20/17. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 1641 — Balanced Night Worship
The differing narrations from 'Aishah regarding staying up at night (in prayer)
Balanced Night Worship and Fasting in the Sunnah
Sunan an-Nasai : 1641
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 1641
أَخْبَرَنَا هَارُونُ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدَةُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، عَنْ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ زُرَارَةَ بْنِ أَوْفَى، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ هِشَامٍ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، - رضى الله عنها - قَالَتْ لاَ أَعْلَمُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَرَأَ الْقُرْآنَ كُلَّهُ فِي لَيْلَةٍ وَلاَ قَامَ لَيْلَةً حَتَّى الصَّبَاحِ وَلاَ صَامَ شَهْرًا كَامِلاً قَطُّ غَيْرَ رَمَضَانَ .
A'isha Narrated from:
I do not know that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) recited the whole Qur'an in one night, or spent a whole night in worship until dawn, or that he ever fasted an entire month apart from Ramadan.
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 1641In-book reference : Book 20, Hadith 44English translation : Vol. 2, Book 20, Hadith 1642
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 1641
This Hadith about night worship shows the balanced way of the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم). Aishah, may Allah be pleased with her, says she did not know him to recite the whole Qur’an in one night, spend an entire night in prayer until dawn, or fast a complete month except Ramadan. The main message is moderation in worship. It teaches that love for worship does not mean pushing the body beyond a steady and reasonable pattern. The Prophet’s practice, as described here, gives a clear model: prayer, Qur’an recitation, and fasting were done with devotion, but not in a way that turned voluntary worship into constant strain.
What we learn from this hadith
- Voluntary worship should be balanced and steady.
- Ramadan is singled out as the month he fasted completely.
- Long worship is good, but this text does not present excess as the regular Prophetic way.
- Aishah’s report helps us understand the Prophet’s normal pattern at night.
