6/49. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 822f — Do Not Rush Qur'an Recitation
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
Hadith About Reciting Mufassal Surahs Without Rushing
Sahih Muslim : 822f
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 822f
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، وَابْنُ، بَشَّارٍ قَالَ ابْنُ الْمُثَنَّى حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ مُرَّةَ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا وَائِلٍ، يُحَدِّثُ أَنَّ رَجُلاً، جَاءَ إِلَى ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ فَقَالَ إِنِّي قَرَأْتُ الْمُفَصَّلَ اللَّيْلَةَ كُلَّهُ فِي رَكْعَةٍ . فَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ هَذًّا كَهَذِّ الشِّعْرِ فَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ لَقَدْ عَرَفْتُ النَّظَائِرَ الَّتِي كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقْرُنُ بَيْنَهُنَّ - قَالَ - فَذَكَرَ عِشْرِينَ سُورَةً مِنَ الْمُفَصَّلِ سُورَتَيْنِ سُورَتَيْنِ فِي كُلِّ رَكْعَةٍ .
Abu Wail Narrated from:
A person came to 'Abdullah b. Mas'ud and said: I recited all the mufassal surahs in one rak'ah during the night. 'Abdullah said: You must have recited hastily like the recitation of poetry. 'Abdullah said: I remember well the manner in which the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to combine them, and he then mentioned twenty of the mufassal surahs, and (their combinations in) two in every rak'ah.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 822fIn-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 341USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1796
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 822f
This hadith about reciting mufassal surahs gives a clear warning against rushing through Qur'an in prayer. A man told 'Abdullah b. Mas'ud that he had recited all the mufassal surahs in one rak'ah at night. 'Abdullah replied that this sounded like the quick recitation of poetry. He then said he remembered how the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم used to combine them. The report adds that he mentioned twenty mufassal surahs, paired two by two in each rak'ah. The focus is not on showing how much one can finish. It is on a measured prophetic pattern and on keeping prayer from becoming a race.
What we learn from this hadith
- A long night prayer should still avoid careless speed.
- 'Abdullah used the Prophet's صلى الله عليه وسلم recitation as the measure.
- The report mentions pairs of mufassal surahs, two in each rak'ah.
- Quality and prophetic order are highlighted over fast completion.
