THE SURAHS PROPHET (S.A.W) USED TO RECITE IN DIFFERENT PRAYERS

What he (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) used to Recite in the Different PrayersAs for which soorahs and aayaat he (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) used to recite in prayer, this varied according to the different prayers. The details now follow, beginning with the first of the five prayers and the references for the statements are provided at the end of the document in front of their respective number markings 

Click here to learn how to pray salah step by step with posture in the light of authentic sources

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Click here to know the sahih and weak virtues of some surahs 

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Note : Muffasal Surahs mean - The last seventh of the Qur'aan, beginning with soorah Qaaf (no. 50) according to the soundest view, as before. 

THE RECITATION IN FAJR 

1 - He (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) used to recite the longer mufassal184 surahs185, hence "he (sometimes) recited al-Waaqi'ah (56:96) and similar surahs in two rak'ahs"186.

2- He recited from soorah at-Toor (52:49) during the Farewell Pilgrimage.187

3- Sometimes "he would recite soorah Qaaf (50:45) or similar [in the first rak'ah]."188

4- Sometimes "he would recite the shorter mufassal surahs, such as "When the sun is folded up" (at-Takweer 81:29)."189

5- Once, he recited "When the Earth is shaken" (Zilzaal 99:8) in both rak'ahs, so that the narrator said, "I do not know whether the Messenger of Allaah forgot or recited it on purpose."190

6- Once, on a journey, he recited "Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of the Daybreak" (Falaq 113:5) and "Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of Mankind" (Naas 114:6).191 He also said to 'Uqbah ibn 'Aamir (may Allaah be pleased with him): Recite the mu'awwadhatain192 in your prayer, for no seeker of refuge has sought refuge by means of anything like them.193

7- Sometimes he used to recite more than that: "he would recite sixty aayaat or more"194 - one of the narrators said, "I do not know whether this was in each rak'ah or in total."

8- He used to recite soorah ar-Room (30:60)195 and sometimes soorah Yaa Sin (36:83)196.

9- Once, "he prayed the Subh [i.e. Fajr Prayer] in Makkah and started reciting soorah al-Mu'minoon (23:118) until, when he got to the mention of Moosaa and Haaroon or the mention of 'Isa197 - one of the narrators was not sure - he started coughing and so made rukoo'."198

10- Sometimes, "he would lead them in Fajr with as-Saaffaat" (77:182).199

11- "In Fajr on Friday, he would recite as-Sajdah (32:30) [in the first rak'ah, and, in the second,] ad-Dahr" (76:31).200

12- He used to make the first rak'ah longer than the second.201

Recitation in the Sunnah prayer before Fajr

His recitation in the two rak'ahs of sunnah in Fajr used to be extremely short202, so much so that 'Aa'ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) used to say: "Has he recited soorah al- Faatihah or not ?"203

13- Sometimes, after al-Faatihah, he would recite the aayah "Say: We believe in Allaah and the revelation given to us..." (Baqarah 2:136) in the first rak'ah; in the second, the aayah "Say: O People of the Book! Come to common terms as between us and you..." (aal-'Imraan 3:64).204 Occasionally, he would recite instead of the latter, "When 'Isa found unbelief on their part..." (aal-'Imraan 3:52).205

14 - Sometimes he would recite soorah al-Kaafiroon (109:6) in the first rak'ah, and soorah al-Ikhlaas (112:4) in the second;206 also, he used to say: An excellent pair of soorahs they are!207 He heard a man reciting the former soorah in the first rak'ah, so he said, This is a slave who believes in his Lord. Then the man recited the latter soorah in the second rak'ah, so he said, This is a slave who knows his Lord.208

THE RECITATION IN ZUHR

1- "He (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) used to recite al-Faatihah and two soorahs in the first two rak'ahs, making the first one longer than the second."209

2- Sometimes he would make lengthen it to the extent that "the Zuhr prayer would have started, and someone could go to a plain: al-Baqi,' fulfil his need, [come back to his place,] make his ablution, and then come (to the mosque) while the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) was still in the first rak'ah, it was that long."210. Also, "they used to think that he did it so that the people could catch the first rak'ah."211

3- "He used to recite in each of these two rak'ah about thirty aayaat, such as al-Faatihah followed by soorah as-Sajdah (32:30)."212

4- Sometimes "he would recite "By the Sky and the Night-Visitant" (Taariq, 86:17), "By the Sky, (displaying) the Constellations" (Burooj, 85:22), "By the Night as it conceals" (Layl, 92:21) and similar soorahs."213

5- Occasionally, he recited "When the Sky is rent asunder" (Inshiqaaq 84:25) and similar ones.214

6- "They could tell that he was reciting in Zuhr and 'Asr from the movement of his beard."215

Recitation of Aayaat after al-Faatihah in the last two Rak'ahs"

7 - He used to make the last two rak'ahs about half as long as the first two, about fifteen aayaat 216, and sometimes he would recite only al-Faatihah in them."217

8- Sometimes "he would let them hear an aayah or so."218

9- "They would hear the tones of his recitation of "Glorify the name of your Lord Most High" (A'laa 87:19) and "Has the story reached you of the Overwhelming ?" (Ghaashiyah 88:26)."219

10- Sometimes "he would recite "By the Sky and the Night-Visitant" (Taariq, 86:17), "By the Sky, (displaying) the Constellations" (Burooj, 85:22), and similar soorahs."220

11- Sometimes "he would recite "By the Night as it conceals" (Layl 92:21) and similar soorahs."221

12- It was narrated that ‘Ata’ said: Abu Hurayrah said: In every prayer there is recitation. What we heard the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say, we tell you, and what he did not tell us about we cannot tell you. Whoever recites Umm al-Kitaab (i.e., Soorat al-Faatihah) has done enough, and whoever does more than that, that is better. [Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 738; Muslim, 396]

THE RECITATION IN 'ASR

1- He (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) used to recite al-Faatihah and two (other) soorahs in the first two rak'ahs, making the first one longer than the second"222, and "they used to think that he did it so that the people could catch the rak'ah."223

2- "He used to recite about fifteen aayaat in each of the first two rak'ahs, about half as much as he recited in each of the first two rak'ahs of Zuhr, and he used to make the last two rak'ahs about half as long the first two."224

3- "He used to recite al-Faatihah in the last two."225

4- "He would let them hear an aayah or so sometimes."226

5- He used to recite the surahs mentioned under "Zuhr prayer" above.

THE RECITATION IN 'MAGHRIB

1- "He (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) used to (sometimes) recite the short mufassal soorahs"227, so that "when they had finished praying with him, they could go away and (it was possible to) shoot an arrow and see where it landed."228 Once, "while on a journey, he recited "By the Fig and the Olive" (Teen 95:8) in the second rak'ah."229

2- But sometimes he would recite the long or medium mufassal surahs, hence "he would recite "Those who disbelieve and hinder (men) from the Path of Allaah" (Muhammad 47:48);"230 or soorah at-Toor (52:49);231 or soorah al-Mursalaat (77:50), which he recited in the last prayer he prayed.232

3- Sometimes "he would recite the longer of the two long surahs233 (A'raaf 7:206) [in two rak'ahs]."234 Or he would recite al- Anfaal (8:75) in two rak'ahs.235

Recitation in the sunnah prayer after Maghrib

4- In this prayer, "he used to recite "Say: O you who reject faith" (Kaafiroon 109:6) and "Say: He is Allaah, the One and Only" (Ikhlaas 112:4)."236

THE RECITATION IN 'ISHA'A

1- 'He (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) would recite the medium mufassal surahs in the first two rak'ahs237, hence "he used to recite "By the Sun and his splendour" (Shams 91:15) and surahs like it."238

2- Or "he would recite "When the Sky is rent asunder" (Inshiqaaq 84:25) and make sajdah during it."239 Also, "he once recited "By the Fig and the Olive" (Teen 95:8) [in the first rak'ah] while on a journey."240

3- He forbade prolonging of recitation in 'Ishaa', and that was when:

Mu'aadh ibn Jabal (r.a) led his people in 'Ishaa' prayer, and made it very long for them, so one of the Ansaar left and prayed (alone). When Mu'aadh was informed about this, he said: "He is surely a hypocrite". When the man heard of this, he went to the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) and told him what Mu'aadh had said, so the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said to him: "Do you want to be on who causes a lot of trouble, Mu'aadh?! When you lead the people, recite "By the Sun and his splendour" (Shams 91:15) or "Glorify the Name of your Lord Most High" (A'laa 77:19) or "Read in the Name of your Lord" ('Alaq 96:19) or "By the Night as it conceals" (Layl 92:21)[because the old, the weak and those who have a need to fulfil pray behind you]."241

Night prayer (Tahajjud)

4- He (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) would sometimes recite loudly in it and sometimes quietly,242 He (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) would shorten his recitation in this sometimes and lengthen it sometimes, occasionally making it so exceedingly long that 'Abdullaah ibn Mas'ood (radi Allaahu 'anhu) once said: "I prayed with the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) one night, and he carried on standing for so long that I was struck by a wrong idea." He was asked, "What was this idea?" He said: "I thought I would sit down and leave the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam)!"243

Also Hudhaifah ibn al-Yamaan said:

"I prayed with the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) that night when he started soorah al-Baqarah (2:286). So I said (to myself), "He will make rukoo' after one hundred aayaat". But he carried on after that, so I thought, "He will finish it (the soorah) in two rak'ahs". But he carried on, so I thought, "He will make rukoo' when he has finished it." Then he started soorah an-Nisaa' (4:176) and recited it all, then he started soorah aal-'Imraan (3:200)244 and recited it all. He was reciting slowly; when he came to an aayah in which there was glorification of Allaah, he glorified Allaah; at an aayah which had something to be asked for, he asked for it; at mention of seeking refuge, he sought refuge (with Allaah). Then he made rukoo' ... " to the end of the hadeeth.245

Also, "one night when he was ill he recited the Seven Long surahs."246

Also, "he would (sometimes) recite one of these surahs in each rak'ah."247

5- "It was [totally] unknown for him to recite the whole Qur'aan in one night."248 In fact, he did not recommend it for 'Abdullaah ibn 'Amr (may Allaah be pleased with him) when he said to him: 

Recite the whole Qur'aan in each month. I said: "I have the power (to do more than that)." He said: Recite it in twenty nights. I said: "I have the power to do more". He said:Then recite it in seven days and do not go beyond that.249 Then "he allowed him to recite it in five days."250 Then "he allowed him to recite it in three days."251 Further, he forbade him from reciting it in less time than that252, and he gave a reason for that by saying to him: Whoever recites the Qur'aan in less than three days does not understand it.253 

6- In another version: He does not understand, the one who recites the Qur'aan in less than three days.254 

7- Also when he said to him: For every worshipper has a (period of) keenness255 and every (period of) keenness has a lapse256, either towards a sunnah or towards a bid'ah (innovation); so he whose lapse is towards a sunnah has found guidance, and he whose lapse is towards other than that has been destroyed.257

For this reason, "he (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) would not recite the whole Qur'aan in less than three days."258

8- He used to say: Whoever prays at night reciting two hundred aayaat will be written down as one of the sincere devotees.259 Also, "he used to recite soorah Bani Israa'eel (17:111) and soorah az-Zumar (39:75) every night."260 He also used to say: Whoever prays at night reciting a hundred aayaat will not be written down as one of the heedless.261 Sometimes "he would recite about fifty aayaat or more in each rak'ah"262, or he "would recite about as much as soorah al-Muzzammil (73:20)."263

9- "He (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) would not pray all through the night"264 except rarely, for once:

" 'Abdullaah ibn Khabbaab ibn al-Arat - who was present at (the Battle of) Badr with the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) - stayed up the whole night with the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) (in another version: a night when he prayed throughout it) until it was dawn. So when he finished his prayer, Khabbaab said to him: "O Messenger of Allaah, may my father and mother be sacrificed for you! Tonight, you have prayed a prayer the like of which I have never seen?" He said: Yes, it was a prayer of hope and fear; [indeed] I asked my Lord, Mighty and Sublime, three things; He granted me two, but refused me one. I asked my Lord that He would not destroy us the way the nations before us were (in another version: that He would not destroy my ummah with famine) and He granted me this; I asked my Lord, Mighty and Sublime, that He would not impose on us an enemy from outside us, and He granted me this; and I asked my Lord not to cover us with confusion in party strife, but He refused me this." "265

Also, one night he stood (in prayer) repeating one aayah until it was dawn:

"If You do punish them, they are Your servants; if You do forgive them, You are indeed the Exalted in Power, the Wise." (Maa'idah 5:121) [with it he bowed, with it he prostrated, and with it he supplicated], [so in the morning Abu Dharr (radi Allaahu 'anhu) said to him: "O Messenger of Allaah, you did not stop reciting this aayah until it was morning; you bowed with it and you prostrated with it] [and you supplicated with it,] [whereas Allaah has taught you the whole Qur'aan;] [if one of us were to do this, we would be stern with him?] [He said: Indeed I asked my Lord, the Mighty and Sublime, for intercession for my ummah: He granted me it, and it will be possible if Allaah wills for whoever does not associate any partners with Allaah.266

A man said to him: "O Messenger of Allaah, I have a neighbour who stands (in prayer) at night and does not recite anything except "Say: He is Allaah the One and Only" (Ikhlaas 112:4), [repeating it,] [not adding anything else,] as if he considers it little." So the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said: By Him in Whose Hand is my soul, it is worth a third of the Qur'aan.267

RECITATION IN THE WITR PRAYER 

There is a common misunderstanding that the Isha'a witr is to be prayed 3 rak'ahs only and this 3 rak'ah witr should be prayed with 2 tashahuds (sittings) like Magrhib. This is Haraam and not allowed in Islam. I have documented a detailed refute to this misunderstanding as well as explained the different methods of praying witr. You may find this document on the below address :

http://the-finalrevelation.blogspot.in/2012/07/how-to-pray-isha-witr-as-per-sunnah.html

1- "He (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) used to recite "Glorify the Name of Your Lord Most High" (al-A'laa 87:19) in the first rak'ah, "Say: O you who disbelieve" (Kaafiroon 109:6) in the second, and "Say: He is Allaah the One and Only" (Ikhlaas 112:4) in the third.268 Sometimes he would add on to the last one "Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of Daybreak" (Falaq 113:5) and "Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of Mankind" (Naas 114:6).269 Once, "he recited a hundred aayaat from soorah an-Nisaa' (4:176) in the third rak'ah."270

THE RECITATION IN THE 2 RAK'AHS AFTER WITR 

As for the two rak'ahs after witr271, he used to recite "When the earth is shaken " (Zilzaal 99:8) and "Say: O you who disbelieve" (Kaafiroon 109:6) in them.272

See the above mentioned link to see ahadeeth wherein rasool (s.a.w) did pray 2 rak'ah nafil prayer after Al witr. 

RECITATION IN THE FRIDAY PRAYER 

1- He (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) would sometimes recite soorah al-Jumu'ah (62:11) in the first rak'ah and "When the hypocrites come to you" (Munaafiqoon 63:11)273 in the second, sometimes reciting "Has the story reached you of the Overwhelming?" (Ghaashiyah 88:26) instead of the latter.274 

2- Or sometimes "he would recite "Glorify the Name of your Lord Most High" (A'laa 87:19) in the first rak'ah and "Has the story reached you" (Ghaashiyah 88:26) in the second."275

RECITATION IN THE 'EID PRAYER 

1- Eid Prayer"He (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) would (sometimes) recite "Glorify the Name of your Lord Most High" (A'laa 87:19) in the first rak'ah and "Has the story reached you" (Ghaashiyah 88:26) in the second."276 

2- Or sometimes "he would recite in them "Qaaaaf. By the Glorious Qur'aan." (Qaaf 50:45) and "The Hour has drawn near" (Qamar 54:55)."277

RECITATION IN THE FUNERAL PRAYER 

"The Sunnah is to recite al-Faatihah278 [and another soorah] in it."279 Also, "he would be silent for a while, after the first takbeer."280

REFERENCES :

184 The last seventh of the Qur'aan, beginning with soorah Qaaf (no. 50) according to the soundest view, as before.

185 Nasaa'i & Ahmad with a saheeh isnaad.

186 Ahmad, Ibn Khuzaimah (1/69/1) & Haakim who declared it saheeh and Dhahabi agreeed.

187 Bukhaari & Muslim.

188 Muslim & Tirmidhi. It is given along with the next one in Irwaa' (345).

189 Muslim & Abu Daawood.

190 Abu Daawood & Baihaqi with a saheeh isnaad. And what is apparent is that he (`alaihis salaam) did it on purpose to establish its validity.

191 Abu Daawood, Ibn Khuzaimah (1/76/1), Ibn Bushraan in al-Amaali & Ibn Abi Shaibah (12/176/1); Haakim declared it saheeh and Dhahabi agreed.

192 lit. "the two by means of which refuge is sought", i.e. the last two surahs of the Qur'aan, both beginning "Say: I seek refuge ... "

193 Abu Daawood & Ahmad with a saheeh isnaad.

194 Bukhaari & Muslim.

195 Nasaa'i, Ahmad & Bazzaar with a good isnaad.

196 Ahmad with a saheeh isnaad.

197 Moosaa is mentioned in aayah 45: "Then We sent Moosaa and his brother Haaroon, with our signs and manifest authority. ;" `Isa is mentioned soon after in aayah 50: "And We made the son of Maryam and his mother as a sign - we gave them both shelter on high ground, affording rest and security and furnished with springs. "

198 Muslim, & Bukhaari in ta`leeq.form. It is given in Irwaa' (397).

199 Ahmad & Abu Ya`laa in their musnads, and Maqdisi in al-Mukhtaarah.

200 Bukhaari & Muslim.

201 ibid.

202 Ahmad with a saheeh isnaad.

203 Bukhaari & Muslim.

204 Muslim, Ibn Khuzaimah & Haakim.

205 Muslim & Abu Daawood.

206 ibid.

207 Ibn Maajah & Ibn Khuzaimah.

208 Tahaawi, Ibn Hibbaan in his saheeh & Ibn Bushraan; Ibn Haajar declared it hasan in al-Ahaadeeth al-`Aaliyaat (no. 16).

209 Bukhaari & Muslim.

210 Muslim, & Bukhaari in Juz' al-Qiraa'ah (Article on Recitation).

211 Abu Daawood with a saheeh isnaad & Ibn Khuzaimah (1/165/1).

212 Ahmad & Muslim.

213 Abu Daawood, Tirmidhee& Ibn Khuzaimah (1/67/2); the latter two declared it saheeh.

214 Ibn Khuzaimah in his saheeh (1/67/2).

215 Bukhaari & Abu Daawood.

216 Ahmad & Muslim. The hadeeth contains evidence that reciting more than al-Faatihah in the last two rak`ahs is a sunnah, and many Companions did so, among them Abu Bakr Siddeeq (may Allaah be pleased with him). It is also the view of Imaam Shaafi`i, whether in Zuhr or others, and of our later scholars, Abul Hasanaat al-Lucknowi took it in Notes on Muhammad's al-Muwatta' (p. 102) and said:

"Some of our companions take hold a very strange view in obligating a sajdah sahw (prostration for forgetfulness) for the recitation of a soorah in the last two rak`ahs, but the commentators on al-Maniyyah, Ibraaheem al-Halabi, Ibn Ameer Haajj and others, have refuted this view extremely well. There is no doubt that those who said this were unaware of the hadeeth, and had it reached them they would not have said so."

217 Bukhaari & Muslim (452).

218 Ibn Khuzaimah in his saheeh (1/67/2) & Diyaa' al-Maqdisi in al-Mukhtaarah with a saheeh isnaad.

219 Bukhaari in Article on Recitation & Tirmidhi, who declared it saheeh.

220 Muslim & Tayaalisi.

221 Bukhaari & Muslim.

222 ibid.

223 Abu Daawood with a saheeh isnaad & Ibn Khuzaimah.

224 Ahmad & Muslim.

225 Bukhaari & Muslim.

226 ibid.

227 ibid (Bukhaari & Muslim).

228 Nasaa'i & Ahmad with a saheeh isnaad.

229 Tayaalisi & Ahmad with a saheeh isnaad.

230 Ibn Khuzaimah (1/166/2), Tabaraani & Maqdisi with a saheeh isnaad.

231 Bukhaari 3050 & Muslim.

232 ibid.

233 called "at-toolayain": A`raaf (7) is agreed to be one; An`aam (6) is the other, according to the most correct saying, as in Fath al-Baari.

234 Bukhaari, Abu Daawood, Ibn Khuzaimah (1/68/1), Ahmad, Siraaj & Mukhlis.

235 Tabaraani in Mu`jam al-Kabeer with a saheeh isnaad.

236 Ahmad, Maqdisi, Nasaa'ee Ibn Nasr & Tabaraani .

237 Nasaa'i & Ahmad with a saheeh isnaad.

238 Ahmad & Tirmidhi, who declared it hasan.

239 Bukhaari, Muslim & Nasaai.

240 ibid.

241 ibid. It is also given in Irwaa' (295)

242Nasaai with Saheeh isnaad.

243 Bukhaari & Muslim.

244 The narration is like this, with Nisaa' (4) before aal-`Imraan (3), and thus it is evidence for (the permissibility of) departing from the order of surahs found in the `Uthmaani copy of the Qur'aan in recitation. An example of this has already been seen.

245 Muslim & Nasaa'i .

246 Abu Ya`laa & Haakim, who declared it saheeh and Dhahabi agreed. Ibn al-Atheer says: "... the Seven Long surahs are Baqarah (2), aal-`Imraan (3), Nisaa' (4), Maa'idah (5), An`aam (6), A`raaf (7) and Tawbah (9)."

247 Abu Daawood & Nasaa'i with a saheeh isnaad.

248 Muslim & Abu Daawood.

249 Bukhaari & Muslim.

250 Nasaa'i & Tirmidhi, who declared it saheeh.

251 Bukhaari & Ahmad.

252 Daarimi & Sa`eed ibn Mansoor in his sunan with a saheeh isnaad.

253 Ahmad with a saheeh isnaad.

254 Daarimi & Tirmidhi, who declared it saheeh.

255 Ar. shirrah: excitement, enthusiasm, keenness, energy. The shirrah of youth is his its beginning and its fervour/zeal. Imaam Tahaawi says:

"This is the zeal/fervour of the Muslims in their actions which bring them nearer to their Lord. However they are bound to fall short and leave some actions (which they began due to this zeal) so the most beloved of their actions to Allaah's Messenger (sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam) were those done otherwise (and kept up), so he ordered them to carry out righteous deeds which they are able to do continually and keep to until they meet their Lord-the Mighty and Majestic. It is narrated from him (sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam) to clarify this that he said: "The actions most loved by Allaah are those which are the most regular, even if they are little."

I say: this hadeeth which he prefixes with the words "it is narrated" is saheeh, agreed upon by Bukhaari & Muslim from the narration of `Aa'ishah (Allaah be pleased with her).

256 Ar. fatrah: interval, break, lapse; referring here to a period of reduced enthusiasm.

257 Ahmad & Ibn Hibbaan in his saheeh.

258 Ibn Sa`ad (1/376) & Abu ash-Shaikh in `Akhlaaq Nabi (281).

259 Daarimi & Haakim , who declared it saheeh and Dhahabi agreed.

260 ibid.

261 Ahmad & Ibn Nasr with a saheeh isnaad.

262 Bukhaari & Abu Daawood.

263 Ahmad & Abu Daawood with a saheeh isnaad.

264Muslim & Abu Daawood. This hadeeth and others make it disliked (makrooh) to stay awake the whole night, whether always or regularly, for it is against the example of the Prophet (sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam); for if staying up the whole night were better, he (sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam) would have done so, and the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad. So do not be deceived by what is narrated from Abu Haneefah (rahimahullaah) that he prayed Fajr with the ablution of `Ishaa' for forty years!! (translator's note: see Tablighi Nisab: Virtues of Salaat by Maulana Zakariyya Kandhalvi for examples of this type of claim) For this narration from him is totally baseless; in fact `Allaamah al-Fairoozaabaadi says in Ar-Radd `alaa al-Mu`tarid ((44/1):

"This narration is a clear lie and cannot be attributed to the Imaam, for there is nothing excellent about it, whereas it was the nature of the likes of the Imaam to do the better thing; there is no doubt that the renewal of purification for each prayer is more excellent, most complete, and best. This is even if it is correct that he stayed awake the length of the night for forty consecutive years! This story seems more like a fairy tale, and is an invention of some of the extremely ignorant fanatics, who say it about Abu Haneefah and others, and all of it is lies."

265 Nasaa'i, Ahmad & Tabaraani (1/187/2); Tirmidhi declared it saheeh.

266 Nasaa'i, Ibn Khuzaimah (1/70/1), Ahmad, Ibn Nasr & Haakim, who declared it saheeh and Dhahabi agreed.

267 Ahmad & Bukhaari .

268 Nasaa'i & Haakim, who declared it saheeh.

269 Tirmidhi, Abul `Abbaas al-Asamm in his al-Hadeeth (vol 2 no. 117) & Haakim, who declared it saheeh and Dhahabi agreed.

270 Nasaa'i & Ahmad with a saheeh isnaad.

271 The evidence for these two rak`ahs is found in Saheeh Muslim and others as a practice of the Prophet (sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam), but they oppose his saying: Make the last of your prayer at night odd (witr) transmitted by Bukhaari and Muslim. The scholars have differed in reconciling these two hadeeth, none of them being convincing to me, so the most cautious thing is to leave the two rak`ahs in compliance with the command of the Prophet (sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam). Allaah knows best.

Later I came across an authentic hadeeth which had a command for two rak`ahs after witr, so the order of the Prophet (sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam) agrees with his action, and the two rak`ahs are validated for everyone; the first command is thus one of recommendation, not negating the two rak`ahs. The latter hadeeth is given in Silsilat al-ahaadeeth as-saheehah(1993) - see Appendix 7.

272 Ahmad & Ibn Nasr and Tahaawi (1/202) and Ibn Khuzaimah & Ibn Hibbaan with a hasan saheeh isnaad.

273 Muslim & Abu Daawood. It is given in Irwaa' (345).

274 ibid.

275 Muslim & Abu Daawood.

276 ibid.

277 ibid.

278 This is the saying of Imaam Shaafi`i, Ahmad and Ishaaq, and some of the later Hanafis who researched took this view. As for the recitation of a soorah after it, this is the view of some of the Shaafi`ees and it is the correct view.

279 Bukhaari , Abu Daawood, Nasaa'i & Ibn al-Jaarood. The addition is not shaadhdh (odd) as Tuwaijiri thinks.

280 Nasaa'i & Tahaawi with a saheeh isnaad. 1Ibn al-Mubaarak in az-Zuhd (162/1 from al-Kawaakib 575), Abu Daawood & Ahmad with a saheeh isnaad.


- Taken from the works of Shaikh Albani (May Allah have mercy on him)