6/4. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 700f — Witr Prayer on a Camel
It is permissible to offer voluntary prayers atop one’s mount when travelling, no matter what direction it is facing
Witr Prayer on a Camel Hadith: Following the Prophetic Pattern
Sahih Muslim : 700f
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 700f
وَحَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، قَالَ قَرَأْتُ عَلَى مَالِكٍ عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرِ بْنِ عُمَرَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ، أَنَّهُ قَالَ كُنْتُ أَسِيرُ مَعَ ابْنِ عُمَرَ بِطَرِيقِ مَكَّةَ - قَالَ سَعِيدٌ - فَلَمَّا خَشِيتُ الصُّبْحَ نَزَلْتُ فَأَوْتَرْتُ ثُمَّ أَدْرَكْتُهُ فَقَالَ لِي ابْنُ عُمَرَ أَيْنَ كُنْتَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ خَشِيتُ الْفَجْرَ فَنَزَلْتُ فَأَوْتَرْتُ . فَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ أَلَيْسَ لَكَ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أُسْوَةٌ فَقُلْتُ بَلَى وَاللَّهِ . قَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يُوتِرُ عَلَى الْبَعِيرِ .
Sa'id b. Yasar Narrated from:
I was travelling along with Ibn 'Umar on the way to Mecca. Sa'id said: When I apprehended dawn, I dismounted (the ride) and observed Witr prayer and then again joined him. Ibn 'Umar said to me: Where were you? I said: I apprehended the appearance of dawn, so I dismounted and observed Witr prayer. Upon this 'Abdullah said: Is there not a model pattern for you in the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)? I said: Yes, by Allah, and (then) he said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to observe Witr prayer on the camel's back.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 700fIn-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 46USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1502
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 700f
This hadith about Witr prayer on a camel is told through a travel moment. Sa'id b. Yasar was with Ibn Umar on the way to Mecca. When he feared dawn was near, he got down and prayed Witr, then caught up again. Ibn Umar asked where he had been. When Sa'id explained, Ibn Umar reminded him that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم was a model for him, and said that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم used to pray Witr on the back of the camel. The main lesson is not to shame Sa'id, but to point him to the Prophet’s صلى الله عليه وسلم practice. People searching for Witr on camel hadith or Witr prayer while travelling can see the direct wording here.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم used to offer Witr on the camel’s back.
- Ibn Umar used the Prophet’s صلى الله عليه وسلم practice as a model to teach Sa'id.
- The setting shows concern for Witr when dawn was approaching.
