6/1. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 688a — Two Rak'ahs in Mecca When Alone
The travelers’ prayer and shortening it
Travel Prayer in Mecca: Two Rak'ahs as the Sunnah of Abu'l-Qasim
Sahih Muslim : 688a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 688a
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، وَابْنُ، بَشَّارٍ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ قَتَادَةَ، يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ سَلَمَةَ الْهُذَلِيِّ، قَالَ سَأَلْتُ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ كَيْفَ أُصَلِّي إِذَا كُنْتُ بِمَكَّةَ إِذَا لَمْ أُصَلِّ مَعَ الإِمَامِ . فَقَالَ رَكْعَتَيْنِ سُنَّةَ أَبِي الْقَاسِمِ صلى الله عليه وسلم .
Musa b. Salama Hudhali Narrated from:
I asked Ibn 'Abbas: How should I say prayer when I am in Mecca, and when I do not pray along with the Imam? He said: Two rak'ahs (of prayer) is the Sunnah of Abu'l-Qasim (ﷺ).
Reference : Sahih Muslim 688aIn-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 8USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1465
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 688a
This Hadith answers a practical question about travel prayer. Musa b. Salama asked Ibn 'Abbas how he should pray when he was in Mecca and was not praying with the Imam. Ibn 'Abbas answered: two rak'ahs is the Sunnah of Abu'l-Qasim, meaning the Messenger of Allah. The wording is focused and does not discuss every case of praying behind an Imam. It only speaks about the situation mentioned in the question: being in Mecca and not praying along with the Imam. For anyone searching for qasr prayer in Mecca, this Hadith shows that Ibn 'Abbas directed him to two rak'ahs and tied that to the Sunnah.
What we learn from this hadith
- A question about prayer was answered with a clear practical response.
- Two rak'ahs were advised when not praying with the Imam in the stated situation.
- Ibn 'Abbas connected this practice to the Sunnah of the Prophet.
- The Hadith teaches asking knowledgeable people about worship.
