10/20. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 802 — Voluntary Prayer at Home
When there are two men and two women
Hadith About Voluntary Prayer at Home with Family
Sunan an-Nasai : 802
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 802
أَخْبَرَنَا سُوَيْدُ بْنُ نَصْرٍ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ، عَنْ ثَابِتٍ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، قَالَ دَخَلَ عَلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَمَا هُوَ إِلاَّ أَنَا وَأُمِّي وَالْيَتِيمُ وَأُمُّ حَرَامٍ خَالَتِي فَقَالَ " قُومُوا فَلأُصَلِّيَ بِكُمْ " . قَالَ فِي غَيْرِ وَقْتِ صَلاَةٍ - قَالَ - فَصَلَّى بِنَا .
Anas Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) entered upon us and the only people present were myself, my mother, the orphan and Umm Harh, my maternal aunt. He said: 'Stand up and I will lead you in prayer.' It was not the time for a (prescribed) prayer. And he led us in prayer.
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 802In-book reference : Book 10, Hadith 26English translation : Vol. 1, Book 10, Hadith 803
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 802
This Hadith about voluntary prayer at home records that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) entered upon Anas, his mother, the orphan, and Umm Haram. He then said that they should stand so he could lead them in prayer. The narration makes one point clear: it was not the time for a prescribed prayer. So the prayer mentioned here was not tied to one of the regular obligatory prayer times in the wording of the report. The hadith is often searched by people looking for prayer at home hadith, voluntary prayer in congregation, and the Prophet leading family prayer. Its message is direct and gentle: worship was not only connected to the mosque; the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) also brought prayer into the home when he visited them.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) led a small household group in prayer.
- The narration states that this was outside the time of a prescribed prayer.
- Prayer at home can be a setting for shared worship.
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) encouraged those present to stand and pray with him.
