36/4. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3961 — Dhikr in Bowing and Prostration
Jealousy
Night Prayer Dhikr: Subhanaka wa Bihamdika
Sunan an-Nasai : 3961
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3961
أَخْبَرَنِي إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ الْمِقْسَمِيُّ، عَنْ حَجَّاجٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ جُرَيْجٍ، عَنْ عَطَاءٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي ابْنُ أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ فَقَدْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ذَاتَ لَيْلَةٍ فَظَنَنْتُ أَنَّهُ ذَهَبَ إِلَى بَعْضِ نِسَائِهِ فَتَجَسَّسْتُهُ فَإِذَا هُوَ رَاكِعٌ أَوْ سَاجِدٌ يَقُولُ " سُبْحَانَكَ وَبِحَمْدِكَ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ " . فَقُلْتُ بِأَبِي وَأُمِّي إِنَّكَ لَفِي شَأْنٍ وَإِنِّي لَفِي شَأْنٍ آخَرَ .
A'isha Narrated from:
I noticed that the Messenger of Allah was not there one night, and I thought that he had gone to one of his other wives, so I reached out for him, and found him bowing or prostrating, and saying: 'Subhanaka wa bi hamdika la ilaha illa anta (Glory and praise be to You, there is none worthy of worship but You).' I said: 'May my father and mother be sacrificed for you; you were doing one thing, and I was thinking of something else.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3961In-book reference : Book 36, Hadith 23English translation : Vol. 4, Book 36, Hadith 3413
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3961
This night prayer hadith shows Aishah noticing that the Messenger of Allah was not beside her. She thought he might have gone to another wife, so she reached out and found him bowing or prostrating. In that position he was saying, "Subhanaka wa bi hamdika la ilaha illa anta," meaning that glory and praise belong to Allah and none is worthy of worship but Him. The scene gently contrasts Aishah's concern with the Prophet's worship. Her own words admit that he was occupied with one matter while she had been thinking about another. The central message is the Prophet's remembrance of Allah in ruku or sujud. It also shows that a mistaken thought can be corrected when the truth becomes clear.
What we learn from this hadith
- Remember Allah with praise during acts of prayer.
- Do not hold firmly to a suspicion after the facts become clear.
- Night worship may include long moments of bowing or prostration.
