6/26. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 763g — Dua for Light in Tahajjud Prayer
The prayer and the supplication of the Prophet (saws) at night
Dua for Light: A Powerful Tahajjud Prayer Hadith
Sahih Muslim : 763g
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 763g
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدٌ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ جَعْفَرٍ - حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ كُرَيْبٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ بِتُّ فِي بَيْتِ خَالَتِي مَيْمُونَةَ فَبَقَيْتُ كَيْفَ يُصَلِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم - قَالَ - فَقَامَ فَبَالَ ثُمَّ غَسَلَ وَجْهَهُ وَكَفَّيْهِ ثُمَّ نَامَ ثُمَّ قَامَ إِلَى الْقِرْبَةِ فَأَطْلَقَ شِنَاقَهَا ثُمَّ صَبَّ فِي الْجَفْنَةِ أَوِ الْقَصْعَةِ فَأَكَبَّهُ بِيَدِهِ عَلَيْهَا ثُمَّ تَوَضَّأَ وُضُوءًا حَسَنًا بَيْنَ الْوُضُوءَيْنِ ثُمَّ قَامَ يُصَلِّي فَجِئْتُ فَقُمْتُ إِلَى جَنْبِهِ فَقُمْتُ عَنْ يَسَارِهِ - قَالَ - فَأَخَذَنِي فَأَقَامَنِي عَنْ يَمِينِهِ فَتَكَامَلَتْ صَلاَةُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ثَلاَثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً ثُمَّ نَامَ حَتَّى نَفَخَ وَكُنَّا نَعْرِفُهُ إِذَا نَامَ بِنَفْخِهِ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ إِلَى الصَّلاَةِ فَصَلَّى فَجَعَلَ يَقُولُ فِي صَلاَتِهِ أَوْ فِي سُجُودِهِ " اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْ فِي قَلْبِي نُورًا وَفِي سَمْعِي نُورًا وَفِي بَصَرِي نُورًا وَعَنْ يَمِينِي نُورًا وَعَنْ شِمَالِي نُورًا وَأَمَامِي نُورًا وَخَلْفِي نُورًا وَفَوْقِي نُورًا وَتَحْتِي نُورًا وَاجْعَلْ لِي نُورًا أَوْ قَالَ وَاجْعَلْنِي نُورًا " .
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
I spent the night in the house of my mother's sister, Maimuna, and observed how the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prayed (at night). He got up and relieved himself. He then washed his face and hands and then went to sleep. He again got up and went near the water-skin and loosened its straps and then poured some water in a bowl and inclined it with his hands (towards himself). He then performed a good ablution between the two extremes and then stood up to pray.I also came and stood by his left side. He took hold of me and made me stand on his right side. It was in thirteen rak`ahs that the (night) prayer of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was completed. He then slept till he began to snore, and we knew that he had gone to sleep by his snoring.He then went out (for the dawn prayer), and said while praying or prostrating himself: "O Allah! place light in my heart, light in my hearing, light in my sight, light on my right, light on my left, light in front of me, light behind me, light above me, light below me, make light for me," or he said: "Make me light."
Reference : Sahih Muslim 763gIn-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 222USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1677
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 763g
This Hadith is well known for the dua for light in Tahajjud prayer. Ibn Abbas spent the night at the house of Maimuna and watched how the Messenger of Allah prayed. The narration mentions washing, sleeping, then performing a good ablution that was neither too light nor too much. Ibn Abbas stood on the left, and the Prophet moved him to the right. The prayer was completed in thirteen rakahs. After that, the Prophet slept until his snoring was noticed, then he went out for prayer and made a supplication asking Allah to place light in his heart, hearing, sight, right, left, front, back, above, and below. The words make the whole person turn to Allah for light.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet's supplication asked Allah for light in the heart, senses, and all directions.
- Ibn Abbas carefully observed the details of night prayer.
- The narration mentions thirteen rakahs in the Prophet's night prayer.
- The Prophet moved Ibn Abbas to the right side during prayer.
