6/16. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 731c — Standing Before Ruku‘
It is permissible to offer voluntary prayers standing or sitting, and to stand and sit in the same rak`ah
Standing Before Ruku‘ Hadith: The Prophet’s صلى الله عليه وسلم Sitting Tahajjud
Sahih Muslim : 731c
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 731c
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ ابْنُ عُلَيَّةَ، عَنِ الْوَلِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي هِشَامٍ، عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ عَمْرَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقْرَأُ وَهُوَ قَاعِدٌ فَإِذَا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَرْكَعَ قَامَ قَدْرَ مَا يَقْرَأُ إِنْسَانٌ أَرْبَعِينَ آيَةً .
A'isha Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to recite in sitting position (while observing the Tahajjud prayer) and when he intended to bow, he would stand up and recite (for the duration in which) a man (ordinarily) recites forty verses.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 731cIn-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 136USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1591
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 731c
This standing before ruku‘ hadith describes the Prophet’s صلى الله عليه وسلم Tahajjud prayer while sitting. ‘A’isha reported that he used to recite in a sitting position during Tahajjud. When he intended to bow, he would stand up and recite for the length of time in which a person would ordinarily recite forty verses. The narration is precise. It does not say more than this, so the explanation should remain tied to the text. The main point is the Prophet’s pattern in this prayer: recitation while sitting, then standing before bowing. Related search terms include Tahajjud sitting hadith, forty verses before ruku, and Prophet’s night prayer posture.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم recited while sitting in Tahajjud.
- Before bowing, he stood up.
- He recited while standing for about the time of forty verses.
