Sunan Abu Dawud — Prayer

‘Urwah reported on the authority of ‘A’ishah:The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to pray at night and she (‘A’ishah) would lie between him and the qiblah, sleeping on the bed on which he would sleep. When he wanted to offer the witr prayer, he awakened her and she offered the witr prayer

حدثنا احمد بن يونس، حدثنا زهير، حدثنا هشام بن عروة، عن عروة، عن عايشة، ان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم كان يصلي صلاته من الليل وهي معترضة بينه وبين القبلة راقدة على الفراش الذي يرقد عليه حتى اذا اراد ان يوتر ايقظها فاوترت

‘A’ishah said:I used to sleep with my legs in front of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) when he would offer his prayer at night (i.e. tahajjud prayer offered towards the end of the night.). When he prostrated himself he struck my legs, and I drew them up and he then prostrated

حدثنا مسدد، حدثنا يحيى، عن عبيد الله، قال سمعت القاسم، يحدث عن عايشة، قالت بيسما عدلتمونا بالحمار والكلب لقد رايت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يصلي وانا معترضة بين يديه فاذا اراد ان يسجد غمز رجلي فضممتها الى ثم يسجد

It was reported from Abu An-Nadr, from Abu Salama bin 'Abdur Rahman, from 'Aishah, that she said:"I used to be asleep while my legs would be in the front of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) while he was praying during the night. When he wanted to prostrate, he would prod my feet, so I would pull them up, and he would prostrate

حدثنا عاصم بن النضر، حدثنا المعتمر، حدثنا عبيد الله، عن ابي النضر، عن ابي سلمة بن عبد الرحمن، عن عايشة، انها قالت كنت اكون نايمة ورجلاى بين يدى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وهو يصلي من الليل فاذا اراد ان يسجد ضرب رجلى فقبضتهما فسجد

Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin: I used to sleep lying between the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and the qiblah. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to pray when I (was lying) in front of him. When he wanted to offer the witr prayer - added by the narrator Uthman - he pinched me - then the narrators are agreed - and said: Set aside

حدثنا عثمان بن ابي شيبة، حدثنا محمد بن بشر، ح قال ابو داود وحدثنا القعنبي، حدثنا عبد العزيز، - يعني ابن محمد وهذا لفظه - عن محمد بن عمرو، عن ابي سلمة، عن عايشة، انها قالت كنت انام وانا معترضة، في قبلة رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فيصلي رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وانا امامه فاذا اراد ان يوتر . زاد عثمان غمزني ثم اتفقا فقال " تنحى

Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas: I came riding a donkey. Another version has: Ibn Abbas said: When I was near the age of the puberty I came riding a she-ass and found the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) leading the people in prayer at Mina. I passed in front of a part of the row (of worshippers), and dismounting left my she-ass for grazing in the pasture, and I joined the row, and no one objected to that. Abu Dawud said: These are the words of al-Qa'nabi, and are complete. Malik said: I take it as permissible at the time when the iqamah for prayer is pronounced

حدثنا عثمان بن ابي شيبة، حدثنا سفيان بن عيينة، عن الزهري، عن عبيد الله بن عبد الله، عن ابن عباس، قال جيت على حمار ح وحدثنا القعنبي، عن مالك، عن ابن شهاب، عن عبيد الله بن عبد الله بن عتبة، عن ابن عباس، قال اقبلت راكبا على اتان وانا يوميذ، قد ناهزت الاحتلام ورسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يصلي بالناس بمنى فمررت بين يدى بعض الصف فنزلت فارسلت الاتان ترتع ودخلت في الصف فلم ينكر ذلك احد . قال ابو داود وهذا لفظ القعنبي وهو اتم . قال مالك وانا ارى ذلك واسعا اذا قامت الصلاة

Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas: AbusSahba' said: We discussed the things that cut off the prayer according to Ibn Abbas. He said: I and a boy from Banu AbdulMuttalib came riding a donkey, and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was leading the people in prayer. He dismounted and I also dismounted. I left the donkey in front of the row (of the worshippers). He (the Prophet) did not pay attention to that. Then two girls from Banu AbdulMuttalib came and joined the row in the middle, but he paid no attention to that

حدثنا مسدد، حدثنا ابو عوانة، عن منصور، عن الحكم، عن يحيى بن الجزار، عن ابي الصهباء، قال تذاكرنا ما يقطع الصلاة عند ابن عباس فقال جيت انا وغلام من بني عبد المطلب على حمار ورسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يصلي فنزل ونزلت وتركنا الحمار امام الصف فما بالاه وجاءت جاريتان من بني عبد المطلب فدخلتا بين الصف فما بالى ذلك

The above mentioned narration has also been narrated by Mansur through a different chain of narrators. This version has:Then two girls from Banu ‘Abd al-Muttalib came fighting together. He caught them. ‘Uthman (a narrator) said: He separated them. And Dawud (another narrator) said: He pulled away from the other, but he paid no attention to that

حدثنا عثمان بن ابي شيبة، وداود بن مخراق الفريابي، قالا حدثنا جرير، عن منصور، بهذا الحديث باسناده قال فجاءت جاريتان من بني عبد المطلب اقتتلتا فاخذهما - قال عثمان ففرع بينهما وقال داود - فنزع احداهما من الاخرى فما بالى ذلك

Narrated Al-Fadl ibn Abbas: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came to us accompanied by Abbas when we were in open country belonging to us. He prayed in a desert with no sutrah in front of him, and a she-ass and a bitch of ours were playing in front of him, but he paid no attention to that

حدثنا عبد الملك بن شعيب بن الليث، قال حدثني ابي، عن جدي، عن يحيى بن ايوب، عن محمد بن عمر بن علي، عن عباس بن عبيد الله بن عباس، عن الفضل بن عباس، قال اتانا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ونحن في بادية لنا ومعه عباس فصلى في صحراء ليس بين يديه سترة وحمارة لنا وكلبة تعبثان بين يديه فما بالى ذلك

Narrated AbuSa'id al-Khudri: The Prophet (ﷺ) said: Nothing interrupt prayer, but repulse as much as you can anyone who passes in front of you, for he is just a devil

حدثنا محمد بن العلاء، حدثنا ابو اسامة، عن مجالد، عن ابي الوداك، عن ابي سعيد، قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم " لا يقطع الصلاة شىء وادرءوا ما استطعتم فانما هو شيطان

Abu al-Waddak said:A youth from the Quraish passed in front of Abu Sa’id al-Khudri who was praying. He repulsed him. He returned again. He then repulsed him for the third time. When he finished the prayer, he said: Nothing cuts off prayer; but the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Repulse as much as you can, for he is just a devil. Abu Dawud said: If two traditions of the prophet(ﷺ) conflict, the practice of the Companions after him should be taken into consideration

حدثنا مسدد، حدثنا عبد الواحد بن زياد، حدثنا مجالد، حدثنا ابو الوداك، قال مر شاب من قريش بين يدى ابي سعيد الخدري وهو يصلي فدفعه ثم عاد فدفعه ثلاث مرات فلما انصرف قال ان الصلاة لا يقطعها شىء ولكن قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم " ادرءوا ما استطعتم فانه شيطان " . قال ابو داود اذا تنازع الخبران عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم نظر الى ما عمل به اصحابه من بعده

Salim reported on the authority of his father (Ibn ‘Umar):I saw the Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) that when he began prayer, he used to raise his hands opposite his shoulders, and he did so when he bowed, and raised his head after bowing. Sufyan(a narrator) once said: “When he raised his head:; and after he used to say: “When he raised his head after bowing. He would not raise (his hands) between the two prostrations

حدثنا احمد بن محمد بن حنبل، حدثنا سفيان، عن الزهري، عن سالم، عن ابيه، قال رايت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم اذا استفتح الصلاة رفع يديه حتى يحاذي منكبيه واذا اراد ان يركع وبعد ما يرفع راسه من الركوع - وقال سفيان مرة واذا رفع راسه . واكثر ما كان يقول وبعد ما يرفع راسه من الركوع - ولا يرفع بين السجدتين

‘Abd Allah b. Umar said:The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to raise his hands opposite his shoulders when he began prayer, then he uttered takbir (Allah is most great) in the same condition, and then he bowed. And when he raised his back (head) after bowing he raised them opposite his shoulders, and said: “Allah listens to him who praises Him.” But he did not raise his hand when he prostrated himself; he rather raised them when he uttered the takbir (Allah is most great) before bowing until his prayer is finished

حدثنا محمد بن المصفى الحمصي، حدثنا بقية، حدثنا الزبيدي، عن الزهري، عن سالم، عن عبد الله بن عمر، قال كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم اذا قام الى الصلاة رفع يديه حتى تكونا حذو منكبيه ثم كبر وهما كذلك فيركع ثم اذا اراد ان يرفع صلبه رفعهما حتى تكونا حذو منكبيه ثم قال سمع الله لمن حمده ولا يرفع يديه في السجود ويرفعهما في كل تكبيرة يكبرها قبل الركوع حتى تنقضي صلاته

‘Abd al-Jabbar b. Wa’il (b.Hujr) said:I was a small boy and I did not understand the prayer of my father. So Wa’Il b. ‘Alqamah reported Wa’il b. Hujr as saying: I offered prayer along with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He used to raise his hands when he pronounced the takbir (Allah is most great), then pulled his garment around him, then placed his right hand on his left, and entered his hands in his garment. When he was about to bow he took his hands out of his garment, and then raised them. And when he raised his head after bowing, he raised his hands. He then prostrated himself and placed his face (forehead on the ground) between his hands. And when he raised his head after prostration, he also raised his hands until he finished his prayer. Muhammad (a narrator) said: I mentioned it to al-Hasan b. Abu al-Hasan who said: This is how the Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) offered prayer; some did it and others abandoned it. Abu Dawud said: This tradition has been narrated by Hammam from ibn Juhadah, but he did not mention the raising of hands after he raised his head at the end of the prostration

حدثنا عبيد الله بن عمر بن ميسرة الجشمي، حدثنا عبد الوارث بن سعيد، قال حدثنا محمد بن جحادة، حدثني عبد الجبار بن وايل بن حجر، قال كنت غلاما لا اعقل صلاة ابي قال فحدثني وايل بن علقمة عن ابي وايل بن حجر قال صليت مع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فكان اذا كبر رفع يديه - قال - ثم التحف ثم اخذ شماله بيمينه وادخل يديه في ثوبه قال فاذا اراد ان يركع اخرج يديه ثم رفعهما واذا اراد ان يرفع راسه من الركوع رفع يديه ثم سجد ووضع وجهه بين كفيه واذا رفع راسه من السجود ايضا رفع يديه حتى فرغ من صلاته . قال محمد فذكرت ذلك للحسن بن ابي الحسن فقال هي صلاة رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فعله من فعله وتركه من تركه . قال ابو داود روى هذا الحديث همام عن ابن جحادة لم يذكر الرفع مع الرفع من السجود

Wa’il b.Hujr said:He saw that when the Prophet(ﷺ) stood up to pray he raised his hands till they were in front of his shoulders and placed his thumbs opposite his ears; then he uttered the Takbir (Allah is most great)

حدثنا عثمان بن ابي شيبة، حدثنا عبد الرحيم بن سليمان، عن الحسن بن عبيد الله النخعي، عن عبد الجبار بن وايل، عن ابيه، انه ابصر النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم حين قام الى الصلاة رفع يديه حتى كانتا بحيال منكبيه وحاذى بابهاميه اذنيه ثم كبر

Wa’il b.Hujr said that he saw the Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) raise his hands when he uttered the takbir (Allah is most great)

حدثنا مسدد، حدثنا يزيد، - يعني ابن زريع - حدثنا المسعودي، حدثني عبد الجبار بن وايل، حدثني اهل، بيتي عن ابي انه، حدثهم انه، راى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يرفع يديه مع التكبيرة

Narrated Wa'il ibn Hujr: I purposely looked at the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), how he offered it. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stood up, faced the direction of the qiblah and uttered the takbir (Allah is most great) and then raised his hands in front of his ears, then placed his right hand on his left (catching each other). When he was about to bow, he raised them in the same manner. He then placed his hands on his knees. When he raised his head after bowing, he raised them in the like manner. When he prostrated himself he placed his forehead between his hands. He then sat down and spread his left foot and placed his left hand on his left thigh, and kept his right elbow aloof from his right thigh. He closed his two fingers and made a circle (with the fingers). I (Asim ibn Kulayb) saw him (Bishr ibn al-Mufaddal) say in this manner. Bishr made the circle with the thumb and the middle finger and pointed with the forefinger

حدثنا مسدد، حدثنا بشر بن المفضل، عن عاصم بن كليب، عن ابيه، عن وايل بن حجر، قال قلت لانظرن الى صلاة رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم كيف يصلي قال فقام رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فاستقبل القبلة فكبر فرفع يديه حتى حاذتا اذنيه ثم اخذ شماله بيمينه فلما اراد ان يركع رفعهما مثل ذلك ثم وضع يديه على ركبتيه فلما رفع راسه من الركوع رفعهما مثل ذلك فلما سجد وضع راسه بذلك المنزل من بين يديه ثم جلس فافترش رجله اليسرى ووضع يده اليسرى على فخذه اليسرى وحد مرفقه الايمن على فخذه اليمنى وقبض ثنتين وحلق حلقة ورايته يقول هكذا . وحلق بشر الابهام والوسطى واشار بالسبابة

The above tradition has been transmitted by ‘Asim b. Kulaib through a different chain of narrators and to the same effect. This version has:“He then placed his right hand on the back of his left palm and his wrist and forearm.” This also adds: “I then came back afterwards in a season when it was severe cold. I saw the people putting on heavy clothes moving their hands under the clothes (i.e. raised their hands before and after bowing).”

حدثنا الحسن بن علي، حدثنا ابو الوليد، حدثنا زايدة، عن عاصم بن كليب، باسناده ومعناه قال فيه ثم وضع يده اليمنى على ظهر كفه اليسرى والرسغ والساعد وقال فيه ثم جيت بعد ذلك في زمان فيه برد شديد فرايت الناس عليهم جل الثياب تحرك ايديهم تحت الثياب

Narrated Wa'il ibn Hujr: I witnessed the Prophet (ﷺ) raise his hands in front of his ears when he began to pray. I then came back and saw them (the people) raising their hands up to their chest when they began to pray. They wore long caps and blankets

حدثنا عثمان بن ابي شيبة، حدثنا شريك، عن عاصم بن كليب، عن ابيه، عن وايل بن حجر، قال رايت النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم حين افتتح الصلاة رفع يديه حيال اذنيه - قال - ثم اتيتهم فرايتهم يرفعون ايديهم الى صدورهم في افتتاح الصلاة وعليهم برانس واكسية

Wa’il b. Hujr said:I came to the Prophet(ﷺ) during winter; I saw his companions raise their hands in their clothes in prayer

حدثنا محمد بن سليمان الانباري، حدثنا وكيع، عن شريك، عن عاصم بن كليب، عن علقمة بن وايل، عن وايل بن حجر، قال اتيت النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم في الشتاء فرايت اصحابه يرفعون ايديهم في ثيابهم في الصلاة

Abu Humaid al-Sa’idi once told a company of ten of the companions of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) ; Abu Qatadah was one of them:I am one among you who is more informed of the way the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prayed. They said: Why, By Allah, you did not follow him more than us, nor did you remain in his company longer than us? He said: Yes. They said: Then describe (how the Prophet prayed). He said: When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stood up to pray, he raised his hands so as to bring them opposite his shoulders, and uttered the takbir (Allah is the most great), until every bone rested in its place properly: then re recited (some verses from the Quran); then he uttered the takbir (Allah is most great), raising his hands so as to bring them opposite his shoulders; then he bowed; placing the palms of his hands on his knees and keeping himself straight, neither raising nor lowering his head; then raised his head saying: “Allah listens to him who praise Him”; then raised his hands so as to bring them exactly opposite to his shoulders; then uttered: “Allah is most great”; then lowered himself to the ground (in prostration), keeping his arms away from his sides; then raised his head, bent his left foot and sat on it, and opened the toes when he prostrated: then he uttered: “Allah is most great”; then raised his head, bent his left foot and sat on it so that every bone returned to its place properly; then he did the same in the second (rak’ah). At the end of the two Rak’ahs he stood up and uttered the takbir (Allah is most great), raising his hands so as to bring them opposite to his shoulders; then he bowed, placing the palms of his hands on his knees and keeping himself straight, neither raising or lowering his head: then raised his head saying: “Allah listens to him who praises Him”; then raised his hands so as to bring them exactly opposite his shoulders; then uttered: “Allah is most great”; then lowered himself to the ground (in prostration), keeping his arms away from his sides; then raised his head, bent his left foot and sat on it, and opened the toes when he prostrated himself; then he prostrated; then uttered: “Allah is most great”; then raised his head, bent his left foot and sat on it so that every bone returned to its place properly; then he did the same in the second (rak’ah). At the end of two rak’ahs he stood up and uttered the takbir (Allah is most great), raising his hands so as to bring them opposite to his shoulders in the way he had uttered the Takbir (Allah is most great) at the beginning of the prayer; then he did that in the remainder of his prayer; and after prostration which if followed by the taslim (salutation) he out his left foot and sat on his left hip. They said: You have spoken the truth. This is how he(peace be upon him) used to pray