The 8 Evidences Regarding Two Rakʿāt Prayers in Day and Night
Source: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah, Vol. 1, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, p. 425
Is the ḥadīth:
"صَلاَةُ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى"
("The prayer of the night and day is in sets of two rakʿāt")
authentic?
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
This ḥadīth, with its multiple chains, reaches the level of ḥasan (sound). It is reported in the following authentic compilations:
① Sunan Abī Dāwūd – Ḥadīth: 1295
② Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī – Ḥadīth: 597
③ Sunan Ibn Mājah – Ḥadīth: 1322
④ Sunan al-Nasāʾī – Vol. 3, p. 227, Ḥadīth: 1667
⑤ Musnad Aḥmad – Vol. 2, pp. 26 & 51
⑥ Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān – Declared ṣaḥīḥ (authentic):
(al-Iḥsān 4/86, Ḥadīth: 2473)
⑦ Bulūgh al-Marām (Ḥadīth: 358) also references it
⑧ Bulūgh al-Marām with verification (p. 40, ḥadīth 291) confirms its soundness
➤ Al-Ḥākim in Maʿrifat ʿUlūm al-Ḥadīth (p. 58) cites a lā baʾs bihī (acceptable) supporting narration (shāhid).
➤ Imām al-Bayhaqī reports a mauqūf narration from ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنه):
❝ صَلاَةُ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى ❞
"The day and night prayer is in sets of two rakʿāt"
He clarified: this refers to voluntary (nafl) prayers.
(al-Sunan al-Kubrā, Vol. 4, p. 487)
Even though some chains are mauqūf (stopped at the companion), the context and practice of the Prophet ﷺ allow this narration to be classified as ḥukm-an marfūʿ (having the ruling of a prophetic saying).
See: al-Muwaṭṭaʾ with verification, p. 37, ḥadīth 260
Considering the multiple authentic chains, acceptance by leading muḥaddithūn, and supporting reports, this narration is ḥasan (sound) and acceptable.
☑ The meaning is clear:
Voluntary (nafl) prayers of both night and day are to be performed in sets of two rakʿāt.
والله أعلم بالصواب
Source: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah, Vol. 1, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, p. 425❖ Main Question
Is the ḥadīth:
"صَلاَةُ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى"
("The prayer of the night and day is in sets of two rakʿāt")
authentic?
Answer with Detailed Research
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
✿ Hadith Grading and Sources
This ḥadīth, with its multiple chains, reaches the level of ḥasan (sound). It is reported in the following authentic compilations:
① Sunan Abī Dāwūd – Ḥadīth: 1295
② Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī – Ḥadīth: 597
③ Sunan Ibn Mājah – Ḥadīth: 1322
④ Sunan al-Nasāʾī – Vol. 3, p. 227, Ḥadīth: 1667
⑤ Musnad Aḥmad – Vol. 2, pp. 26 & 51
⑥ Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān – Declared ṣaḥīḥ (authentic):
(al-Iḥsān 4/86, Ḥadīth: 2473)
⑦ Bulūgh al-Marām (Ḥadīth: 358) also references it
⑧ Bulūgh al-Marām with verification (p. 40, ḥadīth 291) confirms its soundness
✿ Statements of Other Scholars
➤ Al-Ḥākim in Maʿrifat ʿUlūm al-Ḥadīth (p. 58) cites a lā baʾs bihī (acceptable) supporting narration (shāhid).
➤ Imām al-Bayhaqī reports a mauqūf narration from ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنه):
❝ صَلاَةُ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى ❞
"The day and night prayer is in sets of two rakʿāt"
He clarified: this refers to voluntary (nafl) prayers.
(al-Sunan al-Kubrā, Vol. 4, p. 487)
✿ Manner of Reporting: Mufassar and Marfūʿ
Even though some chains are mauqūf (stopped at the companion), the context and practice of the Prophet ﷺ allow this narration to be classified as ḥukm-an marfūʿ (having the ruling of a prophetic saying).
See: al-Muwaṭṭaʾ with verification, p. 37, ḥadīth 260
Conclusion
Considering the multiple authentic chains, acceptance by leading muḥaddithūn, and supporting reports, this narration is ḥasan (sound) and acceptable.
☑ The meaning is clear:
Voluntary (nafl) prayers of both night and day are to be performed in sets of two rakʿāt.
والله أعلم بالصواب
