20/18. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 1646 — Standing and Sitting Prayer
What is done when one begins the prayer standing and mentioning the differences with those who reported from 'Aisha concerning it
Standing and Sitting in the Prophet’s Night Prayer
Sunan an-Nasai : 1646
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 1646
أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادٌ، عَنْ بُدَيْلٍ، وَأَيُّوبَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ شَقِيقٍ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُصَلِّي لَيْلاً طَوِيلاً فَإِذَا صَلَّى قَائِمًا رَكَعَ قَائِمًا وَإِذَا صَلَّى قَاعِدًا رَكَعَ قَاعِدًا .
A'isha Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to pray for a long time at night. If he started to pray standing, he would bow standing and if he started to pray sitting, he would bow sitting.
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 1646In-book reference : Book 20, Hadith 49English translation : Vol. 2, Book 20, Hadith 1647
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 1646
This Hadith about standing and sitting prayer describes part of the Prophet’s night prayer. Aishah said the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) used to pray for a long time at night. If he began the prayer standing, he would bow while standing. If he began the prayer sitting, he would bow while sitting. The text focuses on his way of praying at night and the link between the starting posture and the bowing posture. It also shows that his night prayer could be long, yet it included more than one posture. The Hadith is useful for people searching for the Prophet’s night prayer method and how seated voluntary prayer was practiced.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet prayed long at night.
- His bowing matched the posture with which he began that prayer.
- Sitting prayer was part of his voluntary night prayer practice.
- Aishah carefully described the details of his worship.
