What is Sunan an-Nasa'i 978 about?

This hadith from Sunan an-Nasa'i (Book of The Book of the Commencement of the Prayer), narrated by Abdullah bin Abi Qatadah narrated that:, states: "His father told him: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to recite for us in the first two rak'ahs of Zuhr prayer, and he would make us hear a verse sometimes. He would make the first rak'ah longer and t…"

Is this hadith authentic?

This hadith is graded Da'if. The grade indicates the level of authenticity based on the chain of narration and content analysis.

Which collection is this hadith from?

This hadith is from Sunan an-Nasa'i, which contains 5,768 hadiths across 52 books. It is hadith number 978 in the Book of The Book of the Commencement of the Prayer.

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.

‹

#977

#978

Sunan an-Nasa'i

#979

›

Sunan an-Nasa'i #978

The Book of the Commencement of the Prayer

Da'if

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

أَخْبَرَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُعَاذُ بْنُ هِشَامٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ، أَنَّ أَبَاهُ، أَخْبَرَهُ قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقْرَأُ بِنَا فِي الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ الأُولَيَيْنِ مِنْ صَلاَةِ الظُّهْرِ وَيُسْمِعُنَا الآيَةَ أَحْيَانًا وَيُطَوِّلُ فِي الأُولَى وَيُقَصِّرُ فِي الثَّانِيَةِ وَكَانَ يَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ فِي صَلاَةِ الصُّبْحِ يُطَوِّلُ فِي الأُولَى وَيُقَصِّرُ فِي الثَّانِيَةِ وَكَانَ يَقْرَأُ بِنَا فِي الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ الأُولَيَيْنِ مِنْ صَلاَةِ الْعَصْرِ يُطَوِّلُ الأُولَى وَيُقَصِّرُ الثَّانِيَةَ ‏.‏

His father told him: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to recite for us in the first two rak'ahs of Zuhr prayer, and he would make us hear a verse sometimes. He would make the first rak'ah longer and the second shorter. And he used to do that in Subh too, make the first rak'ah longer and the second shorter. And he used to recite in the first two rak'ahs of 'Asr prayer, making the first rak'ah longer and the second shorter."

Narrated by Abdullah bin Abi Qatadah narrated that:

Context

This narration from Abdullah bin Abi Qatadah describes the Prophet Muhammad's (ﷺ) method of leading prayers, particularly in the Zuhr and Fajr prayers. He would vary the length of the rak'ahs, making the first longer and the second shorter, which served to engage the congregation while maintaining a balance in worship.

Modern Application

In daily prayers, this practice can inspire individuals to maintain focus and engagement during their worship. It highlights the importance of variety and attentiveness in spiritual routines, making prayer a more enriching experience.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Prayer and Prophetic Conduct because it illustrates the Prophet's (ﷺ) approach to leading prayers, emphasizing the importance of engagement and balance in worship.

Prayer Prophetic Conduct

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.

أَوْ زِدْ عَلَيْهِ وَرَتِّلِ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ تَرْتِيلًا

Or add to it, and recite the Qur'an with measured recitation.

سُورَةُ الرَّحۡمَٰن

Ar-Rahmaan (The Beneficent)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

عَلَّمَ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ

Taught the Qur'an,

سُورَةُ مَرۡيَمَ

Maryam (Mary)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

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.

Common Words

109 total82 unique16 repeated

ٱلله6x

من5x

ٱليل3x

إن3x

علم3x

ٱلقرءان3x

ٱلصلوة2x

ٱلفجر2x

أن2x

فٱقرءوا2x

ما2x

تيسر2x

وءاخرون2x

فى2x

عند2x

وكان2x

أقم1x

لدلوك1x

ٱلشمس1x

إلى1x

Scroll to explore ayah details

Related Hadiths

About Sunan an-Nasa'i

This hadith is #978 from Sunan an-Nasa'i, in the Book of The Book of the Commencement of the Prayer. It is graded Da'if and narrated by Abdullah bin Abi Qatadah narrated that:.

Browse all Sunan an-Nasa'i All Hadith Collections

Sunan an-Nasa'i #978

Context

Modern Application

Topics

Related Ayahs

Common Words

Related Hadiths

About Sunan an-Nasa'i

About This Hadith