What is Sunan Abu Dawud 1256 about?

This hadith from Sunan Abu Dawud (Book of Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat): Voluntary Prayers), narrated by Narrated 'Aishah:, states: "The Prophet (ﷺ) would pray two rak'ahs before the dawn prayer lightly so much so that I would say: Did he recite Surah al-Fatihah in them."

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 1256 in the Book of Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat): Voluntary Prayers.

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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#1255

#1256

Sunan Abu Dawud

#1257

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Sunan Abu Dawud #1256

Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat): Voluntary Prayers

Sahih

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

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ أَبِي شُعَيْبٍ الْحَرَّانِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرُ بْنُ مُعَاوِيَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ عَمْرَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُخَفِّفُ الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ صَلاَةِ الْفَجْرِ حَتَّى إِنِّي لأَقُولُ هَلْ قَرَأَ فِيهِمَا بِأُمِّ الْقُرْآنِ

The Prophet (ﷺ) would pray two rak'ahs before the dawn prayer lightly so much so that I would say: Did he recite Surah al-Fatihah in them.

Narrated by Narrated 'Aishah:

Context

This narration describes the practice of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) in performing two light rak'ahs before the Fajr prayer. Aisha, his wife, noted that the Prophet's prayer was so brief that she questioned whether he had recited Surah al-Fatihah. This hadith highlights the balance between performing voluntary prayers and maintaining their lightness, reflecting the Prophet's approach to worship.

Modern Application

In modern life, this hadith serves as a reminder that voluntary prayers can be performed with ease and should not feel burdensome. It encourages individuals to incorporate light and brief prayers into their daily routines, enhancing their spiritual connection without overwhelming themselves.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Prayer because it illustrates the practice of performing voluntary prayers and emphasizes the importance of maintaining a balance in worship.

Prayer

Related Ayahs

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.

سُورَةُ المُزَّمِّلِ

Al-Muzzammil (The Enshrouded One)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

2 ayahs

۞ 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.

قُمِ ٱلَّيْلَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًۭا

Arise [to pray] the night, except for a little -

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 مَرۡيَمَ

Maryam (Mary)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

فَخَرَجَ عَلَىٰ قَوْمِهِۦ مِنَ ٱلْمِحْرَابِ فَأَوْحَىٰٓ إِلَيْهِمْ أَن سَبِّحُوا۟ بُكْرَةًۭ وَعَشِيًّۭا

So he came out to his people from the prayer chamber and signaled to them to exalt [Allah] in the morning and afternoon.

Common Words

112 total86 unique13 repeated

من6x

ٱلله6x

ٱليل5x

إن3x

أن3x

ٱلصلوة2x

ٱلفجر2x

علم2x

فٱقرءوا2x

ما2x

تيسر2x

وءاخرون2x

فى2x

أقم1x

لدلوك1x

ٱلشمس1x

إلى1x

غسق1x

وقرءان1x

قرءان1x

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About Sunan Abu Dawud

This hadith is #1256 from Sunan Abu Dawud, in the Book of Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat): Voluntary Prayers. It is graded Sahih and narrated by Narrated 'Aishah:.

Browse all Sunan Abu Dawud All Hadith Collections

Sunan Abu Dawud #1256

Context

Modern Application

Topics

Related Ayahs

Common Words

Related Hadiths

About Sunan Abu Dawud

About This Hadith