Sunan Abi Dawud: Book 5, Hadith 55

Narrated Abdullah Ibn Abbas: In Surat al-Muzzammil (73), the verse: “Keep vigil at night but a little, a half thereof” (2-3) has been abrogated by the following verse: “He knoweth that ye count it not, and turneth unto you in mercy. Recite then of the Qur’an that which is easy for you” (v.20). The phrase “the vigil of the night” (nashi’at al-layl) means the early hours of the night. They (the companions) would pray (the tahajjud prayer) in the early hours of the night. He (Ibn Abbas) says: It is advisable to offer the prayer at night (tahajjud), prescribed by Allah for you (in the early hours of the night). This is because when a person sleeps, he does not know when he will awake. The words “speech more certain” (aqwamu qilan) means that this time is more suitable for the understanding of the Qur’an. He says: The verse: “Lo, thou hast by day a chain of business” (v.7) means engagement for long periods (in the day’s work).

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الْمَرْوَزِيُّ ابْنُ شَبُّويَةَ، حَدَّثَنِي عَلِيُّ بْنُ حُسَيْنٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ النَّحْوِيِّ، عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ فِي الْمُزَّمِّلِ ‏{‏ قُمِ اللَّيْلَ إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً * نِصْفَهُ ‏}‏ نَسَخَتْهَا الآيَةُ الَّتِي فِيهَا ‏{‏ عَلِمَ أَنْ لَنْ تُحْصُوهُ فَتَابَ عَلَيْكُمْ فَاقْرَءُوا مَا تَيَسَّرَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ ‏}‏ وَنَاشِئَةُ اللَّيْلِ أَوَّلُهُ وَكَانَتْ صَلاَتُهُمْ لأَوَّلِ اللَّيْلِ يَقُولُ هُوَ أَجْدَرُ أَنْ تُحْصُوا مَا فَرَضَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكُمْ مِنْ قِيَامِ اللَّيْلِ وَذَلِكَ أَنَّ الإِنْسَانَ إِذَا نَامَ لَمْ يَدْرِ مَتَى يَسْتَيْقِظُ وَقَوْلُهُ ‏{‏ أَقْوَمُ قِيلاً ‏}‏ هُوَ أَجْدَرُ أَنْ يُفْقَهَ فِي الْقُرْآنِ وَقَوْلُهُ ‏{‏ إِنَّ لَكَ فِي النَّهَارِ سَبْحًا طَوِيلاً ‏}‏ يَقُولُ فَرَاغًا طَوِيلاً ‏.‏

Sunan Abi Dawud: Book 5, Hadith 55

 
The above hadith is from the Sunan Abi Dawud collection of hadiths. This hadith is from the Sunan Abi Dawud collection of hadiths. Sunan Abi Dawud is one of the six most important and trusted books of hadith for Sunni Muslims worldwide. Its author, the esteemed scholar Abu Dawud, dedicated his life to gathering and verifying over 4,800 accounts of the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) teachings and actions. The book is thoughtfully sorted into clear chapters on essential subjects like how to pray correctly, the rules of fasting, giving to charity, and building a family through marriage. It is so highly trusted because Abu Dawud was famously careful and critical, checking the origin story of each report to ensure its reliability for guiding everyday life.

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For more Hadith in Book 5: Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat): Voluntary Prayers
 

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