6/17. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 738a — Eleven Rak'ahs in Ramadan
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 Eleven Rak'ahs in Ramadan and Other Months
Sahih Muslim : 738a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 738a
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، قَالَ قَرَأْتُ عَلَى مَالِكٍ عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْمَقْبُرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، أَنَّهُ سَأَلَ عَائِشَةَ كَيْفَ كَانَتْ صَلاَةُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي رَمَضَانَ قَالَتْ مَا كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَزِيدُ فِي رَمَضَانَ وَلاَ فِي غَيْرِهِ عَلَى إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً يُصَلِّي أَرْبَعًا فَلاَ تَسْأَلْ عَنْ حُسْنِهِنَّ وَطُولِهِنَّ ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي أَرْبَعًا فَلاَ تَسْأَلْ عَنْ حُسْنِهِنَّ وَطُولِهِنَّ ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي ثَلاَثًا فَقَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَتَنَامُ قَبْلَ أَنْ تُوتِرَ فَقَالَ " يَا عَائِشَةُ إِنَّ عَيْنَىَّ تَنَامَانِ وَلاَ يَنَامُ قَلْبِي " .
Abu Salamah bin 'Abdur-Rahman Narrated from:
Abu Salama b. Abd al-Rahman asked 'A'isha about the (night) prayer of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) during the month of Ramadan. She said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) did not observe either in Ramadan or in other months more than eleven rak'ahs (of the night prayer).He (in the first instance) observed four rak'ahs. Ask not about their excellence and their length (i. e. these were matchless in perfection and length). He again observed four rak'ahs, and ask not about their excellence and their length. He would then observe three rak'ahs (of the Witr prayer). 'A'isha again said: I said: Messenger of Allah, do you sleep before observing the Witr prayer? He said: O 'A'isha, my eyes sleep but my heart does not sleep.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 738aIn-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 152USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1607
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 738a
This famous hadith about night prayer in Ramadan answers a clear question. Abu Salama asked A'isha about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) during Ramadan. She said he did not pray more than eleven rak'ahs in Ramadan or in other months. She described four rak'ahs, then four rak'ahs, then three rak'ahs of Witr, and she praised their beauty and length. When she asked if he slept before Witr, he said his eyes sleep but his heart does not sleep. For searches like eleven rakahs in Ramadan hadith, Tahajjud in Ramadan hadith, and Sahih Muslim 738a explanation, this narration is central. It gives number, structure, length, and the Prophet’s answer about sleep before Witr.
What we learn from this hadith
- A'isha reported eleven rak'ahs in Ramadan and outside Ramadan.
- The prayer was described as beautiful and long.
- The Witr was three rak'ahs in this report.
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said his eyes slept but his heart did not sleep.
