6/20. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 749g — Prophet's Night Prayer and Two Rak'ahs Before Dawn
The night prayers are two by two, and Witr is one rakah at the end of the night
Prophet's Night Prayer: Pairs, Witr, and Two Rak'ahs Before Dawn
Sahih Muslim : 749g
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 749g
حَدَّثَنَا خَلَفُ بْنُ هِشَامٍ، وَأَبُو كَامِلٍ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ سِيرِينَ، قَالَ سَأَلْتُ ابْنَ عُمَرَ قُلْتُ أَرَأَيْتَ الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ صَلاَةِ الْغَدَاةِ أَأُطِيلُ فِيهِمَا الْقِرَاءَةَ قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى وَيُوتِرُ بِرَكْعَةٍ - قَالَ - قُلْتُ إِنِّي لَسْتُ عَنْ هَذَا أَسْأَلُكَ . قَالَ إِنَّكَ لَضَخْمٌ أَلاَ تَدَعُنِي أَسْتَقْرِئُ لَكَ الْحَدِيثَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى وَيُوتِرُ بِرَكْعَةٍ وَيُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ الْغَدَاةِ كَأَنَّ الأَذَانَ بِأُذُنَيْهِ . قَالَ خَلَفٌ أَرَأَيْتَ الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ الْغَدَاةِ وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ صَلاَةِ .
Anas b. Sirin Narrated from:
I asked Ibn 'Umar to tell me about the practice of the Prophet (ﷺ) in regard to two rak'ahs before the dawn prayer: Should I make lengthy recitation in them? He said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to observe, the night prayer in pairs and then made the number odd by observing one rak'ah. I said: I am not asking you about it. He said: You are a bulky man, will you not show me the patience to narrate to you the hadith completely?The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to observe the night prayer in pairs and then made the number odd by observing one rak'ah, and then he observed two rak'ahs before dawn quite close to the call for prayer (Khalaf said:" Did you see [yourself the Prophet observing] the two rak'ahs before the dawn?" and he made no mention of prayer.)
Reference : Sahih Muslim 749gIn-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 190USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1645
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 749g
This Hadith gives a fuller description of the Prophet's night practice as reported by Ibn 'Umar. Anas b. Sirin asked about the two rak'ahs before the dawn prayer and whether the recitation should be long. Ibn 'Umar first mentioned that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) used to pray the night prayer in pairs and make it odd with one rak'ah. When the questioner said that was not what he asked, Ibn 'Umar asked him to be patient so he could narrate the Hadith completely. He then mentioned the two rak'ahs before dawn, close to the call for prayer. For searches like Prophet night prayer, Witr one rak'ah, and two rak'ahs before Fajr, the text brings these actions together without adding details beyond the report.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) prayed night prayer in pairs.
- He made the night prayer odd by one rak'ah.
- He prayed two rak'ahs before dawn close to the call for prayer.
