Hadith Details

Discover timeless wisdom from the authentic teachings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Read this hadith in Arabic and English, share it with others, or explore related narrations from the same chapter.

Sunan Abi Dawud

كتاب الصلاة

Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat)

Chapter 2Hadith 788

حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، وَأَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الْمَرْوَزِيُّ، وَابْنُ السَّرْحِ، قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، - قَالَ قُتَيْبَةُ فِيهِ - عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم لاَ يَعْرِفُ فَصْلَ السُّورَةِ حَتَّى تُنَزَّلَ عَلَيْهِ ‏{‏ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ ‏}‏ ‏.‏ وَهَذَا لَفْظُ ابْنِ السَّرْحِ ‏.‏

The prophet (ﷺ) did not distinguish between the two surahs until the words “In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the merciful” was revealed to him. These are the words of Ibn al-sarh.

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Hadith Questions & Answers

Common questions about reading, sharing, and understanding Islamic hadith.

What is hadith in Islam?
A hadith is a narration of what Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, did, or approved. Hadith complement the Quran and help Muslims understand how to practice their faith in daily life. Each entry on Random Hadith shows the Arabic text, English translation, and full citation so you can read and verify the source.
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Every hadith on Random Hadith has a unique URL with an id parameter, such as randomhadith.com/?id=1234. Copy the address from your browser, use the share options on the page, or bookmark the link to return to the same narration later. Shared links stay fixed so family and friends always see the same text.
Where does this hadith come from?
Each narration displayed on Random Hadith includes its book, chapter, and hadith number. These references point to established Islamic collections such as Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, and the Sunan works. You can use the citation to locate the same report in printed editions or to explore related hadiths from the same chapter on this site.
When Allah wants two hearts to meet, what is the hadith?
A widely quoted teaching states that when Allah wants two people to meet, He makes their paths converge — often summarized as when He wants two hearts to meet, they will meet. Muslims frequently reflect on this narration as a reminder of divine decree (qadar), trust in Allah's plan, and patience regarding relationships and life events. Always verify wording and grading with qualified scholars and authentic sources.