9/2. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 744 — Witr on a Mount, Not Prescribed Prayer
Situation in which it is permissible to face a direction other than the Qibla
Witr Prayer on a Mount: Travel Prayer Hadith
Sunan an-Nasai : 744
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 744
أَخْبَرَنَا عِيسَى بْنُ حَمَّادٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ سَالِمٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُصَلِّي عَلَى الرَّاحِلَةِ قِبَلَ أَىِّ وَجْهٍ تَوَجَّهُ بِهِ وَيُوتِرُ عَلَيْهَا غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ لاَ يُصَلِّي عَلَيْهَا الْمَكْتُوبَةَ .
`Abdullah Narrated from:
The messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to pray atop his mount while traveling, facing whatever direction it was facing, and he would pray witr atop it, but he did not pray the prescribed prayers atop it ".
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 744In-book reference : Book 9, Hadith 3English translation : Vol. 1, Book 9, Hadith 745
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 744
This hadith about Witr prayer on a mount gives a careful detail. Abdullah reports that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم used to pray atop his mount while travelling, facing whatever direction it was facing. The narration then adds that he would pray Witr on it, but he did not pray the prescribed prayers on it. That final line is important because it keeps the meaning within the exact text. The hadith is about travel prayer, prayer on a mount, and Witr while riding. It does not speak about every type of prayer in every situation. It simply reports the Prophet's صلى الله عليه وسلم practice: prayer on the riding animal during travel, Witr on it, and no prescribed prayers on it in this narration.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم prayed on his mount while travelling.
- Witr prayer is specifically mentioned as being prayed on the mount.
- The narration states that prescribed prayers were not prayed on the mount.
- The text makes a clear difference between Witr and the obligatory prayers in this setting.
