13/100. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 1359 — Leaving Prayer to the Right
Leaving after finishing prayer
Leaving Prayer to the Right: What Anas Observed
Sunan an-Nasai : 1359
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 1359
أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، عَنِ السُّدِّيِّ، قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَنَسَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ كَيْفَ أَنْصَرِفُ إِذَا صَلَّيْتُ عَنْ يَمِينِي، أَوْ عَنْ يَسَارِي، قَالَ أَمَّا أَنَا فَأَكْثَرُ، مَا رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَنْصَرِفُ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ .
As-Suddi Narrated from:
I asked Anas bin Malik: 'How should I leave after I have prayed- to the right or to the left?' He said: 'I usually saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) leave to the right.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 1359In-book reference : Book 13, Hadith 181English translation : Vol. 2, Book 13, Hadith 1360
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 1359
This Hadith discusses how to leave after prayer. As-Suddi asked Anas bin Malik whether he should leave after praying to the right or to the left. Anas replied that he usually saw the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) leave to the right. The Hadith is careful in its wording. It does not say that a person must only leave to the right. It reports what Anas most often observed from the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم). This makes the narration useful for people searching for the Sunnah of turning after salah. It also teaches that Companions asked practical questions about prayer, and answers were based on what they saw from the Prophet’s practice.
What we learn from this hadith
- Anas was asked whether to leave prayer to the right or left.
- He said he usually saw the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) leave to the right.
- The narration reports observation, not a forced rule.
- Practical details of prayer were learned from the Companions.
