Sunan Abi Dawud

Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat)

كتاب الصلاة

Chapter 287: The One Who Did Not Recite The Faithah In His Prayer

مَنْ تَرَكَ الْقِرَاءَةَ فِي صَلاَتِهِ بِفَاتِحَةِ الْكِتَابِ

Sunan Abi Dawud 820
Show Arabic text
Translation
Abu hurairah said

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) commanded me to announce that prayer is not valid but with the recitation of Fatihat al-kitab and something more.

Sunan Abi Dawud 821
Show Arabic text
Translation
Abu Hurairah reported the Messenger of Allah (May peace be upon him) as saying

If anyone observes a prayer in which he does not recite Umm al-Qur’an, it is incomplete, it is incomplete, it is incomplete, and deficient. (The narrator said) I said: Abu Hurairah, sometime I pray behind the imam(then what should I do)? Pressing my hand he replied: O Persian, recite it inwardly, for I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as saying that Allah, Most High, has said: I have Me and the Half for my servant and My servant will receive what he asks. The Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) said: Recite. When the servant says: “praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Universe,” Allah, Most High says: “My servant has praised me.” When the servant says: “ The Compassionate, the merciful, “Allah Most High says: “My servant has lauded me.” When the servant says: “Owner of the Day of Judgment,” Allah, Most High, says: “My servant has glorified Me” When the servant says: “ Thee do we worship and of thee we ask help. “ (Allah says) “This is between Me and My servant, and My servant will receive what he asks.” When the servant says: “ Guide us to the Straight Path, the path of those whom thou hast favoured, not ( the path) of those who earn thine anger nor of those who go astray,”(Allah says: ) “This is for My servant, and My servant will receive what he asks.”

Sunan Abi Dawud 822
Show Arabic text
Translation
'Ubadah b. al-Samit reported the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as saying

the prayer is not valid I one does not recite fatihat al-kitab and something more, sufyan( the narrator) said: This applies to a man who prays alone.

Sunan Abi Dawud 823
Show Arabic text
Translation
Narrated Ubadah ibn as-Samit

We were behind the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) at the dawn prayer, and he recited (the passage), but the recitation became difficult for him. Then when he finished, he said: Perhaps you recite behind your imam? We replied: Yes, it is so, Messenger of Allah. He said: Do not do so except when it is Fatihat al-Kitab, for he who does not recite it is not credited with having prayed.

Sunan Abi Dawud 824
Show Arabic text
Translation
Nafi’b. Mahmudb. Al-Rabi’ Al-Ansari said

“Ubadah b. al-samit came to late to lead the morning prayer. Abu Nu’aim, the mu’adhdhin, pronounced the takbir and he led the people in prayer. Then Ubadah came and I was with him. We Joined the row behind Abu Nu’aim, while Abu Nu’aim was reciting the Qur’an loudly. Then ‘Ubadah began to recite the Umm al-Quran (I.e Surah al Fatihah). When he finished, I said to Ubadah: I heard you reciting the Umm al-Qur’an while Abu Nu’aim was reciting Qur’an loudly. He replied: yes> The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) led us in a certain prayer in which the Qur’an is recited loudly, but he became confused in the recitation. When he finished he turned his face to us and said: Do you recite when I recite the Qur’an loudly? Some of us said: we do so; this is why I said to myself: What is that which confused me (in the recitation of ) the Qur’an. Do not recite anything from the Qur’an when I recite it loudly except the Umm al-Qur’an.

Sunan Abi Dawud 825
Show Arabic text
Translation
The above mentioned tradition has been transmitted through a different chain of narrators by 'Ubadah b. al-samit like the version of al-Rabi’b Sulaiman. This version adds

Makhul used to recite Surah al Fatihah al-kitab quietly in the prayer in which the imam recites the Qur’an loudly when he observes the period of silence. If he does not observe the period of silence, recite it before him(i.e before his recitation), or along with him or after him; do not give it up in any case.

Chapter 288: Those Who Held That One Should Not Recite (Al-Fatihah) In Other Than The Aloud Prayers

مَنْ كَرِهَ الْقِرَاءَةَ بِفَاتِحَةِ الْكِتَابِ إِذَا جَهَرَ الإِمَامُ

Sunan Abi Dawud 826
Show Arabic text
Translation
Narrated AbuHurayrah

When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) finished a prayer in which he had recited (the Qur'an) loudly, he asked: Did any of you recite along with me just now? A man replied: Yes, Messenger of Allah. He said: I am wondering what is the matter with me that I have been contended with reciting the Qur'an. He said: When the people heard that from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) they ceased reciting (the Qur'an) along with him at the prayers in which he recited aloud.

Abu Dawud said: This tradition reported by Ibn Ukaimah has also been narrated by Ma'mar, Yunus, and Usamah b. Zaid on the authority of al-Zuhri similar to the tradition of Malik.

Sunan Abi Dawud 827
Show Arabic text
Translation
Abu Hurairah said

Abu Dawud said: Musaddad in his tradition said that Ma’mar said: The people ceased to recite (the Qur’an) at the prayer in which the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) recited aloud. Ibn al-Sarh said in his version that Ma’mar reported from al-Zuhri on the authority of Abu Hurairah. Then the people ceased (to recite behind the imam). Another version says: Sufyan said: Al-Zuhri spoke a word that I could not hear. Then Ma’mar said: He said: Then people ceased (to recite the Qur’an)

Abu Dawud said: This tradition has been narrated by ‘Abd al-Raman b. Ishaq on the authority of al-Zuhri. This version ends at the words: “What is the matter with me that I am contended with in (the recitation of) the Qur’an. Al-Awza’i also narrated it on the authority of al-Zuhri. This version has: Al-Zuhri said: The Muslims took lesson from that and thenceforth they did not recite (the Qur’an) at the prayer in which he (the Prophet) recited aloud.

Abu Dawud said: I heard Muhammad b. Yaya b. Faris say: The words “the people ceased to recite (the Qur’an)” is a statement of al-zuhri.

Chapter 289: Those Who Held That One Should Recite (Al-Fatihah) In Other Than The Aloud Prayers

مَنْ رَأَى الْقِرَاءَةَ إِذَا لَمْ يَجْهَرْ

Sunan Abi Dawud 828
Show Arabic text
Translation
Narrated Imran ibn Husayn

The Prophet (ﷺ) led (us) in the noon prayer, and a man came and recited behind him "Glorify the name of thy Lord, the Most High" (Surah 87). When he finished (the prayer), he said: Which of you recited? They (the people) said: A man (recited). He said: I knew that some one of you confused me in it (in the recitation of the Qur'an).

Abu Dawud said: Abu al-Walid said in his version: Shu'bah said: I asked Qatadah: Did Sa'id not say: Listen attentively to the Qur'an? He replied: (Yes), but that applies to prayer in which it (the Qur'an) is recited aloud. Ibn Kathir said in his version: I said to Qatadah: Perhaps he (the Prophet) disliked it (recitation). He said: If he had disliked it, he would have prohibited it.

Sunan Abi Dawud 829
Show Arabic text
Translation
‘Imran b. Husain reported that the prophet of Allah (ﷺ) led them in the noon prayer. When he finished it, he said

Which of you did recite the surah “ Glorify the name of thy lord, the Most High”(Surah lxxxvii.) A man said: I . He said: I knew that some one of you confused me in it(i.e in the recitation of the Qur’an).

Chapter 290: The Minimum Recitation That Suffices An Illiterate Person Or A Non 'Arab

مَا يُجْزِئُ الأُمِّيَّ وَالأَعْجَمِيَّ مِنَ الْقِرَاءَةِ

Sunan Abi Dawud 830
Show Arabic text
Translation
Narrated Jabir ibn Abdullah

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came to us while we were reciting the Qur'an, and there were among us bedouins and the non-Arabs. He said: Recite, all is well. In the near future there will appear people who will straighten it (the Qur'an) as an arrow is straightened. They will recite it quickly and not slowly (or it means that they will get the reward in this world and not in the Hereafter).

Sunan Abi Dawud 831
Show Arabic text
Translation
Sahl b. Sa’d al-Sa’idi said

The Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) one day came out to us while we were reciting the Qur’an. He said: Praise be to Allah. The Book of Allah is one, and among you are the red, and among you are the white and among you are the black. Recite it before there appear people who will recite it and straighten it as an arrow is straightened. They will get their reward for it in this world and will not get it in the Hereafter.

Sunan Abi Dawud 832
Show Arabic text
Translation
Narrated Abdullah ibn AbuAwfa

A man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said: I cannot memorise anything from the Qur'an: so teach me something which is sufficient for me. He said: Say Glory be to Allah, and praise be to Allah, and there is no god but Allah, and Allah is most great, and there is no might and no strength but in Allah.

:He said: Messenger of Allah, this is for Allah, but what is for me? He said: Say: O Allah have mercy on me, and sustain me, and keep me well, and guide me. When he stood up, he made a sign with his hand (indicating that he had earned a lot).

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: He filed up his hand with virtues.

Sunan Abi Dawud 833
Show Arabic text
Translation
Jabir b. ‘Abd Allah said

we used to offer supererogatory prayers and recite supplications while we were standing, and would glorify Allah while bowing and prostrating.

Sunan Abi Dawud 834
Show Arabic text
Translation
The above-mention tradition has also been transmitted through a different chain of narrators by Humaid, but he did not mention the word “Supererogatory prayer” This version has

Al-Hasan (al-Basri) would recite fatihat al-kitab in the noon and afternoon prayers while he led in prayer or he was behind the imam and would glorify Allah, and would repeatedly say: “Allah is most great” and “ There is no god but Allah” (i.e takbir and tahlil) equal to the amount one recites al-Qaf (Surah 50) and al-Dhariyat(surah 51).

Chapter 291: The Completion Of The Takbir

تَمَامِ التَّكْبِيرِ

Sunan Abi Dawud 835
Show Arabic text
Translation
Mutarrif said

I and ‘Imran b. Husain offered prayer behind ‘All b. AbI Talib(may Allah be pleased with him). When he prostrated, he uttered the takbir (Allah is most great) and when he bowed, he uttered the takbir and when he stood up at the end of two rak’ahs, he uttered the takbir. When we finished our prayer, ‘Imran caught hold of my hand, and said: He has led us in prayer just now like the prayer offered by Muhammed(may peace by upon him).

Sunan Abi Dawud 836
Show Arabic text
Translation
Abu bakr b. ‘Abd al-Rahman and abu Salamah said

Abu Dawud said: Malik, al-Zubaidi and others have narrated so that they form the last words from al-Zuhri on the authority of ‘Ali b, Husain. And this is supported by the version reported by ‘Abd al-A’la from Ma’mar and SHu’aib b. Abi Hamzah on the authority of Al-Zuhri.

Sunan Abi Dawud 837
Show Arabic text
Translation
‘Abd al Rahman b. Abza said that he offered prayer along with the Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) but he did not complete the takbir.Abu Dawud said

This means that when he raised his head after bowing and when he was about to prostrate, he did not utter the takbir, and when he stood up after prostration, he did not utter the takbir.

Chapter 292: How Should One Place His Knees Before His Hands (While Going Into Prostration)

كَيْفَ يَضَعُ رُكْبَتَيْهِ قَبْلَ يَدَيْهِ

Sunan Abi Dawud 838
Show Arabic text
Translation
Narrated Wa'il ibn Hujr

I saw that the Prophet (ﷺ) placed his knees (on the ground) before placing his hands when he prostrated himself. And when he stood up, he raised his hands before his knees.

Sunan Abi Dawud 839
Show Arabic text
Translation
The above-mentioned tradition has also been transmitted by Wa’il b. Hujr through a different chain of narrators. This version has

When he prostrated himself, his knees fell on the ground before his hands had fallen. Hemmam said: This tradition has also been transmitted by ‘Asim b. Kulaib through a different chain of narrators to the same effect. And one of these two versions, and probably the version narrated by Muhammad b. Juhadah, has the words: When he stood up (after prostration), he stood up on his knees taking the support of his thighs.