Hadith Research Libraryمكتبة الحديث والرجال
Sahih Muslim, 687 a
sahih

Chain of narration · Isnād

Each narrator name opens their biography and classical source evidence.

9 transmitters

Narrated by Yahya bin Yahya bin BukayrfromSa'id bin Mnswr bin Sh'bhfromSulaiman bin Da'ud al-'Atki al-ZahranifromQutayba bin Sa'id bin JamilfromYahya bin Sa'id bin Farroukh al-QatanfromWadah bin 'Abdullah al-YashkarifromBkyr bin al-AkhnsfromMujahid bin Jabirfromibn Abbas

Hadith text · Matn

حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، وَسَعِيدُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، وَأَبُو الرَّبِيعِ، وَقُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، قَالَ يَحْيَى أَخْبَرَنَا وَقَالَ الآخَرُونَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، عَنْ بُكَيْرِ بْنِ الأَخْنَسِ، عَنْ مُجَاهِدٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ فَرَضَ اللَّهُ الصَّلاَةَ عَلَى لِسَانِ نَبِيِّكُمْ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي الْحَضَرِ أَرْبَعًا وَفِي السَّفَرِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَفِي الْخَوْفِ رَكْعَةً ‏.‏

English translation

Ibn 'Abbas reported:

Allah has prescribed the prayer through the word of your Prophet (ﷺ) as four rak'ahs when resident, two when travelling, and one when danger is present.

References2 variants
In-Book Reference
Book 6, Hadith 6
USC-MSA web (English) reference
Book 4, Hadith 1463 (deprecated numbering scheme)
Sharh · explanationclick to expand
Making things easy and light is one of the merits of the tolerant Islamic Shariah. Allah Almighty laid down dispensations for the Muslims therein so that they will not suffer hardship that causes them harm or burdens them with unbearable things. These dispensations include shortening the prayer during travel and at the time of war. In this Hadīth, Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) says: "Allah has prescribed the prayer by the tongue of your Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him)" by revelation from Allah Almighty. So, it is "four Rak‘ahs when resident," i.e., the four-Rak‘ah prayers: Zhuhr, ‘Asr, and ‘Ishā’- "two when traveling;" the four-Rak‘ah prayer is shortened to two Rak‘ahs only during travel. And He prescribed "one in case of fear." The prayer of fear is when the time for obligatory prayer becomes due while Muslims are fighting an enemy, guarding borders, and the like. The Hadīth apparently indicates that the prayer of fear consists of one Rak‘ah in case of severe fear and war. It was said: What is meant by one Rak‘ah is that he offers one Rak‘ah with the Imām and one Rak‘ah alone. This is because most reports about the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) state that the prayer of fear consists of two Rak‘ahs, to be performed in different ways depending on the condition of the enemy in terms of nearness and remoteness. There is no effect for the severe fear, but they should perform two Rak‘ahs, according to their ability, in whatever direction they turn to, while walking and riding, nodding with their heads..
Related hadiths11
Study chain and evidence →
Compare isnād across 11 related chains →