20/21. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 1660 — Standing Prayer Reward
The superiority of prayer sitting down over prayer lying down
Standing, Sitting, and Lying Down in Prayer
Sunan an-Nasai : 1660
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 1660
أَخْبَرَنَا حُمَيْدُ بْنُ مَسْعَدَةَ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ بْنِ حَبِيبٍ، عَنْ حُسَيْنٍ الْمُعَلِّمِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ بُرَيْدَةَ، عَنْ عِمْرَانَ بْنِ حُصَيْنٍ، قَالَ سَأَلْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنِ الَّذِي يُصَلِّي قَاعِدًا قَالَ " مَنْ صَلَّى قَائِمًا فَهُوَ أَفْضَلُ وَمَنْ صَلَّى قَاعِدًا فَلَهُ نِصْفُ أَجْرِ الْقَائِمِ وَمَنْ صَلَّى نَائِمًا فَلَهُ نِصْفُ أَجْرِ الْقَاعِدِ " .
'Imran bin Husain Narrated from:
I asked the Prophet (ﷺ) about one who prays sitting down. He said: 'Whoever prays standing up is better, and one who prays sitting down will have half the reward of one who prays standing up. And whoever prays lying down will have half the reward of one who prays sitting down.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 1660In-book reference : Book 20, Hadith 63English translation : Vol. 2, Book 20, Hadith 1661
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 1660
This Hadith about standing prayer reward gives a direct answer to Imran bin Husain. He asked the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) about one who prays sitting down. The Prophet said whoever prays standing is better. He then said one who prays sitting has half the reward of one who prays standing, and whoever prays lying down has half the reward of one who prays sitting. The text focuses on reward levels linked to prayer posture. It does not discuss every case of illness or ability in detail, so the explanation stays with the wording. The Hadith is highly searched because it clearly compares standing prayer, sitting prayer, and lying prayer in a simple order.
What we learn from this hadith
- Standing prayer is described as better in this Hadith.
- Sitting prayer is described as half the reward of standing prayer.
- Lying prayer is described as half the reward of sitting prayer.
- The Prophet answered Imran’s question with a clear comparison.
