20/20. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 1659 — Sitting Prayer Reward
The superiority of prayer standing up over prayer sitting down
Prayer Sitting and the Prophet’s Special Case
Sunan an-Nasai : 1659
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 1659
أَخْبَرَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مَنْصُورٌ، عَنْ هِلاَلِ بْنِ يِسَافٍ، عَنْ أَبِي يَحْيَى، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، قَالَ رَأَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُصَلِّي جَالِسًا فَقُلْتُ حُدِّثْتُ أَنَّكَ قُلْتَ " إِنَّ صَلاَةَ الْقَاعِدِ عَلَى النِّصْفِ مِنْ صَلاَةِ الْقَائِمِ " . وَأَنْتَ تُصَلِّي قَاعِدًا . قَالَ " أَجَلْ وَلَكِنِّي لَسْتُ كَأَحَدٍ مِنْكُمْ " .
'Abdullah bin 'Amr Narrated from:
I saw the Prophet (ﷺ) praying sitting down and I said: 'I was told that you said that the prayer of one who is sitting down is worth half of the prayer of the one who is standing up.' He said: 'Yes indeed, but I am not like any one of you.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 1659In-book reference : Book 20, Hadith 62English translation : Vol. 2, Book 20, Hadith 1660
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 1659
This Hadith about prayer sitting half reward records a question from Abdullah bin Amr. He saw the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) praying while sitting and mentioned that he had heard the Prophet say the prayer of one who sits is worth half the prayer of one who stands. The Prophet replied, “Yes indeed, but I am not like any one of you.” The Hadith gives two points at the same time. First, it confirms the statement about sitting prayer having half the reward of standing prayer. Second, it shows that the Prophet’s own case was not like that of others. The explanation should not erase either point, because both are stated in the text.
What we learn from this hadith
- Sitting prayer is described as half the reward of standing prayer.
- The Prophet confirmed the general statement mentioned by Abdullah bin Amr.
- The Prophet also stated that his case was not like others.
- Questions helped companions learn details of worship.
