Sunan Abu Dawud #853

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 مُوسَى بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادٌ، أَخْبَرَنَا ثَابِتٌ، وَحُمَيْدٌ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ مَا صَلَّيْتُ خَلْفَ رَجُلٍ أَوْجَزَ صَلاَةً مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي تَمَامٍ وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا قَالَ ‏ "‏ سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَامَ حَتَّى نَقُولَ قَدْ أَوْهَمَ ثُمَّ يُكَبِّرُ وَيَسْجُدُ وَكَانَ يَقْعُدُ بَيْنَ السَّجْدَتَيْنِ حَتَّى نَقُولَ قَدْ أَوْهَمَ ‏.‏
I did not offer prayer behind anyone more brief than the one offered by the Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) and that was perfect. When the Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) said: “Allah listens to him who praises Him,” he stood long we thought that he had omitted something; then he say takbir(Allah is most great) and prostrate, and would sit between the two prostrations so long that we thought that he had omitted something.
Narrated by Anas b. Malik said:

Context

Anas b. Malik narrates that he never prayed behind anyone whose prayer was more concise yet complete than that of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). The Prophet (ﷺ) would stand for an extended period during the prayer, leading the companions to think he might have forgotten something. This demonstrates the balance between brevity and thoroughness in prayer, emphasizing the importance of focus during worship.

Modern Application

In our daily Salah, we can apply this principle by ensuring our prayers are performed with concentration and mindfulness, even if they are brief. This encourages us to maintain a balance between efficiency and devotion in our spiritual practices.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Prayer because it highlights the importance of maintaining focus and thoroughness during the performance of Salah.

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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.
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And that when the Servant of Allah stood up supplicating Him, they almost became about him a compacted mass."
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وَكَانَ يَأْمُرُ أَهْلَهُۥ بِٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَٱلزَّكَوٰةِ وَكَانَ عِندَ رَبِّهِۦ مَرْضِيًّۭا
And he used to enjoin on his people prayer and zakah and was to his Lord pleasing.
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Al-Muzzammil (The Enshrouded One)
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۞ 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.
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حَٰفِظُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلصَّلَوَٰتِ وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِ ٱلْوُسْطَىٰ وَقُومُوا۟ لِلَّهِ قَٰنِتِينَ
Maintain with care the [obligatory] prayers and [in particular] the middle prayer and stand before Allah, devoutly obedient.

Common Words

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ٱلله8x
من5x
ٱلصلوة4x
إن3x
فإذا2x
على2x
وكان2x
عند2x
ٱليل2x
علم2x
أن2x
فٱقرءوا2x
ما2x
تيسر2x
وءاخرون2x
فى2x
قضيتم1x
فٱذكروا1x
قيما1x
وقعودا1x
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About Sunan Abu Dawud

This hadith is #853 from Sunan Abu Dawud, in the Book of Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat). It is graded Sahih and narrated by Anas b. Malik said:.

About This Hadith