4/34. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 451b — Al-Fatihah in the Last Two Rak'ahs
The Recitation For Zuhr And 'Asr
Al-Fatihah in Every Rak'ah: Zuhr and Asr Recitation Hadith
Sahih Muslim : 451b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 451b
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ هَارُونَ، أَخْبَرَنَا هَمَّامٌ، وَأَبَانُ بْنُ يَزِيدَ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَقْرَأُ فِي الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ الأُولَيَيْنِ مِنَ الظُّهْرِ وَالْعَصْرِ بِفَاتِحَةِ الْكِتَابِ وَسُورَةٍ وَيُسْمِعُنَا الآيَةَ أَحْيَانًا وَيَقْرَأُ فِي الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ الأُخْرَيَيْنِ بِفَاتِحَةِ الْكِتَابِ .
Abu Qatadah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would recite in the first two rak'ahs of the noon and afternoon prayers the opening chapter of the Book and another surah. He would sometimes recite loud enough to make audible to us the verse and would recite in the last two rak'ahs Surat al-Faitiha (only).
Reference : Sahih Muslim 451bIn-book reference : Book 4, Hadith 175USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 909
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 451b
This hadith gives a clear report about recitation in the noon and afternoon prayers. Abu Qatada narrates from his father that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم would recite the opening chapter of the Book and another surah in the first two rak'ahs of Zuhr and Asr. He would sometimes recite loud enough for a verse to be heard. In the last two rak'ahs, he would recite Surat al-Fatihah only. This is a helpful narration for people searching for Al-Fatihah in every rak'ah, last two rak'ahs recitation, or Zuhr Asr prayer hadith. The teaching stays close to the text: the first two rak'ahs had Al-Fatihah plus another surah, while the last two were limited to Al-Fatihah in this report.
What we learn from this hadith
- The first two rak'ahs included Al-Fatihah and another surah.
- The last two rak'ahs are described here with Al-Fatihah only.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم sometimes made a verse audible to the followers.
- The narration gives a simple pattern for Zuhr and Asr recitation.
