Sunan Abu Dawud Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat): Detailed Injunctions about Ramadan

Sunan Abu Dawud 1374

Chapter: Regarding Standing (In Voluntary Night Prayer) During The Month Of Ramadan

Differing grades 4 scholars’ grades Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sunan Abu Dawud 1374

حَدَّثَنَا هَنَّادُ بْنُ السَّرِيِّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدَةُ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ كَانَ النَّاسُ يُصَلُّونَ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ فِي رَمَضَانَ أَوْزَاعًا فَأَمَرَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَضَرَبْتُ لَهُ حَصِيرًا فَصَلَّى عَلَيْهِ بِهَذِهِ الْقِصَّةِ قَالَتْ فِيهِ قَالَ - تَعْنِي النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم - ‏"

‏ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ أَمَا وَاللَّهِ مَا بِتُّ لَيْلَتِي هَذِهِ بِحَمْدِ اللَّهِ غَافِلاً وَلاَ خَفِيَ عَلَىَّ مَكَانُكُمْ ‏"

Narrated 'Aishah:

The people used to pray (tarawih prayer) in the mosque during Ramadan severally. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) commanded me (to spread a mat). I spread a mat for him and he prayed upon it. The narrator then transmitted the same story. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: O People, praise be to Allah, I did not pass my night carelessly, nor did your position remain hidden from me.

Reported by Abu Dawud (No. 1374, 1368), Al-Bukhari (No. 43, 1151, 1970, 5861, 6465), Muslim (No. 782a, 785b, 782c), An-Nasa’i (No. 762, 1642, 5035), Ibn Majah (No. 4238) and Ahmad (No. 22994, 23111, 23186, 23399, 23765, 24153, 24260, 24299).

An explanation exists for another version of this hadith: Sahih al-Bukhari 43

Classical commentary

Al-Azimabadi — Awn al-Ma'bud

( صَلَّى فِي الْمَسْجِد ) : وَفِي رِوَايَة لِلْبُخَارِيِّ " خَرَجَ لَيْلَة مِنْ جَوْف اللَّيْل يُصَلِّي فِي الْمَسْجِد " ( بِصَلَاتِهِ نَاس ) : مُقْتَدِينَ بِهِ. وَعِنْد الْبُخَارِيّ " فَأَصْبَحَ النَّاس فَتَحَدَّثُوا " ( ثُمَّ صَلَّى مِنْ الْقَابِلَة ) : أَيْ اللَّيْلَة الثَّانِيَة ( ثُمَّ اِجْتَمَعُوا مِنْ اللَّيْلَة الثَّالِثَة ) : وَعِنْد الْبُخَارِيّ " فَكَثُرَ أَهْل الْمَسْجِد مِنْ اللَّيْلَة الثَّالِثَة فَخَرَجَ رَسُول اللَّه صَلَّى اللَّه عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَصَلَّى فَصَلَّوْا بِصَلَاتِهِ , فَلَمَّا كَانَتْ اللَّيْلَة الرَّابِعَة عَجَزَ الْمَسْجِد عَنْ أَهْله حَتَّى خَرَجَ لِصَلَاةِ الصُّبْح " ( أَنْ تُفْرَض ) : صَلَاة التَّرَاوِيح ( عَلَيْكُمْ ) : وَظَاهِر قَوْله خَشِيت أَنْ تُفْرَض…

Scholars’ grades

The 4 scholars cited do not give the same grade: each one is shown below.

Scholar	Grade	Applies to	Work
Al-Albanid. 1420 AH	AuthenticHasan Sahih حسن صحيح	The hadith	No. 1374
Shu'ayb al-Arna'utd. 1438 AH	Good (hasan)Hasan	The hadith	No. 1374
Zubair Ali Zaid. 1435 AH	Good chain (hasan)Isnaad Hasan	The chain only	No. 1374
Muhammad Muhyi al-Din Abd al-Hamidd. 1392 AH	AuthenticHasan Sahih	The hadith	No. 1374

Other versions

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 43

Do (good) deeds according to your capacity, for by Allah, Allah never grows weary (of giving rewards) unless you grow weary (of doing good deeds), and the best deed in His sight is that which is done regularly

‘Ā'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) came in while a woman was sitting with her. He said: "Who is she?" ‘Ā'ishah replied: "She is so-and-so," and told him about her (excessive) praying. He said disapprovingly: "Do (good)…

مَهْ، عَلَيْكُمْ بِمَا تُطِيقُونَ، فَوَاللَّهِ لاَ يَمَلُّ اللَّهُ حَتَّى تَمَلُّوا ‏"‏‏.‏ وَكَانَ أَحَبَّ الدِّينِ إِلَيْهِ مَا دَامَ عَلَيْهِ صَاحِبُهُ‏.‏

Narrated by Ā’ishah Explained

Not graded Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 1151

A woman from the tribe of Bani Asad was sitting with me and Allah's Apostle (p.b.u.h) came to my house and said, "Who is this?" I said, "(She is) So and so. She does not sleep at night because she is engaged in prayer." The Prophet (ﷺ) said disapprovingly: Do (good) deeds which is within your…

مَهْ عَلَيْكُمْ مَا تُطِيقُونَ مِنَ الأَعْمَالِ، فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَمَلُّ حَتَّى تَمَلُّوا ‏"

Narrated by Ā’ishah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 1970

The Prophet (ﷺ) never fasted in any month more than in the month of Sha'ban. He used to say, "Do those deeds which you can do easily, as Allah will not get tired (of giving rewards) till you get bored and tired (of performing religious deeds)." The most beloved prayer to the Prophet (ﷺ) was the one…

يَصُومُ شَعْبَانَ كُلَّهُ، وَكَانَ يَقُولُ ‏"‏ خُذُوا مِنَ الْعَمَلِ مَا تُطِيقُونَ، فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَمَلُّ حَتَّى تَمَلُّوا، وَأَحَبُّ الصَّلاَةِ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَا دُووِمَ عَلَيْهِ، وَإِنْ…

Narrated by Ā’ishah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 5861

The Prophet (ﷺ) used to construct a loom with a Hasir at night m order to pray therein, and during the day he used to spread it out and sit on it. The people started coming to the Prophet (ﷺ) at night to offer the prayer behind him When their number increased, the Prophet (ﷺ) faced them and said. O…

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ خُذُوا مِنَ الأَعْمَالِ مَا تُطِيقُونَ، فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَمَلُّ حَتَّى تَمَلُّوا، وَإِنَّ أَحَبَّ الأَعْمَالِ إِلَى اللَّهِ مَا دَامَ وَإِنْ قَلَّ ‏"

Narrated by Ā’ishah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 6465

The Prophet (ﷺ) was asked, "What deeds are loved most by Allah?" He said, "The most regular constant deeds even though they may be few." He added, 'Don't take upon yourselves, except the deeds which are within your ability."

أَدْوَمُهَا وَإِنْ قَلَّ ‏"‏‏.‏ وَقَالَ ‏"‏ اكْلَفُوا مِنَ الأَعْمَالِ مَا تُطِيقُونَ ‏"

Narrated by Ā’ishah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih Muslim 782a

O people, perform such acts as you are capable of doing, for Allah does not grow weary but you will get tired. The acts most pleasing to Allah are those which are done continuously, even if they are small. And it was the habit of the members of Muhammad's (ﷺ) household that whenever they did an act…

عَلَيْكُمْ مِنَ الأَعْمَالِ مَا تُطِيقُونَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَمَلُّ حَتَّى تَمَلُّوا وَإِنَّ أَحَبَّ الأَعْمَالِ إِلَى اللَّهِ مَا دُووِمَ عَلَيْهِ وَإِنْ قَلَّ ‏"

Narrated by Ā’ishah

See all 33 versions

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih Muslim 785b

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came to me when a woman was sitting with me. He said: Who is she? I said: She is a woman who does not sleep but prays. He said: Do such acts which you are capable of doing. By Allah, Allah does not grow weary but you will grow weary. The religious act most pleasing to Him…

عَلَيْكُمْ مِنَ الْعَمَلِ مَا تُطِيقُونَ فَوَاللَّهِ لاَ يَمَلُّ اللَّهُ حَتَّى تَمَلُّوا ‏"‏ ‏.‏ وَكَانَ أَحَبَّ الدِّينِ إِلَيْهِ مَا دَاوَمَ عَلَيْهِ صَاحِبُهُ

Narrated by Ā’ishah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih Muslim 782c

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) did not observe fast in any month of the year more than in the month of Sha'ban, and used to say: Do as many deeds as you are capable of doing, for Allah will not become weary (of giving you reward), but you would be tired (of doing good deeds) ; and he also said: The…

لَمْ يَكُنْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي الشَّهْرِ مِنَ السَّنَةِ أَكْثَرَ صِيَامًا مِنْهُ فِي شَعْبَانَ وَكَانَ يَقُولُ ‏"‏ خُذُوا مِنَ الأَعْمَالِ مَا تُطِيقُونَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَنْ يَمَلَّ حَتَّى تَمَلُّوا…

Narrated by Ā’ishah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sunan Abu Dawud 1368

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as saying: Choose such actions as you are capable of performing, for Allah does not grow weary till you do. The acts most pleasing to Allah are those which are done most continuously, even if they amount to little. Whenever he began an action, he would do it continuously.

‏ اكْلَفُوا مِنَ الْعَمَلِ مَا تُطِيقُونَ، فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَمَلُّ حَتَّى تَمَلُّوا، وَإِنَّ أَحَبَّ الْعَمَلِ إِلَى اللَّهِ أَدْوَمُهُ وَإِنْ قَلَّ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ وَكَانَ إِذَا عَمِلَ عَمَلاً أَثْبَتَهُ ‏.‏

Narrated by Ā’ishah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sunan an-Nasa'i 762

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had a mat which he would spread in the day and make into a small booth at night to pray in it. The people found out about that and they prayed when he prayed, with the mat in between him and them. He said: 'Do as much of good deeds as you can, for Allah does not get…

"‏ اكْلَفُوا مِنَ الْعَمَلِ مَا تُطِيقُونَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لاَ يَمَلُّ حَتَّى تَمَلُّوا وَإِنَّ أَحَبَّ الأَعْمَالِ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَدْوَمُهُ وَإِنْ قَلَّ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ ثُمَّ تَرَكَ مُصَلاَّهُ…

Narrated by Ā’ishah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sunan an-Nasa'i 1642

The Prophet (ﷺ) came in to her and there was a woman with her. He said: "Who is this?" She said: "So-and-so, and she does not sleep." And she told him about how she prayed a great deal. He said: "Stop praising her. You should do what you can, for by Allah (SWT), Allah never gets tired (of giving…

"‏ مَهْ عَلَيْكُمْ بِمَا تُطِيقُونَ فَوَاللَّهِ لاَ يَمَلُّ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ حَتَّى تَمَلُّوا وَلَكِنَّ أَحَبَّ الدِّينِ إِلَيْهِ مَا دَاوَمَ عَلَيْهِ صَاحِبُهُ ‏"

Narrated by Ā’ishah

Differing grades Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sunan an-Nasa'i 5035

The Prophet [SAW] entered upon her and there was a woman with her. He said: "Who is this?" She said: "So-and-so; she does not sleep"- she mentioned her excessive praying. The Prophet [SAW] said: "Keep quiet. You should do what you are able to, for by Allah, Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, does not…

عَلَيْكُمْ مِنْ الْعَمَلِ مَا تُطِيقُونَ فَوَاللَّهِ لَا يَمَلُّ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ حَتَّى تَمَلُّوا وَكَانَ أَحَبَّ الدِّينِ إِلَيْهِ مَا دَامَ عَلَيْهِ صَاحِبُهُ

Narrated by Ā’ishah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sunan Ibn Majah 4238

“There was a woman with me, and the Prophet (ﷺ) entered upon me and said: ‘Who is that?’ I said: ‘So-and-so; she does not sleep,’” – she mentioned her excessive praying. “The Prophet (ﷺ) said: ‘Keep quiet. You should do what you are able to, for by Allah, Allah does not get tired (of giving reward)…

‏ ‏"‏ مَهْ عَلَيْكُمْ بِمَا تُطِيقُونَ فَوَاللَّهِ لاَ يَمَلُّ اللَّهُ حَتَّى تَمَلُّوا ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَتْ ‏:‏ وَكَانَ أَحَبَّ الدِّينِ إِلَيْهِ الَّذِي يَدُومُ عَلَيْهِ صَاحِبُهُ

Narrated by Ā’ishah

Not graded Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Musnad Ahmad 22994