6/49. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 822b — Pairing Mufassal Surahs in Prayer
Slow, measured pace of recitation (tartil), and to not rush when reciting, and the permissibility of reciting two or more surahs in one rak`ah
Mufassal Surahs in Prayer: A Hadith on Reciting with Care
Sahih Muslim : 822b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 822b
وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ أَبِي وَائِلٍ، قَالَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ يُقَالُ لَهُ نَهِيكُ بْنُ سِنَانٍ . بِمِثْلِ حَدِيثِ وَكِيعٍ غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ فَجَاءَ عَلْقَمَةُ لِيَدْخُلَ عَلَيْهِ فَقُلْنَا لَهُ سَلْهُ عَنِ النَّظَائِرِ الَّتِي كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقْرَأُ بِهَا فِي رَكْعَةٍ فَدَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ فَسَأَلَهُ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ عَلَيْنَا فَقَالَ عِشْرُونَ سُورَةً مِنَ الْمُفَصَّلِ فِي تَأْلِيفِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ .
Abu Wail Narrated from:
A person came to 'Abdullah, who was called Nahik b. Sinan, and the rest of the hadith is the same but for this:" Alqama came to him ('Abdullah b. Mas'ud) and we said to him: Ask him about the manners in which he combined (two surahs) in one rak'ah. So he went to him and asked him and then came to us and said: Twenty are the mufassal surahs in the compilation (of the Qur'an) made by 'Abdullah."
Reference : Sahih Muslim 822bIn-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 337USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1792
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 822b
This narration continues the report about Nahik b. Sinan coming to 'Abdullah b. Mas'ud. It keeps the same warning against reciting in a rushed way, and adds that Alqama was asked to inquire about how the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم combined surahs in one rak'ah. Alqama returned and said that there were twenty mufassal surahs in the arrangement of 'Abdullah. The focus is not on showing off a large amount of recitation. It is on knowing the Prophetic manner and not reducing Qur'an recitation to speed. For searches such as mufassal surahs in one rakah hadith or Sahih Muslim 822b, this narration shows that the Companions cared about the way recitation was done, not only how much was read.
What we learn from this hadith
- The narration repeats the concern about hurried recitation.
- Alqama was asked to learn how surahs were combined in one rak'ah.
- Twenty mufassal surahs are mentioned in the arrangement of 'Abdullah.
- The Hadith values Prophetic manner over speed.
