6/1. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 689b — Ibn 'Umar on Sunnah Prayer in Travel
The travelers’ prayer and shortening it
Travel Prayer Hadith: Ibn 'Umar on Extra Prayer During Journey
Sahih Muslim : 689b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 689b
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ زُرَيْعٍ - عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ حَفْصِ بْنِ عَاصِمٍ، قَالَ مَرِضْتُ مَرَضًا فَجَاءَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ يَعُودُنِي قَالَ وَسَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ السُّبْحَةِ، فِي السَّفَرِ فَقَالَ صَحِبْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي السَّفَرِ فَمَا رَأَيْتُهُ يُسَبِّحُ وَلَوْ كُنْتُ مُسَبِّحًا لأَتْمَمْتُ وَقَدْ قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى { لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ إِسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ}
Hafs b. 'Asim Narrated from:
I fell ill and Ibn 'Umar came to inquire after my health, and I asked him about the glorification of Allah (i. e. prayer) while travelling. Thereupon he said: I accompanied the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on a journey but I did not see him glorifying Him, and were I to glorify (Him). I would have completed the prayer. Allah, the Exalted, has said:" Verily there is a model pattern for you in the Messenger of Allah."
[2] Al-Ahzāb 33:21.Reference : Sahih Muslim 689bIn-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 11USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1468
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 689b
This Hadith focuses on the question of glorification, meaning extra prayer, during travel. Hafs b. 'Asim was ill, and Ibn 'Umar visited him. Hafs asked about prayer while travelling. Ibn 'Umar answered that he accompanied the Messenger of Allah in travel and did not see him doing that extra prayer. He added that if he were to do it, he would have completed the prayer. Then he quoted the meaning that the Messenger of Allah is a good model. The explanation should stay close to the text: it is about Ibn 'Umar's observed practice and his use of the Prophet's example as the guide in travel prayer.
What we learn from this hadith
- Ibn 'Umar answered a travel-prayer question from what he had seen.
- He did not see the Prophet perform that extra prayer during travel.
- He connected his answer to following the Prophet as a model.
- The Hadith shows careful attention to worship during a journey.
