Question
Is this Hadith authentic?
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:
“May Allah have mercy on one who offers four rak’ahs [Sunnah] before the ‘Asr Prayer.”
Answer
Imam Tirmidhi and Imam Abu Dawud (rahimahumallah), among others have recorded the Hadith in question on the authority of Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhuma). Imam Tirmidhi (rahimahullah) has declared the Hadith as sound. (hasan)
(Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith: 430 and Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith: 1271)
Imam Ibn Khuzaymah and Imam Ibn Hibban (rahimahumallah) have declared the Hadith as authentic (sahih).
(Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah, Hadith: 1193 and Sahih Ibn Hibban; Al Ihsan, Hadith: 2453. Also see: Hidayatur Ruwat, Hadith: 1127 and footnotes on Sunan Tirmidhi, of Shaykh Ahmad Shakir, under Hadith: 430)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best
Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar