surahs
Sahih Muslim : 451a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 451a
وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى الْعَنَزِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عَدِيٍّ، عَنِ الْحَجَّاجِ، - يَعْنِي الصَّوَّافَ - عَنْ يَحْيَى، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ - عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ، وَأَبِي، سَلَمَةَ عَنْ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ، قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُصَلِّي بِنَا فَيَقْرَأُ فِي الظُّهْرِ وَالْعَصْرِ فِي الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ الأُولَيَيْنِ بِفَاتِحَةِ الْكِتَابِ وَسُورَتَيْنِ وَيُسْمِعُنَا الآيَةَ أَحْيَانًا وَكَانَ يُطَوِّلُ الرَّكْعَةَ الأُولَى مِنَ الظُّهْرِ وَيُقَصِّرُ الثَّانِيَةَ وَكَذَلِكَ فِي الصُّبْحِ .
Abu Qatadah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) led us in prayer and recited in the first two rak'ahs of the noon and afternoon prayers Surat al-Fitiha and two (other) surahs. And he would sometimes recite loud enough for us the verses. He would prolong the first rak'ah more than the second. And he acted similarly in the morning prayer.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 451aIn-book reference : Book 4, Hadith 174USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 908
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 451a
This hadith explains the Prophet’s recitation in Zuhr and Asr prayer. Abu Qatada reports that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم led them and recited Surat al-Fatihah and two other surahs in the first two rak'ahs of the noon and afternoon prayers. Sometimes he recited loud enough for them to hear some verses. The hadith also says he made the first rak'ah longer than the second, and that he acted similarly in the morning prayer. For anyone searching for Zuhr prayer recitation hadith, Asr prayer recitation, or Al-Fatihah in salah, this narration gives a clear picture of measured recitation. It shows that the first rak'ah may be longer, while the prayer still stays ordered and balanced.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم recited Al-Fatihah in the first two rak'ahs.
- He added two other surahs in Zuhr and Asr, as reported here.
- He sometimes made verses audible to the people behind him.
- The first rak'ah was longer than the second in this narration.
