Introduction
Abu Qatadah al-Harith ibn Rib'i was an Ansari of Madinah who took part in the Prophet's campaigns after Badr and became known as the Prophet's horseman. Muslim records him riding in the front of the Prophet's cavalry at Dhu Qarad, behind Akhram al-Asadi.
He was also a careful narrator whose reports cover wudu, the prayer, supererogatory fasting, funerals, dreams and manners. Several practices on this page are known to us through him: praying two rak'ahs on entering the mosque, fasting Arafah and Ashura, and showing mercy to animals, children and debtors.
He took Ali's side in the first civil war and is generally said to have died in Madinah or Kufa in the fifties AH.
The story
after 2 AH
Takes part in the Prophet's campaigns (absent from Badr by most accounts).
6 AH / 628 CE
Rides with the Prophet's cavalry at Dhu Qarad, noted by the narrator Salama among the first of the riders.
Read the wording
Sahih Muslim 1807Sahih Arabic text
… لاَ وَمَنْ أَنْتَ قَالَ قُلْتُ أَنَا سَلَمَةُ بْنُ الأَكْوَعِ وَالَّذِي كَرَّمَ وَجْهَ مُحَمَّدٍ صلى الله عليه وسلم لاَ أَطْلُبُ رَجُلاً مِنْكُمْ إِلاَّ أَدْرَكْتُهُ وَلاَ يَطْلُبُنِي رَجُلٌ مِنْكُمْ. فَيُدْرِكَنِي قَالَ أَحَدُهُمْ أَنَا أَظُنُّ. قَالَ فَرَجَعُوا فَمَا بَرِحْتُ مَكَانِي حَتَّى رَأَيْتُ فَوَارِسَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَتَخَلَّلُونَ الشَّجَرَ - قَالَ - …
“Behind him was Abu Qatada al-Ansari”
6 AH / 628 CE
On the road to Makkah, hunts a wild donkey while not in ihram; the Prophet permits his companions to eat from it.
Read the wording
Jami at-Tirmidhi 847Sahih Arabic text
… مُحْرِمِينَ وَهُوَ غَيْرُ مُحْرِمٍ فَرَأَى حِمَارًا وَحْشِيًّا فَاسْتَوَى عَلَى فَرَسِهِ فَسَأَلَ أَصْحَابَهُ أَنْ يُنَاوِلُوهُ سَوْطَهُ فَأَبَوْا فَسَأَلَهُمْ رُمْحَهُ فَأَبَوْا عَلَيْهِ فَأَخَذَهُ ثُمَّ شَدَّ عَلَى الْحِمَارِ فَقَتَلَهُ فَأَكَلَ مِنْهُ بَعْضُ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَبَى بَعْضُهُمْ فَأَدْرَكُوا النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَسَأَلُوهُ عَنْ ذَلِكَ …
“wild donkey”
8 AH / 630 CE
Present at Hunayn.
Read the wording
Sunan Abi Dawud 2717Sahih Arabic text
قَالَ خَرَجْنَا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي عَامِ حُنَيْنٍ فَلَمَّا الْتَقَيْنَا كَانَتْ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ جَوْلَةٌ - قَالَ - فَرَأَيْتُ رَجُلاً مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ قَدْ عَلاَ رَجُلاً مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ - قَالَ - فَاسْتَدَرْتُ لَهُ حَتَّى أَتَيْتُهُ مِنْ وَرَائِهِ فَضَرَبْتُهُ بِالسَّيْفِ عَلَى حَبْلِ عَاتِقِهِ فَأَقْبَلَ عَلَىَّ فَضَمَّنِي ضَمَّةً وَجَدْتُ مِنْهَا رِيحَ …
“We went out with the Apostle of Allaah(ﷺ) in the year of Hunain”
c. 50-54 AH
Dies; Madinah or Kufa according to different reports.
A day in their footsteps
7 small, repeatable practices from Abu Qatadah al-Ansari's life. Each comes with the Arabic text and English wording of its source, and links to read the full report.
Two rak'ahs on entering the mosque
Abu Qatadah narrated the Prophet's instruction that whoever enters the mosque should pray two rak'ahs before sitting down.
Try this today
Do not sit down in the masjid without two short rak'ahs.
Sit with this
What changes when you greet the mosque with two rak'ahs before you sit?
Sources
Jami at-Tirmidhi 316Sahih … غَيْرُ مَحْفُوظٍ وَالصَّحِيحُ حَدِيثُ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ. وَالْعَمَلُ عَلَى هَذَا الْحَدِيثِ عِنْدَ أَصْحَابِنَا اسْتَحَبُّوا إِذَا دَخَلَ الرَّجُلُ الْمَسْجِدَ أَنْ لاَ يَجْلِسَ حَتَّى يُصَلِّيَ رَكْعَتَيْنِ إِلاَّ أَنْ يَكُونَ لَهُ عُذْرٌ. قَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْمَدِينِيِّ وَحَدِيثُ سُهَيْلِ بْنِ أَبِي صَالِحٍ خَطَأٌ أَخْبَرَنِي بِذَلِكَ إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ …
“let him perform two Rak'ah before sitting”
Sunan Abi Dawud 467Sahih أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " إِذَا جَاءَ أَحَدُكُمُ الْمَسْجِدَ فَلْيُصَلِّ سَجْدَتَيْنِ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ يَجْلِسَ".
“he should pray two RAKAHS before sitting down”
Fasting Arafah and Ashura
He narrated the Prophet's advice to fast the day of Arafah, which expiates the sins of the year before and after, and Ashura, which expiates the previous year.
Try this today
Mark Arafah (9 Dhul Hijjah) and Ashura (10 Muharram) with a voluntary fast.
Sit with this
Have you marked Arafah and Ashura on your calendar for this year?
Sources
Jami at-Tirmidhi 749Sahih أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " صِيَامُ يَوْمِ عَرَفَةَ إِنِّي أَحْتَسِبُ عَلَى اللَّهِ أَنْ يُكَفِّرَ السَّنَةَ الَّتِي قَبْلَهُ وَالسَّنَةَ الَّتِي بَعْدَهُ". قَالَ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ. قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى حَدِيثُ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ. وَقَدِ اسْتَحَبَّ أَهْلُ الْعِلْمِ صِيَامَ يَوْمِ عَرَفَةَ إِلاَّ بِعَرَفَةَ.
“Fast the Day of Arafah”
Jami at-Tirmidhi 752Sahih … بْنِ سَلَمَةَ الْخُزَاعِيِّ عَنْ عَمِّهِ وَعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ ذَكَرُوا عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُ حَثَّ عَلَى صِيَامِ يَوْمِ عَاشُورَاءَ. قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى لاَ نَعْلَمُ فِي شَيْءٍ مِنَ الرِّوَايَاتِ أَنَّهُ قَالَ" صِيَامُ يَوْمِ عَاشُورَاءَ كَفَّارَةُ سَنَةٍ". إِلاَّ فِي حَدِيثِ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ. وَبِحَدِيثِ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ يَقُولُ أَحْمَدُ …
“Fast the Day of Ashura”
Fasting Mondays and Thursdays
Asked about fasting Monday and Thursday, the Prophet said that on Monday he was born and the Quran was first revealed to him; Abu Qatadah transmitted the report.
Try this today
Pick Monday as a weekly fasting day.
Sit with this
Which day of your week could become a day of fasting?
Source
Sunan Abi Dawud 2426Sahih قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَرَأَيْتَ صَوْمَ يَوْمِ الاِثْنَيْنِ وَيَوْمِ الْخَمِيسِ قَالَ " فِيهِ وُلِدْتُ وَفِيهِ أُنْزِلَ عَلَىَّ الْقُرْآنُ".
“On it I was born, and on it the Qur'an was first revealed to me”
Mercy to animals in daily routine
His niece Kabshah described how Abu Qatadah tilted his water container so a cat could drink from it before using it for wudu, and explained the Prophet's teaching that cats are not impure.
Try this today
Be gentle with animals, even when it costs you a moment.
Sit with this
How do you treat the animals that cross your path in a rushed day?
Source
Jami at-Tirmidhi 92Sahih … وَهُوَ قَوْلُ أَكْثَرِ الْعُلَمَاءِ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَالتَّابِعِينَ وَمَنْ بَعْدَهُمْ مِثْلِ الشَّافِعِيِّ وَأَحْمَدَ وَإِسْحَاقَ لَمْ يَرَوْا بِسُؤْرِ الْهِرَّةِ بَأْسًا. وَهَذَا أَحَسَنُ شَيْءٍ رُوِيَ فِي هَذَا الْبَابِ. وَقَدْ جَوَّدَ مَالِكٌ هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي طَلْحَةَ وَلَمْ يَأْتِ بِهِ أَحَدٌ أَتَمَّ مِنْ …
“A cat came to drink, so he lowered he container until it drank”
Taking on a dead man's debt
When the Prophet refused to lead a funeral prayer for a man who died in debt, Abu Qatadah said the debt would be upon him, and the Prophet then prayed over the man.
Try this today
Help settle someone's debts, and treat debt seriously yourself.
Sit with this
Is there a debt, yours or someone else's, that you could help close?
Source
Jami at-Tirmidhi 1069Sahih … عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم" صَلُّوا عَلَى صَاحِبِكُمْ فَإِنَّ عَلَيْهِ دَيْنًا". قَالَ أَبُو قَتَادَةَ هُوَ عَلَىَّ. فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم" بِالْوَفَاءِ". قَالَ بِالْوَفَاءِ. فَصَلَّى عَلَيْهِ. قَالَ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ جَابِرٍ وَسَلَمَةَ بْنِ الأَكْوَعِ وَأَسْمَاءَ بِنْتِ يَزِيدَ. قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى حَدِيثُ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ …
“It shall be upon me”
Guarding the prayer, and not sleeping through it
On a night journey with the Prophet, they slept through Fajr. The Prophet taught that there is no fault in sleep, only in neglect while awake, and told them to pray it when they remembered.
Try this today
Plan to wake for Fajr, but make it up immediately if you do oversleep.
Sit with this
What is your plan for Fajr tonight, and what will you do if it fails?
Source
Jami at-Tirmidhi 177Sahih … الصَّلاَةِ أَوْ يَنْسَاهَا فَيَسْتَيْقِظُ أَوْ يَذْكُرُ وَهُوَ فِي غَيْرِ وَقْتِ صَلاَةٍ عِنْدَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ أَوْ عِنْدَ غُرُوبِهَا. فَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ يُصَلِّيهَا إِذَا اسْتَيْقَظَ أَوْ ذَكَرَ وَإِنْ كَانَ عِنْدَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ أَوْ عِنْدَ غُرُوبِهَا. وَهُوَ قَوْلُ أَحْمَدَ وَإِسْحَاقَ وَالشَّافِعِيِّ وَمَالِكٍ. وَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ لاَ يُصَلِّي حَتَّى تَطْلُعَ الشَّمْسُ أَوْ …
“There is no negligence in sleep”
Kindness to children, even in prayer
He saw the Prophet carry his granddaughter Umamah while leading prayer, putting her down when he prostrated and lifting her when he stood.
Try this today
Make space for children in your worship and don't push them away.
Sit with this
Do the children around you feel welcome near your prayer?
Source
Sahih al-Bukhari 516Sahih أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يُصَلِّي وَهْوَ حَامِلٌ أُمَامَةَ بِنْتَ زَيْنَبَ بِنْتِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَلأَبِي الْعَاصِ بْنِ رَبِيعَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ شَمْسٍ، فَإِذَا سَجَدَ وَضَعَهَا، وَإِذَا قَامَ حَمَلَهَا.
“When he prostrated, he put her down and when he stood, he carried her”
Virtues
Among the leading riders of the Prophet's cavalry at Dhu Qarad.
“Behind him was Abu Qatada al-Ansari”
Arabic text
… لاَ وَمَنْ أَنْتَ قَالَ قُلْتُ أَنَا سَلَمَةُ بْنُ الأَكْوَعِ وَالَّذِي كَرَّمَ وَجْهَ مُحَمَّدٍ صلى الله عليه وسلم لاَ أَطْلُبُ رَجُلاً مِنْكُمْ إِلاَّ أَدْرَكْتُهُ وَلاَ يَطْلُبُنِي رَجُلٌ مِنْكُمْ. فَيُدْرِكَنِي قَالَ أَحَدُهُمْ أَنَا أَظُنُّ. قَالَ فَرَجَعُوا فَمَا بَرِحْتُ مَكَانِي حَتَّى رَأَيْتُ فَوَارِسَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَتَخَلَّلُونَ الشَّجَرَ - قَالَ - …
Sahih Muslim 1807Sahih
Words on this page
- Ansarالأنصار
- "The Helpers": the Muslims of Madinah, from the Aws and Khazraj tribes, who welcomed and sheltered the Prophet ﷺ and the emigrants from Makkah.
- Arafahعرفة
- The plain outside Makkah where pilgrims stand on the 9th of Dhu al-Hijjah; also the name of that day, on which those not on Hajj are encouraged to fast.
- Ashuraعاشوراء
- The 10th of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic year. Fasting on it is a Sunnah.
- Badrبدر
- The first major battle between the Muslims and Quraysh, in 2 AH. Those who fought there hold a special rank among the Companions.
- Fajrالفجر
- The dawn prayer, prayed between first light and sunrise. It is preceded by two short voluntary rak'ahs.
- Hadithحديث
- A report of what the Prophet ﷺ said, did or approved, passed down through a chain of narrators.
- Ihramإحرام
- The sacred state a pilgrim enters for Hajj or Umrah, with its own dress and restrictions.
- Madinahالمدينة
- The city, formerly Yathrib, to which the Prophet ﷺ migrated and where the first Muslim community was built.
- Makkahمكة
- The city of the Ka'bah, where the Prophet ﷺ was born and revelation began.
- Rak'ahركعة
- One unit of the prayer: standing and reciting, bowing, and two prostrations.
- Wuduالوضوء
- The ritual washing of the face, arms, head and feet before prayer.
Related companions
- أنس بن مالكAnas ibn MalikThe Prophet's young attendant for ten years, who reported his conduct with remarkable patience and detail.
- أبو هريرةAbu HurayrahAbu Hurayrah of Daws, a poor man of the Suffah who stayed beside the Prophet and memorised more hadith than a…
- المقداد بن الأسودal-Miqdad ibn al-Aswadal-Miqdad ibn al-Aswad: early convert and horseman at Badr, remembered for loyalty to the Prophet, refusal of…
- علي بن أبي طالبAli ibn Abi TalibCousin and son-in-law of the Prophet, among the first to believe, and fourth caliph; remembered for knowledge…
Sources and review
- Abu Qatada al-Ansari - Wikipedia (dates and campaigns) (opens in a new tab)
- Hadith texts via the open Hadith API mirroring sunnah.com numbering (opens in a new tab)
Hadith numbers follow sunnah.com. Each report links to sunnah.com, and, where the numbering matches, to al-Hadees or HadithUnlocked as well. Quran verses link to quran.com, Tafsir Ibn Kathir and Tanzil. The Arabic is taken from the hadith editions and trimmed around the quoted words, so read the full report at the source before relying on it. Grades are the ones those editions give.
This page is pending scholar review. It was compiled from public sources, and its citations were last checked on 7 October 2026. If you notice a mistake or a missing source, please tell us.