6/26. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 763e — Night Prayer and Right-Side Prayer Row
The prayer and the supplication of the Prophet (saws) at night
Tahajjud Prayer: Ibn Abbas Learns the Right Side in Night Prayer
Sahih Muslim : 763e
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 763e
وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَافِعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي فُدَيْكٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا الضَّحَّاكُ، عَنْ مَخْرَمَةَ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ، عَنْ كُرَيْبٍ، مَوْلَى ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ بِتُّ لَيْلَةً عِنْدَ خَالَتِي مَيْمُونَةَ بِنْتِ الْحَارِثِ فَقُلْتُ لَهَا إِذَا قَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَيْقِظِينِي . فَقَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقُمْتُ إِلَى جَنْبِهِ الأَيْسَرِ فَأَخَذَ بِيَدِي فَجَعَلَنِي مِنْ شِقِّهِ الأَيْمَنِ فَجَعَلْتُ إِذَا أَغْفَيْتُ يَأْخُذُ بِشَحْمَةِ أُذُنِي - قَالَ - فَصَلَّى إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً ثُمَّ احْتَبَى حَتَّى إِنِّي لأَسْمَعُ نَفَسَهُ رَاقِدًا فَلَمَّا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ الْفَجْرُ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ خَفِيفَتَيْنِ .
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
I spent one night in the house of my mother's sister Maimuna, daughter of Al-Harith, and said to her: Awake me when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stands to pray (at night). (She woke me up when) the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stood up for prayer. I stood on his left side. He took hold of my hand and made me stand on his right side, and whenever I dozed off he took hold of my earlobe (and made me alert).He (the narrator) said: He (the Holy Prophet) observed eleven rak`ahs. He then sat with his legs drawn and wrapped in his garment and slept so that I could hear his breathing while asleep. And when the dawn appeared, he observed two short rak`ahs of (Sunnah) prayer.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 763eIn-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 220USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1675
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 763e
This Hadith about Tahajjud prayer shows Ibn Abbas spending the night at the house of his aunt Maimuna so he could watch how the Messenger of Allah prayed at night. The key lesson is clear and simple: when Ibn Abbas stood on the left side, the Prophet gently moved him to the right side. The narration also tells us that the Prophet prayed eleven rakahs, rested while wrapped in his garment, and then prayed two short rakahs when dawn appeared. The scene is calm and practical. It teaches night prayer by example, not by long speech. It also shows care for a younger learner, as the Prophet helped Ibn Abbas stay alert when he dozed off.
What we learn from this hadith
- Ibn Abbas was eager to learn the Prophet's night prayer by watching it directly.
- When praying with one follower, the Prophet moved Ibn Abbas from the left side to the right side.
- The narration mentions eleven rakahs at night and two short rakahs after dawn appeared.
- Gentle correction can be part of teaching prayer.
