Sahih al-Bukhari #138
Ablutions (Wudu')
The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ عَمْرٍو، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي كُرَيْبٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَامَ حَتَّى نَفَخَ ثُمَّ صَلَّى ـ وَرُبَّمَا قَالَ اضْطَجَعَ حَتَّى نَفَخَ ـ ثُمَّ قَامَ فَصَلَّى. ثُمَّ حَدَّثَنَا بِهِ سُفْيَانُ مَرَّةً بَعْدَ مَرَّةٍ عَنْ عَمْرٍو عَنْ كُرَيْبٍ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ بِتُّ عِنْدَ خَالَتِي مَيْمُونَةَ لَيْلَةً، فَقَامَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنَ اللَّيْلِ، فَلَمَّا كَانَ فِي بَعْضِ اللَّيْلِ قَامَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَتَوَضَّأَ مِنْ شَنٍّ مُعَلَّقٍ وُضُوءًا خَفِيفًا ـ يُخَفِّفُهُ عَمْرٌو وَيُقَلِّلُهُ ـ وَقَامَ يُصَلِّي فَتَوَضَّأْتُ نَحْوًا مِمَّا تَوَضَّأَ، ثُمَّ جِئْتُ فَقُمْتُ عَنْ يَسَارِهِ ـ وَرُبَّمَا قَالَ سُفْيَانُ عَنْ شِمَالِهِ ـ فَحَوَّلَنِي فَجَعَلَنِي عَنْ يَمِينِهِ، ثُمَّ صَلَّى مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ، ثُمَّ اضْطَجَعَ، فَنَامَ حَتَّى نَفَخَ، ثُمَّ أَتَاهُ الْمُنَادِي فَآذَنَهُ بِالصَّلاَةِ، فَقَامَ مَعَهُ إِلَى الصَّلاَةِ، فَصَلَّى وَلَمْ يَتَوَضَّأْ. قُلْنَا لِعَمْرٍو إِنَّ نَاسًا يَقُولُونَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم تَنَامُ عَيْنُهُ وَلاَ يَنَامُ قَلْبُهُ. قَالَ عَمْرٌو سَمِعْتُ عُبَيْدَ بْنَ عُمَيْرٍ يَقُولُ رُؤْيَا الأَنْبِيَاءِ وَحْىٌ، ثُمَّ قَرَأَ {إِنِّي أَرَى فِي الْمَنَامِ أَنِّي أَذْبَحُكَ}.
Ibn `Abbas said, "The Prophet (ﷺ) slept till he snored and then prayed (or probably lay till his breath
sounds were heard and then got up and prayed)." Ibn `Abbas added: "I stayed overnight in the house
of my aunt, Maimuna, the Prophet (ﷺ) slept for a part of the night, (See Fath-al-Bari page 249, Vol. 1),
and late in the night, he got up and performed ablution from a hanging water skin, a light (perfect)
ablution and stood up for the prayer. I, too, performed a similar ablution, then I went and stood on his
left. He drew me to his right and prayed as much as Allah wished, and again lay and slept till his
breath sounds were heard. Later on the Mu'adh-dhin (call maker for the prayer) came to him and
informed him that it was time for Prayer. The Prophet (ﷺ) went with him for the prayer without
performing a new ablution." (Sufyan said to `Amr that some people said, "The eyes of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)
sleep but his heart does not sleep." `Amr replied, "I heard `Ubaid bin `Umar saying that the dreams of
Prophets were Divine Inspiration, and then he recited the verse: 'I (Abraham) see in a dream, (O my
son) that I offer you in sacrifice (to Allah)." (37.102) (See Hadith No. 183)
Narrated by Narrated Kuraib:
Context
In this hadith, Ibn `Abbas recounts a night spent at the house of his aunt, Maimuna, where the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) demonstrated the practice of night prayer after a brief sleep. The Prophet (ﷺ) performed ablution from a hanging water skin and prayed, showing the importance of maintaining ritual purity and the flexibility of prayer times. This incident emphasizes the balance between rest and worship in a believer's life.
Modern Application
In today's fast-paced world, it is essential to find moments for spiritual connection, even amidst busy schedules. Just as the Prophet (ﷺ) balanced rest with prayer, individuals can incorporate brief moments of reflection or prayer into their daily routines, ensuring they remain spiritually connected.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Prayer and Purification (Wudu/Taharah) because it illustrates the practice of performing ablution before prayer and highlights the significance of maintaining spiritual practices even during the night.
Related Ayahs
سُورَةُ المُزَّمِّلِ
Al-Muzzammil (The Enshrouded One)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
۞ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّكَ تَقُومُ أَدْنَىٰ مِن ثُلُثَىِ ٱلَّيْلِ وَنِصْفَهُۥ وَثُلُثَهُۥ وَطَآئِفَةٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ مَعَكَ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يُقَدِّرُ ٱلَّيْلَ وَٱلنَّهَارَ ۚ عَلِمَ أَن لَّن تُحْصُوهُ فَتَابَ عَلَيْكُمْ ۖ فَٱقْرَءُوا۟ مَا تَيَسَّرَ مِنَ ٱلْقُرْءَانِ ۚ عَلِمَ أَن سَيَكُونُ مِنكُم مَّرْضَىٰ ۙ وَءَاخَرُونَ يَضْرِبُونَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ يَبْتَغُونَ مِن فَضْلِ ٱللَّهِ ۙ وَءَاخَرُونَ يُقَٰتِلُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ فَٱقْرَءُوا۟ مَا تَيَسَّرَ مِنْهُ ۚ وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُوا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَأَقْرِضُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًۭا ۚ وَمَا تُقَدِّمُوا۟ لِأَنفُسِكُم مِّنْ خَيْرٍۢ تَجِدُوهُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ هُوَ خَيْرًۭا وَأَعْظَمَ أَجْرًۭا ۚ وَٱسْتَغْفِرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۢ
Indeed, your Lord knows, [O Muhammad], that you stand [in prayer] almost two thirds of the night or half of it or a third of it, and [so do] a group of those with you. And Allah determines [the extent of] the night and the day. He has known that you [Muslims] will not be able to do it and has turned to you in forgiveness, so recite what is easy [for you] of the Qur'an. He has known that there will be among you those who are ill and others traveling throughout the land seeking [something] of the bounty of Allah and others fighting for the cause of Allah. So recite what is easy from it and establish prayer and give zakah and loan Allah a goodly loan. And whatever good you put forward for yourselves - you will find it with Allah. It is better and greater in reward. And seek forgiveness of Allah. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
سُورَةُ الإِسۡرَاءِ
Al-Israa (The Night Journey)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
2 ayahs
أَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ لِدُلُوكِ ٱلشَّمْسِ إِلَىٰ غَسَقِ ٱلَّيْلِ وَقُرْءَانَ ٱلْفَجْرِ ۖ إِنَّ قُرْءَانَ ٱلْفَجْرِ كَانَ مَشْهُودًۭا
Establish prayer at the decline of the sun [from its meridian] until the darkness of the night and [also] the Qur'an of dawn. Indeed, the recitation of dawn is ever witnessed.
وَمِنَ ٱلَّيْلِ فَتَهَجَّدْ بِهِۦ نَافِلَةًۭ لَّكَ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَبْعَثَكَ رَبُّكَ مَقَامًۭا مَّحْمُودًۭا
And from [part of] the night, pray with it as additional [worship] for you; it is expected that your Lord will resurrect you to a praised station.
سُورَةُ قٓ
Qaaf (The letter Qaaf)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَمِنَ ٱلَّيْلِ فَسَبِّحْهُ وَأَدْبَٰرَ ٱلسُّجُودِ
And [in part] of the night exalt Him and after prostration.
سُورَةُ الإِنسَانِ
Al-Insaan (Man)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَمِنَ ٱلَّيْلِ فَٱسْجُدْ لَهُۥ وَسَبِّحْهُ لَيْلًۭا طَوِيلًا
And during the night prostrate to Him and exalt Him a long [part of the] night.
Common Words
116 total87 unique15 repeated
ٱليل6x
ٱلله6x
من5x
إن3x
أن3x
ومن3x
ربك2x
علم2x
فٱقرءوا2x
ما2x
تيسر2x
وءاخرون2x
فى2x
ٱلصلوة2x
ٱلفجر2x
يعلم1x
أنك1x
تقوم1x
أدنى1x
ثلثى1x
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About Sahih al-Bukhari
This hadith is #138 from Sahih al-Bukhari, in the Book of Ablutions (Wudu'). It is graded Sahih and narrated by Narrated Kuraib:.