6/16. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 730a — Voluntary Prayer Routine
It is permissible to offer voluntary prayers standing or sitting, and to stand and sit in the same rak`ah
Prophet’s Voluntary Prayer Routine: Sunnah, Night Prayer, and Fajr
Sahih Muslim : 730a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 730a
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، أَخْبَرَنَا هُشَيْمٌ، عَنْ خَالِدٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ شَقِيقٍ، قَالَ سَأَلْتُ عَائِشَةَ عَنْ صَلاَةِ، رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنْ تَطَوُّعِهِ فَقَالَتْ كَانَ يُصَلِّي فِي بَيْتِي قَبْلَ الظُّهْرِ أَرْبَعًا ثُمَّ يَخْرُجُ فَيُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ ثُمَّ يَدْخُلُ فَيُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَكَانَ يُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ الْمَغْرِبَ ثُمَّ يَدْخُلُ فَيُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَيُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ الْعِشَاءَ وَيَدْخُلُ بَيْتِي فَيُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَكَانَ يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ تِسْعَ رَكَعَاتٍ فِيهِنَّ الْوِتْرُ وَكَانَ يُصَلِّي لَيْلاً طَوِيلاً قَائِمًا وَلَيْلاً طَوِيلاً قَاعِدًا وَكَانَ إِذَا قَرَأَ وَهُوَ قَائِمٌ رَكَعَ وَسَجَدَ وَهُوَ قَائِمٌ وَإِذَا قَرَأَ قَاعِدًا رَكَعَ وَسَجَدَ وَهُوَ قَاعِدٌ وَكَانَ إِذَا طَلَعَ الْفَجْرُ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ .
Abdullah b. Shaqiq Narrated from:
I asked 'A'isha about the Messenger of Allah's (ﷺ) voluntary prayers, and she replied: Before the noon prayer, he used to pray four rak'ahs in my house; then would go out and lead the people in prayer; then come in and pray two rak'ahs. He would then lead the people in the sunset prayer; then come in and pray two rak'ahs. Then he would lead the people in the 'Isha' prayer, and enter my house and pray two rak'ahs.He would pray nine rak'ahs during the night, including Witr. At night he would pray for a long time standing and for a long time sitting, and when he recited the Holy Qur'an while standing, he would bow and prostrate himself from the standing position, and when he recited while sitting, he would bow and prostrate himself from the sitting position, and when it was dawn he would pray two rak'ahs.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 730aIn-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 129USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1584
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 730a
This hadith gives a wide view of the Prophet’s voluntary prayer routine. ‘Abdullah b. Shaqiq asked ‘A’isha about the Messenger of Allah’s صلى الله عليه وسلم voluntary prayers. She said he prayed four rak‘ahs before Dhuhr in her house, then led the people, then came in and prayed two. After Maghrib, he led the people and then prayed two rak‘ahs. After ‘Isha, he entered her house and prayed two rak‘ahs. She also described his night prayer as nine rak‘ahs including Witr, with long standing and long sitting. At dawn, he prayed two rak‘ahs. This narration is rich for searches like Prophet’s nafl prayer, night prayer hadith, and Sunnah prayer routine.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم observed voluntary prayers around Dhuhr, Maghrib, ‘Isha, night, and dawn.
- His night prayer included Witr according to this report.
- He prayed at times standing and at times sitting.
- The narration shows a steady pattern of voluntary worship.
