Ahadith

Ayesha relates that the Holy Prophet did not attach more importance to any voluntary Prayer than to the two raka‘as before the dawn Prayer (Muslim).

Ayesha relates that the Holy Prophet said: The two raka‘as before the dawn Prayer are better than the world and all it contains (Muslim). Another version is: Are dearer to me than the whole world.

Bilal relates that he went to apprise the Holy Prophet of the approach of the hour of the dawn Prayer, but Ayesha diverted his attention to some other matter till it began to be light. Then Bilal rose and informed the Holy Prophet of the hour of Prayer and followed it up with a reminder. But the Holy Prophet did not come out immediately. When he came out he led the Prayer. Then Bilal told him that Ayesha had diverted his attention to something else and this had delayed him warning the Holy Prophet of the hour of Prayer till it began to be light. Yet the Holy Prophet had taken time to come out. He said: I was occupied with my two raka‘as. Bilal said: Messenger of Allah, you let the light spread. The Holy Prophet replied: Even ifthe light had spread more than it had, I would have offered the two raka'as well and handsomely (Abu Daud).

Ayesha relates that the Holy Prophet would offer two brief raka’as between the Azan and Iqgamah of the dawn Prayer (Bokhari and Muslim). Another version is: He offered the two raka‘as so abbreviating them that I wondered whether he had recited the Fatihah. Mustim’s version is: He would offer the two raka‘as when he heard the Azan and made them brief. Still another version is: With the light of the dawn.

Hafsah relates that the Holy Prophet offered two brief raka‘as after the muezzin had called the Azan for the dawn Prayer and it began to be light (Bokhari and Muslim). Muslim’s version is: After it began to be light the Holy Prophet did not offer anything but two brief raka‘as. .

Ibn Umar relates that the Holy Prophet offered his voluntary Prayer at night two raka‘as by two raka‘as and at the end concluded with an odd raka‘a. Then he would offer two raka‘as before the dawn Prayer so brief as ‘if he could hear the [gamah being called (Bokhari and Muslim).

Ibn Abbas relates that in his two raka‘as before the dawn Prayer, the Holy Prophet recited the verse: Affirm: We believe in Allah and in that" which has been sent down to us. . . (2.137) in the first raka‘a and the verse: We believe in Allah and bear thou witness we are obedient to Allah (3.53) in the second raka‘a. One version says: The verse: Let us agree upon one matter which is the same for you and for us . . . (3.65) in the second raka‘a (Muslim).

Abu Hurairah relates that the Holy Prophet recited sura Al-Kafirun (Chapter 109) and sura Al-Ikhlas (Chapter 112) in the two raka‘as before the dawn Prayer (Muslim).

Ibn Umar relates: | observed the Holy Praphet for a month reciting chapters 109 and 112 in the two raka‘as before the dawn Prayer (Tirmidhi).

Ayesha relates that after offering his two raka‘as the Holy Prophet would lie down on his right side (Bokhari).