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Encyclopedia of Translated Hadiths (HadeethEnc) · Jurisprudence and Juristic Principles
Number: 3734

When one of you stands up for offering voluntary prayer at night and finds it difficult to recite the Qur'an accurately, and he is unaware of what he is reciting, he should lie down

عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : «إذا قَام أحَدُكُم من الليل، فَاسْتَعْجَمَ القرآن على لِسَانه، فلم يَدْرِ ما يقول، فَلْيَضْطَجِع».
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When one of you stands up for offering voluntary prayer at night and finds it difficult to recite the Qur'an accurately, and he is unaware of what he is reciting, he should lie down."

Translation by HadeethEnc.com

Grade[Authentic hadith][Narrated by Muslim]

Explanation

If someone is offering voluntary night prayer, and it becomes hard for him to recite the Qur'an because of drowsiness, until he does not understand what he is saying: then let him lie down until his drowsiness goes away, so that he would not alter or change the words of Allah, for perhaps he might fall into prohibition by reversing its meanings or altering its words, or he might make supplications against himself. In Al-Bukhāri, Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "If one of you becomes drowsy during prayer, then let him sleep until he knows what he is reading."

HadeethEnc.com · English edition v1.25.0, updated 2026-05-10 · Open on HadeethEnc.com