6/6. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 705e — Eight and Seven Rak'ahs Together
Joining two prayers when not traveling
Eight and Seven Rak'ahs: A Hadith on Combined Prayer
Sahih Muslim : 705e
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 705e
وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، عَنْ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ زَيْدٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ صَلَّيْتُ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ثَمَانِيًا جَمِيعًا وَسَبْعًا جَمِيعًا . قُلْتُ يَا أَبَا الشَّعْثَاءِ أَظُنُّهُ أَخَّرَ الظُّهْرَ وَعَجَّلَ الْعَصْرَ وَأَخَّرَ الْمَغْرِبَ وَعَجَّلَ الْعِشَاءَ . قَالَ وَأَنَا أَظُنُّ ذَاكَ .
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
I observed with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) eight (rak'ahs) in combination, and seven rak'ahs in combination. I (one of the narrators) said: O Abd Sha'tha', I think that he (the Holy Prophet) had delayed the noon prayer and hastened the afternoon prayer, and he delayed the sunset prayer and hastened the 'Isha' prayer. He said: I also think so.
[1] That is, Jâbir bin Zaid, who narrated it from Ibn 'Abbâs, and the one asking him is 'Amr bin Dînâr.Reference : Sahih Muslim 705eIn-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 65USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1521
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 705e
This narration mentions a very specific report from Ibn Abbas. He said that he prayed with the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم eight rak'ahs in combination and seven rak'ahs in combination. A narrator then shared his understanding: he thought the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم delayed Dhuhr and brought Asr earlier, and delayed Maghrib and brought Isha earlier. Abu Sha'tha' said he also thought so. This Hadith is often searched by people looking for the meaning of eight and seven rak'ahs in Sahih Muslim. The safest way to read it is to stay with the text: it describes combined prayer and then mentions the narrator’s likely understanding of how the times were brought close together.
What we learn from this hadith
- Ibn Abbas reported praying eight rak'ahs and seven rak'ahs in combination.
- The narrator understood this as delaying one prayer and hastening the next.
- The Hadith gives a report of practice, then a narrator’s careful view.
- It teaches readers to notice the exact wording before drawing wider points.
