باب ما جاء في عبادة النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم
40  
Worship And Devotion Of Rasoolullah
Ash-Shama'il Al-Muhammadiyah 267
Abu Huraira said:
"The Prophet said (Allah bless him and give him peace): 'If one of you gets up during the night, let him begin his ritual prayer with two abbreviated cycles.'”
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْعَلاءِ، قَالَ‏:‏ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ، عَنْ هِشَامٍ يَعْنِي ابْنَ حَسَّانَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِيرِينَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم، قَالَ‏:‏ إِذَا قَامَ أَحَدُكُمْ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَلْيَفْتَتِحْ صَلاتَهُ بِرَكْعَتَيْنِ خَفِيفَتَيْنِ‏.‏
Grade: Sahih (Zubair Alizai)  صحيح   (Zubair Alizai) حكم   :
Reference : Ash-Shama'il Al-Muhammadiyah 267
In-book reference : Book 40, Hadith 8
Explanation
comments
So that one may not become tired quickly by beginning to perform lengthy rak'ahs. Some 'ulama have written that these two rak'ahs are that of tahiyyatul wudu, it is preferable to shorten these rak'ahs as we have been commanded to do. Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam also shortened the rak'ahs of this prayer. Haafiz Ibn Hajar has written a fine point in his commentary on the Bukhaari. He says that it is stated in a hadith that when a man sleeps, the shaytaan fastens three knots in the hair like a magician, in which this spell is cast that the night is still very long, keep on sleeping. When one gets up and recites the name of Allah, i.e. a du'aa etc., the first knot loosens. When wudu is performed the second knot opens. Therefore it has been commanded that two short rak'ahs be performed, so that the third knot also opens. The remaining portion of the salaah will be performed, whilst one is free from the deceits of the shaytaan. Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu' Alayhi Wasallam was free from the guile of the shaytaan, but as an example for the ummah, he considered their necessities and to teach them, many a time he shortened these rak'ahs as has been mentioned in the narrations.
Hadith Text
Reference