6/37. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 581 — Missed Sunnah Prayer After Sunset
Concession Regarding Prayer Before The Sun Sets
Hadith About Missed Sunnah Prayer Before Asr
Sunan an-Nasai : 581
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 581
أَخْبَرَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُعَاذٍ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا أَبِي قَالَ، حَدَّثَنَا عِمْرَانُ بْنُ حُدَيْرٍ، قَالَ سَأَلْتُ لاَحِقًا عَنِ الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ، قَبْلَ غُرُوبِ الشَّمْسِ فَقَالَ كَانَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الزُّبَيْرِ يُصَلِّيهِمَا فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهِ مُعَاوِيَةُ مَا هَاتَانِ الرَّكْعَتَانِ عِنْدَ غُرُوبِ الشَّمْسِ فَاضْطَرَّ الْحَدِيثَ إِلَى أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ فَقَالَتْ أُمُّ سَلَمَةَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ الْعَصْرِ فَشُغِلَ عَنْهُمَا فَرَكَعَهُمَا حِينَ غَابَتِ الشَّمْسُ فَلَمْ أَرَهُ يُصَلِّيهِمَا قَبْلُ وَلاَ بَعْدُ .
'Imran bin Hudair Narrated from:
I asked Lahiq about the two Rak'ahs before sunset. He said: "Abdullah bin Az-Zubair used to pray them, and Mu'awiyah sent word to him asking: 'What are these two Rak'ahs at sunset?' He had to refer to Umm Salamah, and Umm Salamah said: 'The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to pray two Rak'ahs before 'Asr, then he was distracted and did not pray them, so he prayed them when the sun set, and I never saw him pray them before or after that.'"
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 581In-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 88English translation : Vol. 1, Book 6, Hadith 582
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 581
This Hadith explains a special case about the two Rak'ahs before sunset. Imran bin Hudair asked Lahiq about this prayer, and the answer was linked back to Umm Salamah. She said the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) used to pray two Rak'ahs before Asr, but one day he was distracted and missed them. He then prayed those two Rak'ahs when the sun had set. Umm Salamah also made it clear that she never saw him pray those two Rak'ahs before or after that occasion. The main lesson in this hadith about missed Sunnah prayer is careful: it describes a specific event, not a repeated habit. It also shows how the Companions checked prayer practice by asking those who had direct knowledge.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) prayed two Rak'ahs after sunset on this occasion because he had missed them before Asr.
- Umm Salamah clearly said she did not see him repeat this before or after.
- Questions about prayer practice should be answered with reliable knowledge.
- This text teaches caution before treating a special event as a regular practice.
