4/34. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 452a — Length of Recitation in Zuhr and Asr
The Recitation For Zuhr And 'Asr
Length of Recitation in Zuhr and Asr Prayer Hadith
Sahih Muslim : 452a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 452a
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، وَأَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ جَمِيعًا عَنْ هُشَيْمٍ، - قَالَ يَحْيَى أَخْبَرَنَا هُشَيْمٌ، - عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنِ الْوَلِيدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ، عَنْ أَبِي الصِّدِّيقِ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، قَالَ كُنَّا نَحْزِرُ قِيَامَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي الظُّهْرِ وَالْعَصْرِ فَحَزَرْنَا قِيَامَهُ فِي الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ الأُولَيَيْنِ مِنَ الظُّهْرِ قَدْرَ قِرَاءَةِ الم تَنْزِيلُ السَّجْدَةِ وَحَزَرْنَا قِيَامَهُ فِي الأُخْرَيَيْنِ قَدْرَ النِّصْفِ مِنْ ذَلِكَ وَحَزَرْنَا قِيَامَهُ فِي الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ الأُولَيَيْنِ مِنَ الْعَصْرِ عَلَى قَدْرِ قِيَامِهِ فِي الأُخْرَيَيْنِ مِنَ الظُّهْرِ وَفِي الأُخْرَيَيْنِ مِنَ الْعَصْرِ عَلَى النِّصْفِ مِنْ ذَلِكَ . وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ أَبُو بَكْرٍ فِي رِوَايَتِهِ الم تَنْزِيلُ وَقَالَ قَدْرَ ثَلاَثِينَ آيَةً .
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri Narrated from:
We used to estimate how long Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) stood in the noon and afternoon prayers, and we estimated hat he stood in the first two rak'ahs of the noon prayer as long as it takes to recite Alif Lam Mim, Tanzil, i. e. as-Sajda. We estimated that he stood half that time in the last two rak'ahs; that he stood in the first two of the afternoon as long as he did in the last two at noon; and in the last two of the afternoon prayer about half that time. Abu Bakr in his narration has made no mention of Alif Lam Mim, Tanzil, but said: As long as it takes to recite thirty verses.
[1] As-Sajdah (32).Reference : Sahih Muslim 452aIn-book reference : Book 4, Hadith 176USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 910
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 452a
This narration describes how the Companions estimated the standing of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم in Zuhr and Asr prayer. Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reports that they estimated the first two rak'ahs of Zuhr as long as it takes to recite Alif Lam Mim Tanzil, meaning Surah as-Sajdah, while another wording mentions about thirty verses. The last two rak'ahs of Zuhr were about half that time. The first two rak'ahs of Asr were like the last two of Zuhr, and the last two of Asr were about half of that. For searches like length of Zuhr prayer recitation, Asr prayer recitation hadith, and thirty verses in salah hadith, this text shows a measured difference between the rak'ahs without adding details beyond the report.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Companions observed and estimated the Prophet’s standing in prayer.
- The first two rak'ahs of Zuhr were longer than the last two.
- Asr was described as shorter than Zuhr in this report.
- The narration gives approximate lengths, not a rigid word-for-word schedule.
