10/19. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 801 — Family Prayer at Home
When three men and one woman pray together
Hadith About Family Prayer at Home and Prayer Rows
Sunan an-Nasai : 801
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 801
أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي طَلْحَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، أَنَّ جَدَّتَهُ، مُلَيْكَةَ دَعَتْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لِطَعَامٍ قَدْ صَنَعَتْهُ لَهُ فَأَكَلَ مِنْهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ " قُومُوا فَلأُصَلِّيَ لَكُمْ " . قَالَ أَنَسٌ فَقُمْتُ إِلَى حَصِيرٍ لَنَا قَدِ اسْوَدَّ مِنْ طُولِ مَا لُبِسَ فَنَضَحْتُهُ بِمَاءٍ فَقَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَصَفَفْتُ أَنَا وَالْيَتِيمُ وَرَاءَهُ وَالْعَجُوزُ مِنْ وَرَائِنَا فَصَلَّى لَنَا رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ .
Anas bin Malik Narrated from:
It was narrated from Anas bin Malik, that his grandmother Mulaikah invited the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) to come and eat some food that she had prepared for him. Then he said: "Get up and I will lead you in prayer." Anas said: "So I got up and brought a reed mat of ours that had turned black from long use, and spreaded some water on it. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stood and the orphan and I stood in a row behind him, and the old woman stood behind us, and he led us in praying two Rak'ahs, then he left."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 801In-book reference : Book 10, Hadith 25English translation : Vol. 1, Book 10, Hadith 802
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 801
This Hadith about family prayer at home shows a warm moment in the life of the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم). Mulaikah invited him to eat food she had prepared, and after eating, he offered to lead them in prayer. The hadith clearly describes how the prayer row was arranged: Anas and the orphan stood behind the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم), while the older woman stood behind them. A used reed mat was cleaned with water and used as the prayer place. The main lesson is simple: prayer could be offered in a home setting, and the rows were arranged with care even in a small group. It also shows the Prophet’s kindness in accepting food and then leading the household in worship.
What we learn from this hadith
- Prayer may be performed in a simple home setting when people gather for worship.
- Rows in prayer were arranged with order, even when the group was small.
- Women stood behind the male row in this prayer described by Anas.
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) combined kindness to hosts with leading them in prayer.
