4/35. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 458b — Fajr Prayer Recitation
Recitation in As-Subh
Hadith About Fajr Prayer Recitation and Balanced Prayer
Sahih Muslim : 458b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 458b
وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَافِعٍ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لاِبْنِ رَافِعٍ - قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ آدَمَ، حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرٌ، عَنْ سِمَاكٍ، قَالَ سَأَلْتُ جَابِرَ بْنَ سَمُرَةَ عَنْ صَلاَةِ النَّبِيِّ، صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ كَانَ يُخَفِّفُ الصَّلاَةَ وَلاَ يُصَلِّي صَلاَةَ هَؤُلاَءِ . قَالَ وَأَنْبَأَنِي أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَقْرَأُ فِي الْفَجْرِ بـ { ق وَالْقُرْآنِ} وَنَحْوِهَا .
Jabir bin Samurah Narrated from:
Simak asked Jabir b. Samura about the prayer of the Apostle (ﷺ). He said: He (the Holy Prophet) shortened the prayer and he did not pray like these people then, and he informed me that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to recite" Qaf. By the (Glorious) Qur'an," and a passage of similar length.
[3] Qâf 50:1.Reference : Sahih Muslim 458bIn-book reference : Book 4, Hadith 190USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 924
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 458b
This hadith about Fajr prayer recitation shows a clear picture of how the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) prayed. Jabir b. Samura was asked about the Prophet’s prayer, and he explained that the Prophet shortened the prayer. This does not mean he rushed it without care. The same report says that in Fajr, he used to recite Surah Qaf and another passage of similar length. So the main lesson is balance in prayer. The prayer had Qur’an recitation, calm worship, and a clear form, but it was not made heavy like the way some people later prayed. For anyone searching for the Prophet’s prayer recitation, this hadith gives a simple guide: keep prayer meaningful, measured, and within the Sunnah described in the narration.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet’s prayer was not needlessly long or heavy.
- Fajr prayer could include recitation such as Surah Qaf or a similar passage.
- Prayer should be balanced, with Qur’an recitation and ease.
- The prayer of the Prophet is the best model to compare later practices with.
