Sunan Abu Dawud #1237
Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat): Detailed Rules of Law about the Prayer during Journey
The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْحَمِيدِ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنْ مُجَاهِدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي عَيَّاشٍ الزُّرَقِيِّ، قَالَ كُنَّا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِعُسْفَانَ وَعَلَى الْمُشْرِكِينَ خَالِدُ بْنُ الْوَلِيدِ فَصَلَّيْنَا الظُّهْرَ فَقَالَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ لَقَدْ أَصَبْنَا غِرَّةً لَقَدْ أَصَبْنَا غَفْلَةً لَوْ كُنَّا حَمَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ وَهُمْ فِي الصَّلاَةِ فَنَزَلَتْ آيَةُ الْقَصْرِ بَيْنَ الظُّهْرِ وَالْعَصْرِ فَلَمَّا حَضَرَتِ الْعَصْرُ قَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مُسْتَقْبِلَ الْقِبْلَةِ وَالْمُشْرِكُونَ أَمَامَهُ فَصَفَّ خَلْفَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم صَفٌّ وَصَفَّ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ الصَّفِّ صَفٌّ آخَرُ فَرَكَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَرَكَعُوا جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ سَجَدَ وَسَجَدَ الصَّفُّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُ وَقَامَ الآخَرُونَ يَحْرُسُونَهُمْ فَلَمَّا صَلَّى هَؤُلاَءِ السَّجْدَتَيْنِ وَقَامُوا سَجَدَ الآخَرُونَ الَّذِينَ كَانُوا خَلْفَهُمْ ثُمَّ تَأَخَّرَ الصَّفُّ الَّذِي يَلِيهِ إِلَى مَقَامِ الآخَرِينَ وَتَقَدَّمَ الصَّفُّ الأَخِيرُ إِلَى مَقَامِ الصَّفِّ الأَوَّلِ ثُمَّ رَكَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَرَكَعُوا جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ سَجَدَ وَسَجَدَ الصَّفُّ الَّذِي يَلِيهِ وَقَامَ الآخَرُونَ يَحْرُسُونَهُمْ فَلَمَّا جَلَسَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَالصَّفُّ الَّذِي يَلِيهِ سَجَدَ الآخَرُونَ ثُمَّ جَلَسُوا جَمِيعًا فَسَلَّمَ عَلَيْهِمْ جَمِيعًا فَصَلاَّهَا بِعُسْفَانَ وَصَلاَّهَا يَوْمَ بَنِي سُلَيْمٍ . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ رَوَى أَيُّوبُ وَهِشَامٌ عَنْ أَبِي الزُّبَيْرِ عَنْ جَابِرٍ هَذَا الْمَعْنَى عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَكَذَلِكَ رَوَاهُ دَاوُدُ بْنُ حُصَيْنٍ عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ وَكَذَلِكَ عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ عَنْ عَطَاءٍ عَنْ جَابِرٍ وَكَذَلِكَ قَتَادَةُ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ حِطَّانَ عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى فِعْلَهُ وَكَذَلِكَ عِكْرِمَةُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ عَنْ مُجَاهِدٍ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَكَذَلِكَ هِشَامُ بْنُ عُرْوَةَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَهُوَ قَوْلُ الثَّوْرِيِّ .
We accompanied the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) at Usfan, and Khalid ibn al-Walid was the chief of unbelievers. We offered the noon prayer.
Thereupon, the unbelievers said: We suffered from negligence; we became careless. We should have attacked them while they were praying. Thereupon the verse was revealed, relating to the shortening of the prayer (in time of danger) between the noon and afternoon (prayer).
When the time of the afternoon prayer came, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stood facing the qiblah, and the unbelievers were standing in front of him. The people stood in a row behind the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and there was another row behind this row. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) bowed and all of them bowed. He then prostrated and also the row near him prostrated. The other people in the second row remained standing and stood guard over them. When they performed two prostrations and stood up, those who were behind them prostrated. The people in the front row near him then stepped backward taking the place of the people in the second row and the second row took the place of the first row.
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) then bowed and all of them bowed together. Then he and the row near him prostrated themselves. The other people in the second row remained standing and stood guard over them. When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and the row near him (i.e. the front row) were seated, the people in the second row behind them prostrated themselves. Then all of them were seated. (He (the Prophet) then uttered the salutation upon all of them. He prayed in his manner at Usfan as well as at the territory of Banu Sulaym.
Abu Dawud said: This tradition has been narrated by Ayyub and Hisham from Abu al-Zubair on the authority of Jabir to the same effect from the Prophet (ﷺ). Similarly, this has been transmitted by Dawud b. Husain from 'Ikrimah, on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas. This has also been reported by 'Abd al-Malik, from 'Ata' from Jabir in like manner. This has also been narrated by Qatadah from al-Hasan from Hittan on the authority of Abu Musa in a similar way. Similarly, this has been reported by 'Ikrimah b. Khalid from Mujahid from the Prophet (ﷺ). This has also been reported by Hisham b. 'Urwah from his father from the Prophet (ﷺ). This is the opinion of al-Thawri.
Narrated by Narrated AbuAyyash az-Zuraqi:
Context
This hadith recounts an incident where the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ led the noon prayer while facing a threat from the unbelievers. The companions formed rows behind him, with some standing guard. This event led to the revelation of the verse allowing the shortening of prayers during times of danger, demonstrating the adaptability of prayer in critical situations.
Modern Application
In modern life, this hadith illustrates the importance of maintaining prayer even in challenging circumstances. It encourages individuals to prioritize their spiritual obligations while being mindful of their surroundings and potential threats.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Prayer and Prophetic Conduct because it showcases the Prophet's ﷺ leadership in prayer under duress and the adaptability of Islamic practices.
Related Ayahs
سُورَةُ النِّسَاءِ
An-Nisaa (The Women)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
4 ayahs
وَإِذَا كُنتَ فِيهِمْ فَأَقَمْتَ لَهُمُ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ فَلْتَقُمْ طَآئِفَةٌۭ مِّنْهُم مَّعَكَ وَلْيَأْخُذُوٓا۟ أَسْلِحَتَهُمْ فَإِذَا سَجَدُوا۟ فَلْيَكُونُوا۟ مِن وَرَآئِكُمْ وَلْتَأْتِ طَآئِفَةٌ أُخْرَىٰ لَمْ يُصَلُّوا۟ فَلْيُصَلُّوا۟ مَعَكَ وَلْيَأْخُذُوا۟ حِذْرَهُمْ وَأَسْلِحَتَهُمْ ۗ وَدَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَوْ تَغْفُلُونَ عَنْ أَسْلِحَتِكُمْ وَأَمْتِعَتِكُمْ فَيَمِيلُونَ عَلَيْكُم مَّيْلَةًۭ وَٰحِدَةًۭ ۚ وَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ إِن كَانَ بِكُمْ أَذًۭى مِّن مَّطَرٍ أَوْ كُنتُم مَّرْضَىٰٓ أَن تَضَعُوٓا۟ أَسْلِحَتَكُمْ ۖ وَخُذُوا۟ حِذْرَكُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ أَعَدَّ لِلْكَٰفِرِينَ عَذَابًۭا مُّهِينًۭا
And when you are among them and lead them in prayer, let a group of them stand [in prayer] with you and let them carry their arms. And when they have prostrated, let them be [in position] behind you and have the other group come forward which has not [yet] prayed and let them pray with you, taking precaution and carrying their arms. Those who disbelieve wish that you would neglect your weapons and your baggage so they could come down upon you in one [single] attack. But there is no blame upon you, if you are troubled by rain or are ill, for putting down your arms, but take precaution. Indeed, Allah has prepared for the disbelievers a humiliating punishment.
وَإِذَا ضَرَبْتُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَن تَقْصُرُوا۟ مِنَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ إِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَن يَفْتِنَكُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ كَانُوا۟ لَكُمْ عَدُوًّۭا مُّبِينًۭا
And when you travel throughout the land, there is no blame upon you for shortening the prayer, [especially] if you fear that those who disbelieve may disrupt [or attack] you. Indeed, the disbelievers are ever to you a clear enemy.
فَإِذَا قَضَيْتُمُ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ فَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ قِيَٰمًۭا وَقُعُودًۭا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِكُمْ ۚ فَإِذَا ٱطْمَأْنَنتُمْ فَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَٰبًۭا مَّوْقُوتًۭا
And when you have completed the prayer, remember Allah standing, sitting, or [lying] on your sides. But when you become secure, re-establish [regular] prayer. Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times.
أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ قِيلَ لَهُمْ كُفُّوٓا۟ أَيْدِيَكُمْ وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُوا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ فَلَمَّا كُتِبَ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْقِتَالُ إِذَا فَرِيقٌۭ مِّنْهُمْ يَخْشَوْنَ ٱلنَّاسَ كَخَشْيَةِ ٱللَّهِ أَوْ أَشَدَّ خَشْيَةًۭ ۚ وَقَالُوا۟ رَبَّنَا لِمَ كَتَبْتَ عَلَيْنَا ٱلْقِتَالَ لَوْلَآ أَخَّرْتَنَآ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍۢ قَرِيبٍۢ ۗ قُلْ مَتَٰعُ ٱلدُّنْيَا قَلِيلٌۭ وَٱلْءَاخِرَةُ خَيْرٌۭ لِّمَنِ ٱتَّقَىٰ وَلَا تُظْلَمُونَ فَتِيلًا
Have you not seen those who were told, "Restrain your hands [from fighting] and establish prayer and give zakah"? But then when fighting was ordained for them, at once a party of them feared men as they fear Allah or with [even] greater fear. They said, "Our Lord, why have You decreed upon us fighting? If only You had postponed [it for] us for a short time." Say, The enjoyment of this world is little, and the Hereafter is better for he who fears Allah. And injustice will not be done to you, [even] as much as a thread [inside a date seed]."
سُورَةُ الإِسۡرَاءِ
Al-Israa (The Night Journey)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
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.
Common Words
167 total127 unique24 repeated
ٱلصلوة7x
إن6x
فإذا3x
من3x
ٱلذين3x
عليكم3x
أن3x
ٱلله3x
إلى3x
وإذا2x
لهم2x
طائفة2x
منهم2x
معك2x
وليأخذوا2x
لم2x
كفروا2x
أسلحتكم2x
ولا2x
جناح2x
Related Hadiths
About Sunan Abu Dawud
This hadith is #1237 from Sunan Abu Dawud, in the Book of Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat): Detailed Rules of Law about the Prayer during Journey and narrated by Narrated AbuAyyash az-Zuraqi:.