Is this hadith authentic?

This hadith is graded Sahih. Sahih hadiths are considered the most authentic grade in hadith classification.

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This hadith is from Sahih Muslim, which contains 7,459 hadiths across 57 books. It is hadith number 1696 in the Book of The Book of Prayer - Travellers.

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#1695

#1696

Sahih Muslim

#1697

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Sahih Muslim #1696

Q: What is Sahih Muslim 1696 about?

This hadith from Sahih Muslim (Book of The Book of Prayer - Travellers), narrated by Zaid b Khalid al-Juhani said:, states: "I would definitely watch at night the prayer observed by the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He prayed two short rak'ahs, then two long, long, long rak'ahs, then he prayed two rak'ahs which were shorter than…"

The Book of Prayer - Travellers

Sahih

The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.

وَحَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ أَنَسٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ قَيْسِ بْنِ مَخْرَمَةَ، أَخْبَرَهُ عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ الْجُهَنِيِّ، أَنَّهُ قَالَ لأَرْمُقَنَّ صَلاَةَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم اللَّيْلَةَ فَصَلَّى ‏.‏ رَكْعَتَيْنِ خَفِيفَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ طَوِيلَتَيْنِ طَوِيلَتَيْنِ طَوِيلَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُمَا دُونَ اللَّتَيْنِ قَبْلَهُمَا ثُمَّ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُمَا دُونَ اللَّتَيْنِ قَبْلَهُمَا ثُمَّ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُمَا دُونَ اللَّتَيْنِ قَبْلَهُمَا ثُمَّ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُمَا دُونَ اللَّتَيْنِ قَبْلَهُمَا ثُمَّ أَوْتَرَ فَذَلِكَ ثَلاَثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً ‏.‏

I would definitely watch at night the prayer observed by the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He prayed two short rak'ahs, then two long, long, long rak'ahs, then he prayed two rak'ahs which were shorter than the two preceding rak'ahs, then he prayed two rak'ahs which were shorter than the two preceding, then he prayed two rak'ahs which were shorter than the two preceding, then observed a single one (Witr), making a total of thirteen rak'ahs

Narrated by Zaid b Khalid al-Juhani said:

Context

Zaid b Khalid al-Juhani observed the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) performing various types of prayers at night, demonstrating a structured approach to voluntary prayers. The Prophet (ﷺ) prayed in a manner that included both shorter and longer rak'ahs, culminating in the Witr prayer. This illustrates the flexibility and diversity in night worship.

Modern Application

Muslims today can adopt this practice by incorporating different lengths and types of prayers into their night worship, allowing for personal reflection and connection with Allah. This variety can enhance the spiritual experience during Tahajjud.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Prayer and Night Prayer (Tahajjud) because it describes the structure of night prayers performed by the Prophet (ﷺ), emphasizing the significance of Witr.

Prayer Night Prayer (Tahajjud)

Related Ayahs

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 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.

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 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.

Common Words

116 total87 unique15 repeated

ٱليل6x

ٱلله6x

من5x

إن3x

ومن3x

أن3x

ٱلصلوة2x

ٱلفجر2x

ربك2x

علم2x

فٱقرءوا2x

ما2x

تيسر2x

وءاخرون2x

فى2x

أقم1x

لدلوك1x

ٱلشمس1x

إلى1x

غسق1x

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About Sahih Muslim

This hadith is #1696 from Sahih Muslim, in the Book of The Book of Prayer - Travellers. It is graded Sahih and narrated by Zaid b Khalid al-Juhani said:.

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Sahih Muslim #1696

Context

Modern Application

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Common Words

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About Sahih Muslim

About This Hadith