❖ Authentic Hadith on the Two Pauses (Saktāt) in Salah Before the Prostration ❖
Source: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah, Volume 1, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Page 307
Please clarify the authenticity of the Hadith that mentions the Prophet ﷺ pausing twice during Salah.
Sayyidunā Samurah ibn Jundub (رضي الله عنه) reported:
“Indeed, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would observe two pauses (saktāt) in the prayer: one when he began the Salah, and one when he completed the recitation.”
This Hadith is authentic.
◈ Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Vol. 1, p. 120, Ḥadīth 777 – Authenticated (Ṣaḥīḥ)
◈ Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī, Ḥadīth 51 – Imām al-Tirmidhī graded it: Ḥasan
◈ Āthār al-Sunan, p. 383 – Imām al-Nīmavī (a Ḥanafī scholar) stated: “Its isnād is ṣaḥīḥ.”
◈ Nayl al-Maqṣūd fī Taʿlīq ʿalā Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Vol. 1, p. 131, Ḥadīth 354 –
The author elaborates that this narration, transmitted from Samurah (رضي الله عنه) through al-Ḥasan al-Baṣrī, is acceptable even with ʿanʿanah.
Although al-Ḥasan al-Baṣrī (رحمه الله) transmits this report muʿanʿan (with “ʿan”), it is still considered authentic due to the following:
◈ The report is from a documented book authored by Samurah ibn Jundub (رضي الله عنه).
◈ The transmission likely occurred through manāwalah, ijāzah, or wijādah.
According to uṣūl al-ḥadīth, narrations transmitted through any of these methods are acceptable for legal and evidential purposes, provided that:
✔ The book is reliably attributed to its compiler with an authentic chain.
✔ The copy used is authentic and verified.
Reference: Muqaddimah Ibn al-Ṣalāḥ, pp. 200–202 (with the commentary of al-ʿIrāqī)
✔ It is reliably established from historical sources that al-Ḥasan al-Baṣrī (رحمه الله) possessed the written compilations of Samurah ibn Jundub (رضي الله عنه).
✔ He had personally heard at least one narration (e.g., Ḥadīth al-ʿAqīqah) from him.
Confirmed by the March 2000 scholarly testimony.
The ḥadīth that mentions the Prophet ﷺ observing two pauses during prayer is authentic and reliable, and it is permissible to derive legal rulings from it according to the principles of ḥadīth science.
هذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
Source: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah, Volume 1, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Page 307
❖ Question:
Please clarify the authenticity of the Hadith that mentions the Prophet ﷺ pausing twice during Salah.
❖ Text of the Hadith:
Sayyidunā Samurah ibn Jundub (رضي الله عنه) reported:
“Indeed, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would observe two pauses (saktāt) in the prayer: one when he began the Salah, and one when he completed the recitation.”
❖ Ruling on Authenticity:
This Hadith is authentic.❖ References and Grading:
◈ Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Vol. 1, p. 120, Ḥadīth 777 – Authenticated (Ṣaḥīḥ)
◈ Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī, Ḥadīth 51 – Imām al-Tirmidhī graded it: Ḥasan
◈ Āthār al-Sunan, p. 383 – Imām al-Nīmavī (a Ḥanafī scholar) stated: “Its isnād is ṣaḥīḥ.”
◈ Nayl al-Maqṣūd fī Taʿlīq ʿalā Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Vol. 1, p. 131, Ḥadīth 354 –
The author elaborates that this narration, transmitted from Samurah (رضي الله عنه) through al-Ḥasan al-Baṣrī, is acceptable even with ʿanʿanah.
❖ Justification from the Principles of Ḥadīth:
Although al-Ḥasan al-Baṣrī (رحمه الله) transmits this report muʿanʿan (with “ʿan”), it is still considered authentic due to the following:
◈ The report is from a documented book authored by Samurah ibn Jundub (رضي الله عنه).
◈ The transmission likely occurred through manāwalah, ijāzah, or wijādah.
According to uṣūl al-ḥadīth, narrations transmitted through any of these methods are acceptable for legal and evidential purposes, provided that:
✔ The book is reliably attributed to its compiler with an authentic chain.
✔ The copy used is authentic and verified.
Reference: Muqaddimah Ibn al-Ṣalāḥ, pp. 200–202 (with the commentary of al-ʿIrāqī)❖ Additional Supporting Evidence:
✔ It is reliably established from historical sources that al-Ḥasan al-Baṣrī (رحمه الله) possessed the written compilations of Samurah ibn Jundub (رضي الله عنه).
✔ He had personally heard at least one narration (e.g., Ḥadīth al-ʿAqīqah) from him.
Confirmed by the March 2000 scholarly testimony.❖ Conclusion:
The ḥadīth that mentions the Prophet ﷺ observing two pauses during prayer is authentic and reliable, and it is permissible to derive legal rulings from it according to the principles of ḥadīth science.
هذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
