5/27. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 598b — Dua Before Recitation
What is to be said between the opening takbir and the recitation of the Qur’an
Dua Between Takbir and Recitation for Purity
Sahih Muslim : 598b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 598b
حَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ عُمَارَةَ بْنِ الْقَعْقَاعِ، عَنْ أَبِي زُرْعَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا كَبَّرَ فِي الصَّلاَةِ سَكَتَ هُنَيَّةً قَبْلَ أَنْ يَقْرَأَ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ بِأَبِي أَنْتَ وَأُمِّي أَرَأَيْتَ سُكُوتَكَ بَيْنَ التَّكْبِيرِ وَالْقِرَاءَةِ مَا تَقُولُ قَالَ " أَقُولُ اللَّهُمَّ بَاعِدْ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ خَطَايَاىَ كَمَا بَاعَدْتَ بَيْنَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ اللَّهُمَّ نَقِّنِي مِنْ خَطَايَاىَ كَمَا يُنَقَّى الثَّوْبُ الأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الدَّنَسِ اللَّهُمَّ اغْسِلْنِي مِنْ خَطَايَاىَ بِالثَّلْجِ وَالْمَاءِ وَالْبَرَدِ " . حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَابْنُ، نُمَيْرٍ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ فُضَيْلٍ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كَامِلٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَاحِدِ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ زِيَادٍ - كِلاَهُمَا عَنْ عُمَارَةَ بْنِ الْقَعْقَاعِ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ نَحْوَ حَدِيثِ جَرِيرٍ .
Abu Huraira reported that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to observe, silence for a short while between the takbir (at the time of opening the prayer) and the recitation of the Qur'an. I said to him: Messenger of Allah, for whom I would give my father and mother in ransom, what do you recite during your period of silence between the takbir and the recitation? He said: I say (these words):" O Allah, remove my sins from me as Thou hast removed the East from the West. O Allah purify me from sins as a white garment is purified from filth. O Allah! wash away my sins with snow, water, and ice."
Reference : Sahih Muslim 598a-bIn-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 190USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1245
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 598b
This narration repeats the same opening supplication in prayer. It shows Abu Huraira asking about the Prophet's short silence between takbir and recitation, and the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم answering with the words of dua. A person searching for Allahumma ba'id bayni dua is looking for this meaning: asking Allah to place great distance between a person and sins, to purify sins like dirt is removed from a white garment, and to wash them away with snow, water, and ice. The Hadith stays focused on the opening moments of salah. It does not mention a long pause. It mentions a short silence filled with a plea for forgiveness and purification.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم paused briefly between the opening takbir and recitation.
- During that pause, he asked Allah to distance him from sins.
- The supplication uses clear images of purification: distance, a white garment, and washing.
- The Hadith teaches that prayer begins with asking Allah for purity from sins.
