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 742 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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#741

#742

Sunan Abu Dawud

#743

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Sunan Abu Dawud #742

Q: What is Sunan Abu Dawud 742 about?

This hadith from Sunan Abu Dawud (Book of Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat)), narrated by Nafi’ said:, states: "When ‘Abd Allah b. ‘Umar began his prayer, he raised his hands opposite to his shoulders; and when he raised his head after bowing, he raised them lower than that. Abu Dawud said: So as far as I kno…"

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 الْقَعْنَبِيُّ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عُمَرَ، كَانَ إِذَا ابْتَدَأَ الصَّلاَةَ يَرْفَعُ يَدَيْهِ حَذْوَ مَنْكِبَيْهِ وَإِذَا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ الرُّكُوعِ رَفَعَهُمَا دُونَ ذَلِكَ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ لَمْ يَذْكُرْ رَفْعَهُمَا دُونَ ذَلِكَ ‏.‏ أَحَدٌ غَيْرَ مَالِكٍ فِيمَا أَعْلَمُ ‏.‏

When ‘Abd Allah b. ‘Umar began his prayer, he raised his hands opposite to his shoulders; and when he raised his head after bowing, he raised them lower than that. Abu Dawud said: So as far as I know, no one narrated the words “he raised them lower that that” except Malik.

Narrated by Nafi’ said:

Context

In this hadith, 'Abd Allah b. 'Umar demonstrates a specific practice of raising hands during prayer, indicating a methodical approach to the physical aspects of worship. This action reflects the importance of following the Prophet Muhammad's (ﷺ) example in prayer rituals, which are integral to the Islamic faith. The emphasis on specific hand positions serves as a reminder of the structured nature of Islamic worship.

Modern Application

In daily salah, following the prescribed movements, such as raising hands at specific points, helps maintain the integrity of the prayer. This adherence to tradition fosters a deeper connection to the practice and enhances the spiritual experience for worshippers.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Prayer and Prophetic Conduct because it details a specific action performed by 'Abd Allah b. 'Umar that aligns with the practices established by the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ).

Prayer Prophetic Conduct