6/17. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 736b — Night Prayer Until Fajr
Night prayers and the number of rak`ah offered by the Prophet (saws) at night, and that Witr is one rak`ah, and a one-rak`ah prayer is correct
Hadith About Night Prayer, Witr, and Two Short Fajr Rak'ahs
Sahih Muslim : 736b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 736b
وَحَدَّثَنِي حَرْمَلَةُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي عَمْرُو بْنُ الْحَارِثِ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، زَوْجِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَتْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُصَلِّي فِيمَا بَيْنَ أَنْ يَفْرُغَ مِنْ صَلاَةِ الْعِشَاءِ - وَهِيَ الَّتِي يَدْعُو النَّاسُ الْعَتَمَةَ - إِلَى الْفَجْرِ إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً يُسَلِّمُ بَيْنَ كُلِّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَيُوتِرُ بِوَاحِدَةٍ فَإِذَا سَكَتَ الْمُؤَذِّنُ مِنْ صَلاَةِ الْفَجْرِ وَتَبَيَّنَ لَهُ الْفَجْرُ وَجَاءَهُ الْمُؤَذِّنُ قَامَ فَرَكَعَ رَكْعَتَيْنِ خَفِيفَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ اضْطَجَعَ عَلَى شِقِّهِ الأَيْمَنِ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَهُ الْمُؤَذِّنُ لِلإِقَامَةِ . وَحَدَّثَنِيهِ حَرْمَلَةُ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ . وَسَاقَ حَرْمَلَةُ الْحَدِيثَ بِمِثْلِهِ غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ لَمْ يَذْكُرْ وَتَبَيَّنَ لَهُ الْفَجْرُ وَجَاءَهُ الْمُؤَذِّنُ . وَلَمْ يَذْكُرِ الإِقَامَةَ . وَسَائِرُ الْحَدِيثِ بِمِثْلِ حَدِيثِ عَمْرٍو سَوَاءً .
A'isha, the wife of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), said that between the time when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) finished the 'Isha' prayer which is called 'Atama by the people, he used to pray eleven rak'ahs, uttering the salutation at the end of every two rak'ahs, and observing the Witr with a single one. And when the Mu'adhdhin had finished the call (for the) dawn prayer and he saw the dawn clearly and the Mu'adhdhin had come to him, he stood up and prayed two short rak'ahs. Then he lay down on his right side till the Mu'adhdhin came to him for lqama. (This hadith has been narrated with the same chain of transmitters by Ibn Shihab, but in it no mention has been made of Iqama )
Reference : Sahih Muslim 736b-cIn-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 148USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1603
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 736b
This hadith about night prayer gives more detail about the time and order of the Prophet’s worship. A'isha said that after the 'Isha' prayer, which people called 'Atama, until Fajr, the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) used to pray eleven rak'ahs. He gave salutation after every two rak'ahs and then observed Witr with one rak'ah. When the Mu'adhdhin finished the call for the dawn prayer, dawn was clear, and the Mu'adhdhin came, he stood and prayed two short rak'ahs. Then he lay on his right side until the Mu'adhdhin came for Iqama. For searches like Prophet night prayer hadith, eleven rakahs Witr hadith, and Sunnah before Fajr hadith, this narration gives direct wording.
What we learn from this hadith
- The night prayer in this report was between 'Isha' and Fajr.
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) ended every two rak'ahs with salutation.
- He observed Witr with one rak'ah.
- He prayed two short rak'ahs after the dawn call and then rested on his right side.
