What is Sunan Abu Dawud 1238 about?

This hadith from Sunan Abu Dawud (Book of Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat): Detailed Rules of Law about the Prayer during Journey), narrated by Narrated Sahl b. Abi Hathmah:, states: "The Prophet (ﷺ) prayed in time of danger and divided them (the people) behind him in two rows. He then led those who were near him in one rak'ah. Then he stood and remained standing till those who wer…"

Is this hadith authentic?

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

Which collection is this hadith from?

This hadith is from Sunan Abu Dawud, which contains 5,276 hadiths across 43 books. It is hadith number 1238 in the Book of Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat): Detailed Rules of Law about the Prayer during Journey.

I searched for a different number — is this the right hadith?

Hadith numbering varies across editions and translations (USC-MSA, Dar as-Salam, Fath al-Bari, and others). If you followed a link citing a different number but landed here, you may have been redirected to the canonical version in our library. If you were looking for a different hadith entirely, use the search bar to find it by text.

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#1237

#1238

Sunan Abu Dawud

#1239

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Sunan Abu Dawud #1238

Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat): Detailed Rules of Law about the Prayer during Journey

Sahih

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

حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُعَاذٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ الْقَاسِمِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ خَوَّاتٍ، عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ أَبِي حَثْمَةَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم صَلَّى بِأَصْحَابِهِ فِي خَوْفٍ فَجَعَلَهُمْ خَلْفَهُ صَفَّيْنِ فَصَلَّى بِالَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُ رَكْعَةً ثُمَّ قَامَ فَلَمْ يَزَلْ قَائِمًا حَتَّى صَلَّى الَّذِينَ خَلْفَهُمْ رَكْعَةً ثُمَّ تَقَدَّمُوا وَتَأَخَّرَ الَّذِينَ كَانُوا قُدَّامَهُمْ فَصَلَّى بِهِمُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم رَكْعَةً ثُمَّ قَعَدَ حَتَّى صَلَّى الَّذِينَ تَخَلَّفُوا رَكْعَةً ثُمَّ سَلَّمَ ‏.‏

The Prophet (ﷺ) prayed in time of danger and divided them (the people) behind him in two rows. He then led those who were near him in one rak'ah. Then he stood and remained standing till those who were in second row offered one rak'ah. Thereafter they came forward and those who were in front of them (in the first row) stepped backward. The Prophet (ﷺ) led them in one rak'ah of prayer. He sat down till those who were in the second row completed on rak'ah. He then uttered the salutation.

Narrated by Narrated Sahl b. Abi Hathmah:

Context

This hadith recounts an occasion when the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) led his companions in prayer during a time of danger. He arranged them in two rows, allowing each group to perform a rak'ah while the other remained vigilant. This highlights the importance of maintaining prayer even in challenging circumstances, showcasing the Prophet's (ﷺ) leadership and adaptability.

Modern Application

In contemporary life, this hadith emphasizes the importance of prayer even during difficult times. It encourages individuals to find ways to maintain their spiritual practices, such as performing Salah in a manner that accommodates their circumstances, ensuring their connection to faith remains strong.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Prayer because it demonstrates the Prophet's (ﷺ) approach to maintaining worship in challenging situations.

Prayer

Related Ayahs

سُورَةُ النِّسَاءِ

An-Nisaa (The Women)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

2 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.

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.

سُورَةُ الجِنِّ

Al-Jinn (The Jinn)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

وَأَنَّهُۥ لَمَّا قَامَ عَبْدُ ٱللَّهِ يَدْعُوهُ كَادُوا۟ يَكُونُونَ عَلَيْهِ لِبَدًۭا

And that when the Servant of Allah stood up supplicating Him, they almost became about him a compacted mass."

سُورَةُ البَقَرَةِ

Al-Baqara (The Cow)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

فَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ فَرِجَالًا أَوْ رُكْبَانًۭا ۖ فَإِذَآ أَمِنتُمْ فَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ كَمَا عَلَّمَكُم مَّا لَمْ تَكُونُوا۟ تَعْلَمُونَ

And if you fear [an enemy, then pray] on foot or riding. But when you are secure, then remember Allah [in prayer], as He has taught you that which you did not [previously] know.

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

121 total97 unique15 repeated

ٱلصلوة5x

فإذا4x

إن4x

ٱلله4x

طائفة2x

معك2x

وليأخذوا2x

من2x

لم2x

أسلحتكم2x

عليكم2x

كان2x

أو2x

فٱذكروا2x

ٱلفجر2x

وإذا1x

كنت1x

فيهم1x

فأقمت1x

لهم1x

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About Sunan Abu Dawud

This hadith is #1238 from Sunan Abu Dawud, in the Book of Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat): Detailed Rules of Law about the Prayer during Journey. It is graded Sahih and narrated by Narrated Sahl b. Abi Hathmah:.

Browse all Sunan Abu Dawud All Hadith Collections

Sunan Abu Dawud #1238

Context

Modern Application

Topics

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Common Words

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About Sunan Abu Dawud

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