What is Sunan Abu Dawud 400 about?

This hadith from Sunan Abu Dawud (Book of Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat)), narrated by Narrated Abdullah ibn Mas'ud:, states: "The extent of the shadow when the Messenger of Allah prayed (the noon prayer) was three to five feet in summer and five to seven feet in winter."

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 400 in the Book of Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat).

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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#399

#400

Sunan Abu Dawud

#401

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Sunan Abu Dawud #400

Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat)

Sahih

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

حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبِيدَةُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي مَالِكٍ الأَشْجَعِيِّ، سَعْدِ بْنِ طَارِقٍ عَنْ كَثِيرِ بْنِ مُدْرِكٍ، عَنِ الأَسْوَدِ، أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ مَسْعُودٍ، قَالَ كَانَتْ قَدْرُ صَلاَةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي الصَّيْفِ ثَلاَثَةَ أَقْدَامٍ إِلَى خَمْسَةِ أَقْدَامٍ وَفِي الشِّتَاءِ خَمْسَةَ أَقْدَامٍ إِلَى سَبْعَةِ أَقْدَامٍ ‏.‏

The extent of the shadow when the Messenger of Allah prayed (the noon prayer) was three to five feet in summer and five to seven feet in winter.

Narrated by Narrated Abdullah ibn Mas'ud:

Context

In this narration, Abdullah ibn Mas'ud describes the length of the Prophet's (ﷺ) shadow during prayer, indicating the specific measurements for the extent of the shadow in different seasons. This detail reflects the Prophet's (ﷺ) attention to the environment and the practical aspects of performing prayers, demonstrating the balance between spirituality and daily life.

Modern Application

Understanding the practical aspects of prayer, such as the time and conditions for performing it, can enhance our worship experience. This hadith encourages believers to be mindful of their surroundings and to adapt their prayer practices accordingly.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Prayer and Good Deeds because it relates to the practice of prayer and the importance of performing good deeds in accordance with the Prophet's (ﷺ) guidance.

Prayer Good Deeds