Hadith Research Libraryمكتبة الحديث والرجال
Sahih Muslim, 767
sahih

Chain of narration · Isnād

Each narrator name opens their biography and classical source evidence.

8 transmitters

Narrated by Yahya bin Yahya bin BukayrfromHashaym bin Bashayr bin al-QasimfromAbu Bakr bin Abi UvaisfromHashaym bin Bashayr bin al-QasimfromWasil bin 'Abdur Rahmanfromal-Hasan al-BasrifromSa'd bin Hisham bin 'Amirfrom'Aisha bint Abi Bakr

Hadith text · Matn

حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، وَأَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ جَمِيعًا عَنْ هُشَيْمٍ، - قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ حَدَّثَنَا هُشَيْمٌ، - أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو حُرَّةَ، عَنِ الْحَسَنِ، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ هِشَامٍ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا قَامَ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ لِيُصَلِّيَ افْتَتَحَ صَلاَتَهُ بِرَكْعَتَيْنِ خَفِيفَتَيْنِ ‏.‏

English translation

'A'isha reported that when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stood up at night to pray, he began his prayer with two short rak'ahs.

References2 variants
In-Book Reference
Book 6, Hadith 234
USC-MSA web (English) reference
Book 4, Hadith 1689 (deprecated numbering scheme)
Sharh · explanationclick to expand
Qiyām al-Layl is the source of honor for the believer. So, a Muslim should be keen to pray in the night, following the Prophet's example. The Prophet's prayer at night was constant, and he would engage in prayer until his feet would swell, in gratitude towards Allah and praise for His blessings. In this Hadīth, the Mother of the Believers ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) relates that when the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) got up at night to pray, he would start his prayer with two light Rak‘ahs, in preparation for the prolonged prayer, whose Rak‘ahs were described by ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) in these words: "and do not ask about their beauty and length," as reported in the Two Sahīh Collections. In his Sahīh Collection, Al-Bukhāri narrated that Masrūq ibn al-Ajda‘ reported: I asked ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) in the night, and she said: "Seven, nine, and eleven Rak‘ahs apart from the two Rak‘ahs of Fajr." Prayer in the night starts after the ‘Ishā’ prayer and extends to shortly before dawn. One is not required to sleep before performing it..
Related hadiths3
Study chain and evidence →
Compare isnād across 3 related chains →