5/20. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 578f — Abu Huraira's Sajdah in Night Prayer
The prostration of recitation
Abu Huraira and Sajdah Tilawah in Night Prayer
Sahih Muslim : 578f
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 578f
وَحَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُعَاذٍ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الأَعْلَى، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا الْمُعْتَمِرُ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ بَكْرٍ، عَنْ أَبِي رَافِعٍ، قَالَ صَلَّيْتُ مَعَ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ صَلاَةَ الْعَتَمَةِ فَقَرَأَ { إِذَا السَّمَاءُ انْشَقَّتْ} فَسَجَدَ فِيهَا . فَقُلْتُ لَهُ مَا هَذِهِ السَّجْدَةُ فَقَالَ سَجَدْتُ بِهَا خَلْفَ أَبِي الْقَاسِمِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَلاَ أَزَالُ أَسْجُدُ بِهَا حَتَّى أَلْقَاهُ . وَقَالَ ابْنُ عَبْدِ الأَعْلَى فَلاَ أَزَالُ أَسْجُدُهَا .
Abu Rafi' Narrated from:
I said the night prayer along with Abu Huraira and -as he recited:" When the heaven burst asunder," he performed prostration. I said to him: What prostration is this? He said: I prostrated myself (on this occasion of recital) behind Abu'I-Qasim (Muhammad. may peace be upon him), and I would go on doing this till I meet him (in the next world). Ibn 'Abu al-A'la said: (Abu Huraira uttered this:) I would not abandon performing prostration.
[1] Al-Inshiqâq (84).Reference : Sahih Muslim 578fIn-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 142USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1198
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 578f
This hadith describes Abu Rafi praying the night prayer with Abu Huraira. When Abu Huraira recited When the heaven burst asunder, he performed prostration. Abu Rafi asked what this prostration was. Abu Huraira replied that he had prostrated at this recitation behind Abu al-Qasim, meaning the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم, and that he would continue doing it until he met him. Another wording says he would not abandon this prostration. The report is personal and strong, but it stays focused on one action: prostration during the recitation of Surah Inshiqaq. It shows Abu Huraira explaining his practice by referring to what he did behind the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم.
What we learn from this hadith
- Abu Huraira prostrated while reciting Surah Inshiqaq in night prayer.
- Abu Rafi asked about the reason for that prostration.
- Abu Huraira linked the action to his prayer behind the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم.
- Abu Huraira expressed that he would continue this practice.
