6/26. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 763f — Light Ablution Before Night Prayer
The prayer and the supplication of the Prophet (saws) at night
Hadith About Wudu Before Tahajjud Prayer and Standing on the Right
Sahih Muslim : 763f
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 763f
حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَاتِمٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُيَيْنَةَ، - قَالَ ابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، - عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ دِينَارٍ، عَنْ كُرَيْبٍ، مَوْلَى ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، أَنَّهُ بَاتَ عِنْدَ خَالَتِهِ مَيْمُونَةَ فَقَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَتَوَضَّأَ مِنْ شَنٍّ مُعَلَّقٍ وُضُوءًا خَفِيفًا - قَالَ وَصَفَ وُضُوءَهُ وَجَعَلَ يُخَفِّفُهُ وَيُقَلِّلُهُ - قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ فَقُمْتُ فَصَنَعْتُ مِثْلَ مَا صَنَعَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ثُمَّ جِئْتُ فَقُمْتُ عَنْ يَسَارِهِ فَأَخْلَفَنِي فَجَعَلَنِي عَنْ يَمِينِهِ فَصَلَّى ثُمَّ اضْطَجَعَ فَنَامَ حَتَّى نَفَخَ ثُمَّ أَتَاهُ بِلاَلٌ فَآذَنَهُ بِالصَّلاَةِ فَخَرَجَ فَصَلَّى الصُّبْحَ وَلَمْ يَتَوَضَّأْ . قَالَ سُفْيَانُ وَهَذَا لِلنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم خَاصَّةً لأَنَّهُ بَلَغَنَا أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم تَنَامُ عَيْنَاهُ وَلاَ يَنَامُ قَلْبُهُ .
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
Ibn `Abbas reported that he spent a night in the house of his maternal aunt, Maimuna. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) got up at night and performed a short ablution (taking water) from the water-skin hanging there. (Giving a description of the ablution Ibn `Abbas said: It was short and performed with a little water.)I also got up and did the same as the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had done. I then came (to him) and stood on his left. He then made me go around to his right side. He then observed prayer and went to sleep till he began to snore. Bilal came to him and informed him about the prayer. He (the Holy Prophet) then went out and observed the dawn prayer without performing ablution.Sufyan said: It was a special (prerogative of the) Apostle of Allah (ﷺ) for it has been conveyed to us that the eyes of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sleep, but his heart does not sleep.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 763fIn-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 221USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1676
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 763f
This narration focuses on wudu before Tahajjud prayer and the simple way Ibn Abbas learned from the Prophet. The Messenger of Allah rose at night and performed a short ablution using a little water from a hanging water-skin. Ibn Abbas did the same, showing careful learning through action. He then stood on the Prophet's left side, and the Prophet moved him to the right side before praying. The Hadith also mentions that the Prophet slept until he snored, then Bilal came to inform him about the prayer, and he went out for the dawn prayer without making a new ablution. The narration itself adds that this was special to the Prophet, because his eyes slept but his heart did not sleep.
What we learn from this hadith
- Ibn Abbas learned by copying the Prophet's ablution and prayer practice.
- The Hadith describes light use of water in ablution without waste.
- The Prophet corrected Ibn Abbas's place in prayer by moving him to the right side.
- The narration states that praying after sleep without a new ablution was special to the Prophet.
