Narrative Regarding the Fixation of the Prayer Timings

روي أن جبريل صلى الله عليه وسلم نزل فصلى فصلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ثم صلى فصلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ثم صلى فصلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ثم صلى فصلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ثم صلى فصلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ثم قال: بهذا أمرت.

It is narrated that Gabriel (pbuh) came [to Muhammad] and then offered prayers and the Prophet (pbuh) offered prayers with him¹. Then [at the time of the next prayer] he offered prayers and the Prophet (pbuh) offered prayers with him. Then [at the time of the third prayer], he offered prayers and the Prophet (pbuh) offered prayers with him. Then [at the time of the fourth prayer] he offered prayers and the Prophet (pbuh) offered prayers with him. Then [finally, at the time of the fifth prayer,] he offered prayers and the Prophet (pbuh) offered prayers with him². Then Gabriel said: 'This is what you have been directed [to observe, with respect to prayer timings]'³.

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General Notes:

1. This was to teach the Muslims the prescribed timings for prayers.

2. It is quite clear that the incident took place five times during the same day to teach the timings of the five daily obligatory prayers.

3. This narrative is an important part of the history of the fixation of prayer timings in the Muslim Shari`ah. It should be kept in mind that even though the Qur'an has made a passing reference to the prayer timings, yet the source of these prescribed timings is the Sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh). This narrative briefly relates the history of the establishment of the Sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh), with regard to the prescribed timing for the five daily prayers.

Notes on the Text of the Narrative

This narrative or a part of it, with some variations, has been reported in Bukhariy (narrative no. 499, 3049 and 3785), Muslim (narrative no. 610), Nasaiy (narrative no. 494), Abu Dawood (narrative no. 394), Ibn Maajah (narrative no. 668), Muwatta of Imam Malik (narrative no. 1), Daarmiy (narrative no. 1185) Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal (narrative no. 22407), Ibn Hibban (narrative no. 1448, 1449, 1450 and 1494) Ibn Khuzaymah (narrative no. 352), Nasaiy's Sunan Al-Kubraa (narrative no. 1483) Bayhaqiy (narrative no. 1580, 1581, 1582, 1918 and 1919), Ibn Abi Shaybah (narrative no. 3227) and Musnad Al-Humaidiy (narrative no. 451). The preferred text is the one reported in Bukhariy, narrative no. 499.

In some narratives, as for instance in Bukhariy, narrative no. 3049, the incident has been reported as having been narrated by the Prophet (pbuh):

روي أنه كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول نزل جبريل فأمني فصليت معه ثم صليت معه ثم صليت معه ثم صليت معه ثم صليت معه يحسب بأصابعه خمس صلوات.

It is narrated that the Prophet used to say: Gabriel descended [upon me] and led me in prayers while I prayed with him. Then I prayed with him again. Then I prayed with him again. Then I prayed with him again. Then I prayed with him again. The Prophet said this while counting the five prayers on his fingers.

(This write-up is prepared by the Hadith Cell of Javed Ahmad Ghamidi)