11/40. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 946 — Brief Fajr Sunnah Prayer
Making the two rak'ahs of Fajr brief
Brief Fajr Sunnah Prayer: A Hadith from Aishah
Sunan an-Nasai : 946
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 946
أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ عَمْرَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ إِنْ كُنْتُ لأَرَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَىِ الْفَجْرِ فَيُخَفِّفُهُمَا حَتَّى أَقُولَ أَقَرَأَ فِيهِمَا بِأُمِّ الْكِتَابِ
A'isha Narrated from:
I would see the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) praying two rak'ahs of Fajr and making them so brief that I said: 'Did he recite the Umm Al-Kitab in them?'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 946In-book reference : Book 11, Hadith 71English translation : Vol. 2, Book 11, Hadith 947
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 946
This Hadith about brief Fajr Sunnah prayer gives a close description from Aishah. She said that she would see the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم praying the two rak'ahs of Fajr and making them so brief that she wondered whether he recited the Umm Al-Kitab, meaning Al-Fatihah. The narration shows the lightness of those two rak'ahs as she observed them. It does not say that he skipped recitation. Rather, it shows how brief the prayer appeared to her. For someone searching for a hadith about two light rak'ahs before Fajr, this report gives a clear picture. The key point is measured worship: the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم prayed these rak'ahs, and they were noticeably short.
What we learn from this hadith
- The two rak'ahs of Fajr were observed as very brief.
- Aishah’s wording shows how light those rak'ahs appeared.
- The Hadith mentions Umm Al-Kitab in connection with recitation.
- The narration teaches that some Sunnah prayers may be kept short.
