4/38. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 471a — Balanced Prayer Postures
Moderation In All Pillars Of The Prayer, And Making It Brief Yet Complete
Balanced Prayer Postures Hadith: The Prophet’s Measured Salah
Sahih Muslim : 471a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 471a
وَحَدَّثَنَا حَامِدُ بْنُ عُمَرَ الْبَكْرَاوِيُّ، وَأَبُو كَامِلٍ فُضَيْلُ بْنُ حُسَيْنٍ الْجَحْدَرِيُّ كِلاَهُمَا عَنْ أَبِي عَوَانَةَ، - قَالَ حَامِدٌ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، - عَنْ هِلاَلِ بْنِ أَبِي حُمَيْدٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي لَيْلَى، عَنِ الْبَرَاءِ بْنِ عَازِبٍ، قَالَ رَمَقْتُ الصَّلاَةَ مَعَ مُحَمَّدٍ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَوَجَدْتُ قِيَامَهُ فَرَكْعَتَهُ فَاعْتِدَالَهُ بَعْدَ رُكُوعِهِ فَسَجْدَتَهُ فَجَلْسَتَهُ بَيْنَ السَّجْدَتَيْنِ فَسَجْدَتَهُ فَجَلْسَتَهُ مَا بَيْنَ التَّسْلِيمِ وَالاِنْصِرَافِ قَرِيبًا مِنَ السَّوَاءِ .
Al-Bara' bin 'Azib Narrated from:
I noticed the prayer of Muhammad (ﷺ) and saw his Qiyam (standing), his bowing, and then going back to the standing posture after bowing, his prostration, his sitting between the two prostrations, and his prostration and sitting between salutation and going away, all these were nearly equal to one another.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 471aIn-book reference : Book 4, Hadith 219USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 953
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 471a
This balanced prayer postures hadith is based on what Al-Bara' b. 'Azib observed in the prayer of Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم). He noticed the standing, bowing, standing after bowing, prostration, sitting between the two prostrations, the next prostration, and the sitting before leaving. He said these were nearly equal to one another. The hadith does not give a legal chart or fixed seconds. It gives a picture of measured salah. The prayer was not uneven in a careless way. Each posture had its place. For people searching for Prophet prayer movements hadith, this narration shows attention to the form and balance of prayer. It also teaches that observing the Prophet’s prayer was a way the Companions learned how to pray.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet’s prayer postures were observed carefully.
- The parts of the prayer were nearly balanced in length.
- Standing, bowing, prostration, and sitting each had their place.
- Learning prayer includes noticing how the prayer is performed.
