Sunan Abī Dāwūd is one of the six major hadith collections in Sunni Islam, compiled by Imam Abū Dāwūd al-Sijistānī. It focuses on hadiths related to Islamic law (fiqh), offering a detailed record of the sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ that form the basis for legal rulings. Carefully selected from hundreds of thousands of narrations, it emphasizes authenticity and relevance to jurisprudence, making it a key reference for scholars and students of Islamic law.

Book 5, Voluntary Prayers, discusses the extra optional prayers beyond the obligatory ones and their merits.

Sunan Abi Dawud: Book 5, Hadith 1

Sunan Abi Dawud: Book 5, Hadith 1 Narrated Umm Habibah: The Prophet (ﷺ) as saying: If anyone prays in a day and a night twelve rak’ahs voluntarily (supererogatory prayer), a house will be built for him in Paradise on account of these (rak’ahs). حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عِيسَى، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ عُلَيَّةَ، حَدَّثَنَا دَاوُدُ بْنُ أَبِي هِنْدٍ، […]

Sunan Abi Dawud: Book 5, Hadith 2

Sunan Abi Dawud: Book 5, Hadith 2 Narrated Abd Allah b. Shaqiq: I asked A’ishah about the voluntary prayers offered by the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). She replied: Before the noon prayer he would pray four rak’ahs in my house, then go out and lead the people in prayer, then return to my house and […]

Sunan Abi Dawud: Book 5, Hadith 3

Sunan Abi Dawud: Book 5, Hadith 3 Narrated Abd Allah b. ‘Umar: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would pray two rak’ahs before and two after the noon prayer, two after the sunset prayer in his house, and two after the night prayer. He would not pray after the Friday prayer till he departed. He would […]

Sunan Abi Dawud: Book 5, Hadith 4

Sunan Abi Dawud: Book 5, Hadith 4 Narrated ‘Aishah: The Prophet (ﷺ) never omitted four rak’ahs before the noon prayer, and two rak’ahs before the dawn prayer. حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْمُنْتَشِرِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ لاَ يَدَعُ أَرْبَعًا قَبْلَ الظُّهْرِ […]

Sunan Abi Dawud: Book 5, Hadith 5

Sunan Abi Dawud: Book 5, Hadith 5 Narrated ‘Aishah: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was more particular about observing the supererogatory rak’ahs before the dawn prayer than about observing any of the other supererogatory prayers. حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنِ ابْنِ جُرَيْجٍ، حَدَّثَنِي عَطَاءٌ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ بْنِ عُمَيْرٍ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، – رضى الله عنها – […]

Sunan Abi Dawud: Book 5, Hadith 6

Sunan Abi Dawud: Book 5, Hadith 6 Narrated ‘Aishah: The Prophet (ﷺ) would pray two rak’ahs before the dawn prayer lightly so much so that I would say: Did he recite Surah al-Fatihah in them. حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ أَبِي شُعَيْبٍ الْحَرَّانِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرُ بْنُ مُعَاوِيَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ […]

Sunan Abi Dawud: Book 5, Hadith 7

Sunan Abi Dawud: Book 5, Hadith 7 Narrated Abu Hurairah: The Prophet (ﷺ) would recite in the two (supererogatory) rak’ahs of the dawn prayer: “Say, O unbelievers” حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ مَعِينٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مَرْوَانُ بْنُ مُعَاوِيَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ كَيْسَانَ، عَنْ أَبِي حَازِمٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَرَأَ فِي رَكْعَتَىِ الْفَجْرِ […]

Sunan Abi Dawud: Book 5, Hadith 8

Sunan Abi Dawud: Book 5, Hadith 8 Narrated Bilal: Ziyadah al-Kindi reported on the authority of Bilal that he (Bilal) came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) to inform him about the dawn prayer. Aisha kept Bilal engaged in a matter which she asked him till the day was bright and it became fairly light. […]

Sunan Abi Dawud: Book 5, Hadith 9

Sunan Abi Dawud: Book 5, Hadith 9 Narrated AbuHurayrah: The Prophet (ﷺ) said: Do not omit them (the two rak’ahs before the dawn prayer) even if you are driven away by the horses. حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ، – يَعْنِي ابْنَ إِسْحَاقَ الْمَدَنِيَّ – عَنِ ابْنِ زَيْدٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ سِيْلاَنَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، […]

Sunan Abi Dawud: Book 5, Hadith 10

Sunan Abi Dawud: Book 5, Hadith 10 Narrated ‘Abd Allah b. ‘Abbas: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to recite in both rak’ahs of the dawn prayer: “Say: We believe in Allah and in the revelation given to us” (3:84) . This is in the first rak’ah and in the second rak’ah (he recited): “We […]

Sunan Abi Dawud: Book 5, Hadith 11

Sunan Abi Dawud: Book 5, Hadith 11 Narrated Abu Hurairah: That he heard the Prophet (ﷺ) recite in both rak’ahs of the dawn: “Say: We believe in Allah, and in the revelation given to us” (3:84). This is in the first rak’ah. In the second rak’ah he recited this verse: “Our Lord, we have believed […]

Sunan Abi Dawud: Book 5, Hadith 12

Sunan Abi Dawud: Book 5, Hadith 12 Narrated AbuHurayrah: The Prophet (ﷺ) said: If any of you prays two rak’ahs before the dawn prayer, he should lie at his right side. Marwan ibn al-Hakam said to him: Is it not enough that one of us walks to the mosque until he lies at his right […]