Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah 654 Link

Arabic (summary): عن عائشة رضي الله عنها قالت: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: "ركعتا الفجر خير من الدنيا وما فيها."

Translation: Narrated by Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her): The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The two Rak’ahs of Fajr (the Sunnah prayer before dawn) are better than the world and everything in it."

Why has Hadith 654 remained so popular among lay Muslims and scholars alike? Because it encapsulates tawakkul (reliance on Allah) and adab (etiquette) of supplication.

Imam ibn al-Qayyim wrote in Madarij al-Salikin that the best supplications are those preceded by praise of Allah and blessings on the Prophet—exactly as found in Sahih ibn Khuzaymah 654.

To appreciate the gravity of this narration, one must first examine the original text as recorded by Imam ibn Khuzaymah in his Sahih.

The Narration (Arabic Text):

حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبُ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنْ كَانَتْ لَهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ حَاجَةٌ، فَلْيَتَوَضَّأْ وَلْيُحْسِنِ الْوُضُوءَ، ثُمَّ لِيُصَلِّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ، ثُمَّ لِيُثْنِ عَلَى اللَّهِ، وَلْيُصَلِّ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، ثُمَّ لِيَقُلْ: لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ الْحَلِيمُ الْكَرِيمُ، سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ، الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مُوجِبَاتِ رَحْمَتِكَ، وَعَزَائِمَ مَغْفِرَتِكَ، وَالْغَنِيمَةَ مِنْ كُلِّ بِرٍّ، وَالسَّلَامَةَ مِنْ كُلِّ إِثْمٍ، اللَّهُمَّ لَا تَدَعْ لِي ذَنْبًا إِلَّا غَفَرْتَهُ، وَلَا هَمًّا إِلَّا فَرَّجْتَهُ، وَلَا حَاجَةً هِيَ لَكَ رِضًا إِلَّا قَضَيْتَهَا يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ».

Transliteration:

"Man kānat lahu ila Allahi hajah, falyatawadda’ wa yuhsin al-wudu’, thumma liyusalli rak’atayn, thumma liyuthni ‘ala Allah, wa liyusalli ‘ala an-Nabi (SAW), thumma liyaqul: La ilaha illa Allah al-Haleem al-Kareem, Subhan Allah Rabb il-‘arsh il-‘adheem, Alhamdulillah Rabb il-‘alameen. Allahumma inni as’aluka mujibati rahmatika, wa ‘aza’ima maghfiratika, wal-ghanimata min kulli birr, was-salamata min kulli ithm. Allahumma la tada’ li dhanban illa ghafartahu, wa la hamman illa farrajtahu, wa la hajatan hiya laka ridan illa qadaytaha, ya arham ar-rahimeen."

Translation:

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever has a need from Allah, let him perform ablution and do it well, then pray two rak’ahs. Then let him praise Allah, send blessings upon the Prophet (peace be upon him), and then say: 'There is no god but Allah, the Forbearing, the Generous. Glory be to Allah, Lord of the Mighty Throne. All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. O Allah, I ask You for the means of Your mercy, the resolutions of Your forgiveness, the gain from every righteous deed, and safety from every sin. O Allah, do not leave any sin of mine unforgiven, nor any distress unrelieved, nor any need that pleases You unfulfilled, O Most Merciful of the merciful.'" sahih ibn khuzaymah 654

In the vast ocean of Islamic prophetic traditions, certain books stand as towering citadels of authenticity. After the famous Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, scholars often turn to other esteemed collections such as Sahih ibn Khuzaymah. Authored by the prolific Shafi'i Muhaddith, Imam Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Ishaq ibn Khuzaymah (223–311 AH), this work is renowned for its stringent criteria of authenticity—often considered even stricter than those of Imam Muslim.

One particular hadith that has sparked deep interest among students of fiqh (jurisprudence) and spirituality is Sahih ibn Khuzaymah 654. This narration is the primary textual evidence for the much-debated Salat al-Hajah (The Prayer of Need).

In this article, we will dissect the chain of narration (isnad), the Arabic text, its translation, the legal ruling derived from it, and why this specific number (654) is crucial for anyone seeking to understand supplication in times of distress.

Conclusion: The majority of scholars accept Sahih ibn Khuzaymah 654 as evidence for the permissibility and recommendation of the Prayer of Need.

Despite the authenticity of Hadith 654, there is a famous disagreement among the four Sunni schools regarding Salat al-Hajah. Imam ibn al-Qayyim wrote in Madarij al-Salikin that

In a world fraught with uncertainty, Muslims constantly seek a direct line to their Creator. Sahih ibn Khuzaymah 654 provides that connection—rooted in rigorous scholarship, preserved through pristine chains, and actionable for every believer. It is not a magic formula but a prophetic guide to turning helplessness into worship.

Whether you are facing financial hardship, marital difficulties, or spiritual stagnation, the Prayer of Need stands as a beacon of hope. And now, thanks to Imam ibn Khuzaymah’s meticulous preservation, we have a crystal-clear, authentic roadmap.

Final Takeaway: Memorize the du’a of Hadith 654. Practice Salat al-Hajah with sincerity. And trust that the One who said, "Call upon Me; I will respond to you" (Qur’an 40:60) never breaks His promise.

May Allah accept our needs and grant us the best in this life and the next. Ameen.

Please note: This analysis is for educational purposes. If you are a Muslim seeking a formal religious ruling (fatwa) or specific theological application, please consult a qualified scholar. it remains authentic.

Reality: Hisham’s memory decline only affected his narrations in Iraq. He narrated this to Shu’ayb ibn Ishaq in Madinah or early in his life. Hence, it remains authentic.