Riyad as-Salihin · Chapter 198

Desirability of Lying down on one's right side after the Sunnah of Fajr Prayer

باب استحباب الاضطجاع بعد ركعتي الفجر على جنبه الأيمن والحث عليه سواء كان تهجد بالليل أم لا‏.

This short chapter notes a small practice the Prophet kept after the two units before the dawn prayer: lying down on his right side for a while.

The hadith simply record this habit and his guidance pointing others toward it. It is a quiet reminder that even a moment of rest can be part of following the Prophet's example.

Hadith 1110

'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported:

عن عائشة رضي الله عنها قالت‏:‏ كان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا صلى ركعتي الفجر، اضطجع على شقه الأيمن‏.‏ ‏(‏‏(‏رواه البخاري‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏

When the Prophet (ﷺ) had performed two Rak'ah before the Fajr prayer, he would lie down on his right side. [Al-Bukhari].

In plain words

Aishah reports that after praying the two units before the dawn prayer, the Prophet would lie down on his right side, a small habit he kept.

Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1110 In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 120

Hadith 1111

'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported:

وعنها قالت‏:‏ كان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يصلي فيما بين أن يفرغ من صلاة العشاء إلى الفجر إحدى عشرة ركعة يسلم بين كل ركعتين، ويوتر بواحدة، فإذا سكت المؤذن من صلاة الفجر، وتبين له الفجر وجاء المؤذن، قام فركع ركعتين خفيفتين، ثم اضطجع على شقه الأيمن هكذا حتى يأتيه المؤذن للإقامة‏"‏‏.‏ ‏(‏‏(‏رواه مسلم‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏ (15)

When the Prophet (ﷺ) finished the 'Isha prayer, he would perform eleven Rak'ah before the Fajr prayer, concluding each two Rak'ah with Taslim (i.e., saying As-Salamu 'Alaikum) and observing the Witr (odd) at the end. When the Mu'adhdhin finished proclaiming Adhan for the Fajr prayer and it was dawn, he would rise and perform two short Rak'ah, and then would lie down on his right side till the Mu'adhdhin came to (inform) him about Iqamah. [Muslim].

In plain words

Aishah describes the Prophet's night routine: eleven units after Isha, each pair ended with the closing greeting and an odd unit at the end, then two short units at dawn, after which he would lie on his right side until called for the prayer.

Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1111 In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 121

Hadith 1112

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال‏:‏ قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم‏:‏ ‏ "‏إذا صلى أحدكم ركعتي الفجر، فليضطجع على يمينه‏" ‏‏.‏ ‏(‏‏(‏رواه أبو داود، والترمذي بأسانيد صحيحة‏.‏ قال الترمذي‏:‏ حديث حسن صحيح‏.‏

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "When anyone of you has performed two of Sunnah before the Fajr prayer, he should lie down on his right side." [Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi].

In plain words

The Prophet guided that after praying the two voluntary units before the dawn prayer, a person should lie down on his right side, pointing others to the practice he himself kept.

Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1112 In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 122