6/16. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 733a — Slow Recitation in Nafl Prayer
It is permissible to offer voluntary prayers standing or sitting, and to stand and sit in the same rak`ah
Hadith About Nafl Prayer Sitting and Slow Qur’an Recitation
Sahih Muslim : 733a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 733a
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، قَالَ قَرَأْتُ عَلَى مَالِكٍ عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنِ السَّائِبِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ، عَنِ الْمُطَّلِبِ بْنِ أَبِي وَدَاعَةَ السَّهْمِيِّ، عَنْ حَفْصَةَ، أَنَّهَا قَالَتْ مَا رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم صَلَّى فِي سُبْحَتِهِ قَاعِدًا حَتَّى كَانَ قَبْلَ وَفَاتِهِ بِعَامٍ فَكَانَ يُصَلِّي فِي سُبْحَتِهِ قَاعِدًا وَكَانَ يَقْرَأُ بِالسُّورَةِ فَيُرَتِّلُهَا حَتَّى تَكُونَ أَطْوَلَ مِنْ أَطْوَلَ مِنْهَا .
Hafsah Narrated from:
Never did I see the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) observing supererogatory prayer sitting till one year before his death when he would observe Nafl prayer in a sitting position, and he would recite the Surah (of the Qur'an) in such a slow-measured tone (that duration of its recital) became more lengthy than the one longer than this.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 733aIn-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 142USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1597
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 733a
This hadith about Nafl prayer sitting gives a close look at the Prophet’s voluntary worship near the end of his life. Hafsa said she had not seen the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) pray his supererogatory prayer sitting until one year before his death. She also described his recitation as slow and measured. Because of that careful recitation, a surah could take longer than another surah that was longer in wording. This is useful for people searching for slow recitation in prayer, Nafl prayer hadith, or Prophet’s night prayer sitting. The hadith does not ask the reader to add claims beyond the text. It simply shows a calm form of worship: sitting in Nafl prayer and reciting with care.
What we learn from this hadith
- Hafsa noticed a change in the Prophet’s Nafl prayer near the end of his life.
- The narration describes voluntary prayer while sitting.
- Slow and measured recitation can make a shorter surah take longer.
- The report shows attention to both posture and recitation in worship.
