Prayer at Night - Section 1

‘A’isha said that between the time when he finished the evening prayer and the dawn prayer the Prophet (ﷺ) used to pray eleven <i>rak'as</i>, uttering the salutation at the end of every two and observing the witr,* with a single one, and during that he would make a prostration about as long as one of you would take to recite fifty verses before raising his head. When the <i>mu’adhdhin</i> finished making the call for the dawn prayer and he saw the dawn clearly, he stood up and prayed two short <i>rak'as</i>, then lay down on his right side till the <i>mu’adhdhin</i> came to him for the <i>iqama</i>, whereupon he would go out. *Cf. chap. 36 (Bukhari and Muslim.)

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ: كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُصَلِّي فِيمَا بَين أَن يفرغ من صَلَاة الْعشَاء إِلَى الْفَجْرِ إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً يُسَلِّمُ مِنْ كُلِّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَيُوتِرُ بِوَاحِدَةٍ فَيَسْجُدُ السَّجْدَةَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَدْرَ مَا يَقْرَأُ أَحَدُكُمْ خَمْسِينَ آيَةً قَبْلَ أَنْ يَرْفَعَ رَأْسَهُ فَإِذَا سَكَتَ الْمُؤَذِّنُ مِنْ صَلَاةِ الْفَجْرِ وَتَبَيَّنَ لَهُ الْفَجْرُ قَامَ فَرَكَعَ رَكْعَتَيْنِ خَفِيفَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ اضْطَجَعَ عَلَى شِقِّهِ الْأَيْمَنِ حَتَّى يَأْتِيهِ الْمُؤَذّن للإقامة فَيخرج

She said, “When the Prophet (ﷺ) prayed the two <i>rak'as</i> of the dawn prayer, he would talk to me if I was awake, otherwise he would lie down.” Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْهَا قَالَتْ: كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيِ الْفَجْرِ فَإِنْ كُنْتُ مستيقظة حَدثنِي وَإِلَّا اضْطجع. رَوَاهُ مُسلم

She said that when the Prophet (ﷺ) prayed the two <i>rak'as</i> of the dawn prayer he lay down on his right side. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْهَا قَالَتْ: كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيِ الْفَجْرِ اضْطَجَعَ عَلَى شقَّه الْأَيْمن "

She said the Prophet (ﷺ) used to pray thirteen <i>rak'as</i> during the night, including the <i>witr</i> and two <i>rak'as</i> of the dawn prayer. Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْهَا قَالَتْ: كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ ثَلَاثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً مِنْهَا الْوتر وركعتا الْفجْر. رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Masruq said he asked ‘A’isha what prayers God’s Messenger said during the night and she replied, “Seven, nine, and eleven <i>rak'as</i> apart from the two <i>rak'as</i> of the dawn prayer.” Bukhari transmitted it.

وَعَنْ مَسْرُوقٍ قَالَ: سَأَلْتُ عَائِشَةَ عَنْ صَلَاةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِاللَّيْلِ. فَقَالَت: سبع وتسع وَإِحْدَى عشر رَكْعَة سوى رَكْعَتي الْفجْر. رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

‘A’isha said that when the Prophet (ﷺ) stood up at night to pray he began his prayer with two short <i>rak'as</i>. Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ: كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا قَامَ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ لِيُصَلِّيَ افْتتح صلَاته بِرَكْعَتَيْنِ خفيفتين. رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “When one of you gets up at night; he should begin the prayer with two short <i>rak'as</i>.” Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: " إِذَا قَامَ أَحَدُكُمْ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَلْيَفْتَحِ الصَّلَاة بِرَكْعَتَيْنِ خفيفتين. رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Ibn ‘Abbas said:

I spent a night with my maternal aunt Maimuna when the Prophet (ﷺ) was with her. After talking to his family for a time he had a sleep, then when the last third of the night came, or a little later, he sat up, looked at the sky, and recited, “In the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of night and day there are indeed signs for people of understanding,"(Al-Qur’an; 3:190) to the end of the sura. Then getting up and going to the bucket, he loosened its cord and poured some water into a bowl, then performed a good ablution between the two extremes, not going to great length, and when he had done it fully he stood up and prayed. I got up, and when I had performed ablution I stood at his left side, whereupon he took me by the ear and made me go round to his right side. His prayer was altogether thirteen <i>rak'as</i>. Then he lay down and slept, and he snored as was his custom. When Bilal made the call to prayer for him he prayed without performing ablution, and his supplication included these words, “O God, place light in my heart, light in my eyesight, light in my hearing, light on my right hand, light on my left hand, light above me, light below me, light in front of me, light behind me, and grant me light." Some added, “and light in my tongue," and mentioned, “my joints, my flesh, my blood, my hair, my skin." (Bukhari and Muslim.) In a version by both of them he said, “Place light in my soul, and give me abundant light." In another by Muslim he said, “O God, give me light."

وَعَن ابْن عَبَّاس قَالَ: بِتُّ عِنْدَ خَالَتِي مَيْمُونَةَ لَيْلَةً وَالنَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عِنْدَهَا فَتَحَدَّثَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَعَ أَهْلِهِ سَاعَةً ثُمَّ رَقَدَ فَلَمَّا كَانَ ثُلُثُ اللَّيْلِ الْآخِرُ أَوْ بَعْضُهُ قَعَدَ فَنَظَرَ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ فَقَرَأَ: (إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلَافِ اللَّيْل وَالنَّهَار لآيَات لأولي الْأَلْبَاب

حَتَّى خَتَمَ السُّورَةَ ثُمَّ قَامَ إِلَى الْقِرْبَةِ فَأَطْلَقَ شِنَاقَهَا ثُمَّ صَبَّ فِي الْجَفْنَةِ ثُمَّ تَوَضَّأَ وُضُوءًا حَسَنًا بَيْنَ الْوُضُوءَيْنِ لَمْ يُكْثِرْ وَقَدْ أَبْلَغَ فَقَامَ فَصَلَّى فَقُمْتُ وَتَوَضَّأْتُ فَقُمْتُ عَنْ يَسَارِهِ فَأَخَذَ بِأُذُنِي فَأَدَارَنِي عَنْ يَمِينِهِ فَتَتَامَّتْ صَلَاتُهُ ثَلَاثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً ثُمَّ اضْطَجَعَ فَنَامَ حَتَّى نَفَخَ وَكَانَ إِذَا نَامَ نَفَخَ فَآذَنَهُ بِلَالٌ بِالصَّلَاةِ فَصَلَّى وَلَمْ يَتَوَضَّأْ وَكَانَ فِي دُعَائِهِ: «اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْ فِي قَلْبِي نُورًا وَفِي بَصَرِي نُورًا وَفِي سَمْعِي نُورًا وَعَنْ يَمِينِي نُورًا وَعَنْ يَسَارِي نُورًا وَفَوْقِي نُورًا وتحتي نورا وأمامي نورا وَخَلْفِي نُورًا وَاجْعَلْ لِي نُورًا» وَزَادَ بَعْضُهُمْ: «وَفِي لِسَانِي نُورًا» وَذُكِرَ:

وَعَصَبِي وَلَحْمِي وَدَمِي وَشِعَرِي وبشري) وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ لَهُمَا: «وَاجْعَلْ فِي نَفْسِي نُورًا وَأَعْظِمْ لِي نُورًا» وَفِي أُخْرَى لِمُسْلِمٍ: «اللَّهُمَّ أَعْطِنِي نورا»

He said that once when he slept in the house of God’s Messenger, he awoke, cleaned his teeth and performed ablution, saying meanwhile, “In the creation of the heavens and the earth," to the end of the <i>sura</i>. He then stood up and prayed two <i>rak'as</i>, standing, bowing and prostrating himself at length in them. Then he finished, went to sleep and snored. He did that three times, six <i>rak'as</i> altogether, each time cleaning his teeth, performing ablution and reciting these verses. Then he performed a <i>witr</i> of three <i>rak'as</i>. Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْهُ: أَنَّهُ رَقَدَ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَاسْتَيْقَظَ فَتَسَوَّكَ وَتَوَضَّأَ وَهُوَ يَقُول: (إِن فِي خلق السَّمَاوَات وَالْأَرْض. . .) حَتَّى خَتَمَ السُّورَةَ ثُمَّ قَامَ فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ أَطَالَ فِيهِمَا الْقِيَامَ وَالرُّكُوعَ وَالسُّجُودَ ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ فَنَامَ حَتَّى نَفَخَ ثُمَّ فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ سِتَّ رَكَعَاتٍ كُلُّ ذَلِكَ يَسْتَاكُ وَيَتَوَضَّأُ وَيَقْرَأُ هَؤُلَاءِ الْآيَاتِ ثُمَّ أَوْتَرَ بِثَلَاثٍ. رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Zaid b. Khalid al-Juhani decided to watch one night what prayers God’s Messenger said. He prayed two short <i>rak'as</i>, then two long, long, long <i>rak'as</i>, then he prayed two <i>rak'as</i> which were less than the two preceding, then he prayed two <i>rak'as</i> which were less then the two preceding, then he prayed two <i>rak'as</i> which were less than the two preceding, then he prayed two <i>rak'as</i> which were less than the two preceding, then he prayed a single one, making a total of thirteen. Muslim transmitted it. The words “then he prayed two <i>rak'as</i> which were less than the two preceding”, mentioned four times, occur thus in Muslim’s <i>Sahih</i> and among those peculiar or him in Humaidi’s book, also in Malik’s <i>Muwatta’</i>, Abu Dawud’s <i>Sunan</i>, and <i>Jami’ al-Usul</i>.

وَعَن زيد بن خَالِد الْجُهَنِيّ أَنَّهُ قَالَ: لَأَرْمُقَنَّ صَلَاةَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ اللَّيْلَةَ فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ خَفِيفَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ طَوِيلَتَيْنِ طَوِيلَتَيْنِ طَوِيلَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُمَا دُونَ اللَّتَيْنِ قَبْلَهُمَا ثُمَّ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُمَا دُونَ اللَّتَيْنِ قَبْلَهُمَا ثُمَّ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُمَا دُونَ اللَّتَيْنِ قَبْلَهُمَا [ثُمَّ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُمَا دُونَ اللَّتَيْنِ قَبْلَهُمَا] ثُمَّ أَوْتَرَ فَذَلِكَ ثَلَاثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً. رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ قَوْله: ثمَّ صلى رَكْعَتَيْنِ وهما دون اللَّتَيْنِ قَبْلَهُمَا أَرْبَعَ مَرَّاتٍ هَكَذَا فِي صَحِيحِ مُسْلِمٍ وأفراده من كتاب الْحميدِي وموطأ مَالك وَسنَن أبي دَاوُد وجامع الْأُصُول

‘A’isha said, “When God’s Messenger grew old and was ill, he mostly prayed sitting.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ: لَمَّا بَدَّنَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَثَقُلَ كَانَ أَكْثَرُ صَلَاتِهِ جَالِسًا

Abdallah b. Mas'ud said, “I know the comparable <i>suras</i> which the Prophet (ﷺ) used to join together; ” and he mentioned twenty <i>suras</i> at the beginning of <i>al-Mufassal</i>,1 according to Ibn Mas'ud’s arrangement, two in a <i>rak'a</i>, the last of them being <i>H. M. ad-Dukhan</i>,2 and “About what do they ask one another?”3 1. A title given to the <i>suras</i> from 49 to the end, but several other <i>suras</i> are also mentioned:

37, 45, 47, 48, 50, 61, 67, 87, and 93. The name is most appropriately explained ay meaning that this is the section of the Qur’an which contains many shorter suras. 2. Al-Qur’an; 94. As this is included as one of the <i>suras</i> in <i>al Mufassal</i>, it suggests that this section begins earlier than the first number mentioned in the note referred to above. 3. Al-Qur'an; 78. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ: لَقَدْ عَرَفْتُ النَّظَائِرَ الَّتِي كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقْرِنُ بَيْنَهُنَّ فَذَكَرَ عِشْرِينَ سُورَةً مِنْ أَوَّلِ الْمُفَصَّلِ عَلَى تَأْلِيفِ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ سُورَتَيْنِ فِي رَكْعَةٍ آخِرُهُنَّ (حم الدُّخان) و (عَم يتساءلون)

Hudhaifa said he saw the Prophet (ﷺ) praying at night, and he was saying, “God is most great (three times), Possessor of the kingdom, might, pomp and greatness.” Thereafter he began and recited <i>al-Baqara</i> (Al-Qur’an; 2) then bowed, his bowing lasting about the same length of time as his standing, and he was saying while bowing, “Glory be to my mighty Lord.” He then raised his head after bowing and stood about the same length of time as he bad spent in bowing, saying, “To my Lord be the praise.” Then he prostrated himself for about the same length of time as he had stood, and he was saying while prostrating himself, “Glory be to my Lord most high.” He then raised his head after the prostration and sat between the two prostrations about the same length of time as he had spent in his prostration, and he was saying, “My Lord, forgive me; my Lord, forgive me.” He then prayed four <i>rak'as</i> in which he recited <i>al-Baqara</i>, <i>Al 'Imran</i>, <i>an-Nisa’</i>, and <i>al-Ma'ida</i>or <i>al-An‘am</i> (Al-Qur’an; 2, 3, 4 and 5 and 6) Shu‘ba was doubtful which it was. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

عَنْ حُذَيْفَةَ: أَنَّهُ رَأَى النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ وَكَانَ يَقُولُ: «الله أكبر» ثَلَاثًا «ذُو الْمَلَكُوتِ وَالْجَبَرُوتِ وَالْكِبْرِيَاءِ وَالْعَظَمَةِ» ثُمَّ اسْتَفْتَحَ فَقَرَأَ الْبَقَرَةَ ثُمَّ رَكَعَ فَكَانَ رُكُوعُهُ نَحْوًا مِنْ قِيَامِهِ فَكَانَ يَقُولُ فِي رُكُوعِهِ: «سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ» ثُمَّ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ الرُّكُوعِ فَكَانَ قِيَامُهُ نَحْوًا مِنْ رُكُوعِهِ يَقُولُ: «لِرَبِّيَ الْحَمْدُ» ثُمَّ سَجَدَ فَكَانَ سُجُودُهُ نَحْوًا مِنْ قِيَامِهِ فَكَانَ يَقُولُ فِي سُجُودِهِ: «سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى» ثُمَّ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ السُّجُودِ وَكَانَ يَقْعُدُ فِيمَا بَيْنَ السَّجْدَتَيْنِ نَحْوًا مِنْ سُجُودِهِ وَكَانَ يَقُولُ: «رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي» فَصَلَّى أَرْبَعَ رَكَعَاتٍ قَرَأَ فِيهِنَّ (الْبَقَرَةَ وَآلَ عِمْرَانَ وَالنِّسَاءَ وَالْمَائِدَةَ أَوِ الْأَنْعَامَ) شَكَّ شُعْبَة) رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr b. al-‘As reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone makes proper use of ten verses he will not be recorded among the negligent; if anyone makes proper use of a hundred verses he will be recorded among those who are obedient to God:

and if anyone makes proper use of a thousand verses he will be recorded among those who receive huge rewards.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنْ قَامَ بِعَشْرِ آيَاتٍ لَمْ يُكْتَبْ مِنَ الْغَافِلِينَ وَمَنْ قَامَ بِمِائَةِ آيَةٍ كُتِبَ مِنَ الْقَانِتِينَ وَمَنْ قَامَ بِأَلْفِ آيَةٍ كُتِبَ من المقنطرين» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

Abu Huraira said that the Prophet’s recitation at night was partly in a loud voice and partly in a low voice. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَن أبي هُرَيْرَة قَالَ: كَانَ قِرَاءَةُ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِاللَّيْلِ يَرْفَعُ طَوْرًا وَيَخْفِضُ طَوْرًا. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ

Ibn ‘Abbas said the Prophet’s recitation was loud enough for one who was in the inner chamber to hear it when he was in the house. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ: كَانَتْ قِرَاءَةُ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَلَى قَدْرِ مَا يَسْمَعُهُ مَنْ فِي الْحُجْرَةِ وَهُوَ فِي الْبَيْتِ. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

Abu Qatada said God’s Messenger went out one night and found Abu Bakr praying in a low voice, and he passed ‘Umar who was raising his voice while praying. When they both were with the Prophet (ﷺ) he said, “I passed you, Abu Bakr, when you were praying in a low voice.” He replied, “I made Him hear with whom I was holding intimate converse, Messenger of God.” He said to ‘Umar, “I passed you when you were raising your voice while praying.” He replied, “Messenger of God, I was wakening the drowsy and driving away the devil.” The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Raise your voice a little, Abu Bakr;” and he said to ‘Umar, “Lower your voice a little.” Abu Dawud transmitted it, and Tirmidhi transmitted something similar.

وَعَنْ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ قَالَ: إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ خَرَجَ لَيْلَةً فَإِذَا هُوَ بِأَبِي بَكْرٍ يُصَلِّي يَخْفِضُ مِنْ صَوْتِهِ وَمَرَّ بِعُمَرَ وَهُوَ يُصَلِّي رَافِعًا صَوْتَهُ قَالَ: فَلَمَّا اجْتَمَعَا عِنْدَ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ مَرَرْتُ بِكَ وَأَنْتَ تُصَلِّي تَخْفِضُ صَوْتَكَ» قَالَ: قَدْ أَسْمَعْتُ مَنْ نَاجَيْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَقَالَ لِعُمَرَ: «مَرَرْتُ بِكَ وَأَنْتَ تُصَلِّي رَافِعًا صَوْتَكَ» فَقَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أُوقِظُ الْوَسْنَانَ وَأَطْرُدُ الشَّيْطَانَ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ ارْفَعْ مِنْ صَوْتِكَ شَيْئًا» وَقَالَ لِعُمَرَ: «اخْفِضْ مِنْ صَوْتِكَ شَيْئًا» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد وروى التِّرْمِذِيّ نَحوه

Abu Dharr said that God’s Messenger kept awake during the night till morning reciting one verse, which was, “If You punishest them they are Your servants; and if You forgivest them You are the Mighty, the Wise”(Al-Qur’an; 5:118). Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ قَالَ: قَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ حَتَّى أَصْبَحَ بِآيَةٍ وَالْآيَةُ: (إِنْ تُعَذِّبْهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ عِبَادُكَ وَإِنْ تَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ فَإنَّك أَنْت الْعَزِيز الْحَكِيم) رَوَاهُ النَّسَائِيّ وَابْن مَاجَه

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “When one of you prays the two <i>rak'as</i> of the dawn prayer, he should lie down on his right side.”* * Cf. the third tradition in section 1 of this chapter. Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِذَا صَلَّى أَحَدُكُمْ رَكْعَتَيِ الْفَجْرِ فَلْيَضْطَجِعْ على يَمِينه» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ وَأَبُو دَاوُد

Masruq said he asked ‘A’isha what action was most pleasing to God’s Messenger and she replied that it was what one keeps on doing. He asked at what time he got up at night and she said it was at cockcrow. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

عَنْ مَسْرُوقٍ قَالَ: سَأَلْتُ عَائِشَةَ: أَيُّ الْعَمَلِ كَانَ أَحَبَّ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ؟ قَالَتْ: الدَّائِمُ قُلْتُ: فَأَيُّ حِينَ كَانَ يَقُومُ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ؟ قَالَتْ: كَانَ يَقُومُ إِذا سمع الصَّارِخ

Anas said, “We never wanted to see God’s Messenger praying at night without doing so, and we never wanted to see him sleeping without doing so.”* *The tradition most probably means that he Prophet (ﷺ) did not go to extremes in religious observances. Nasa'i transmitted it.

وَعَن أنس قَالَ: مَا كُنَّا نَشَاءُ أَنْ نَرَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي اللَّيْلِ مُصَلِّيًا إِلَّا رَأَيْنَاهُ وَلَا نَشَاءُ أَنْ نَرَاهُ نَائِما إِلَّا رَأَيْنَاهُ. رَوَاهُ النَّسَائِيّ

Humaid b. ‘Abd ar-Rahman b. ‘Auf said that one of the companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) told how he decided when he was on a journey along with God’s Messenger that he must watch his prayer to see how he conducted it. When he had prayed the evening prayer, which is the <i>'atama</i>, he lay down for a long period during the night, then awoke, looked at the horizon and said, “Our Lord, You have not created this in vain…verily You dost not break Your promise” (Al-Qur’an; 3:191,194). Then God's Messenger went to his couch from which he took out a toothstick, then poured out some water into a bowl from a skin vessel beside him, cleaned his teeth, and stood up and prayed, till it appeared to me that he prayed as long as he had slept. Then he lay down till it appeared to me that he slept as long as he had prayed. Then awakening and doing as he did the first time, he said the same as he had said. He did that three times before the dawn. Nasa’i transmitted it.

وَعَنْ حُمَيْدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عَوْفٍ قَالَ: أَنَّ رَجُلًا مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: قُلْتُ وَأَنَا فِي سَفَرٍ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: وَاللَّهِ لَأَرْقُبَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لِلصَّلَاةِ حَتَّى أَرَى فِعْلَهُ فَلَمَّا صَلَّى صَلَاةَ الْعِشَاءِ وَهِيَ الْعَتَمَةُ اضْطَجَعَ هَوِيًّا مِنَ اللَّيْلِ ثُمَّ اسْتَيْقَظَ فَنَظَرَ فِي الْأُفُقِ فَقَالَ: (رَبنَا مَا خلقت هَذَا بَاطِلا) حَتَّى بَلَغَ إِلَى (إِنَّكَ لَا تُخْلِفُ الْمِيعَادَ) ثُمَّ أَهْوَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِلَى فِرَاشِهِ فَاسْتَلَّ مِنْهُ سِوَاكًا ثُمَّ أَفْرَغَ فِي قَدَحٍ مِنْ إِدَاوَةٍ عِنْدَهُ مَاءً فَاسْتَنَّ ثُمَّ قَامَ فَصَلَّى حَتَّى قُلْتُ: قَدْ صَلَّى قَدْرَ مَا نَامَ ثُمَّ اضْطَجَعَ حَتَّى قُلْتُ قَدْ نَامَ قَدْرَ مَا صَلَّى ثُمَّ اسْتَيْقَظَ فَفَعَلَ كَمَا فَعَلَ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ وَقَالَ مِثْلَ مَا قَالَ فَفَعَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ثَلَاثٌ مَرَّاتٍ قَبْلَ الْفَجْرِ. رَوَاهُ النَّسَائِيّ

Ya'la b. Mamlak said he asked Umm Salama, the Prophet’s wife, about his recitation and prayer. She Said, “What have you to do with his prayer? He would pray, then sleep as long as he had prayed, then pray as long as he had slept, then sleep as long as he had prayed, till morning.” She then described his recitation and did so with an exposition word by word. Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi and Nasa’i transmitted it.

وَعَن يَعْلَى بْنِ مُمَلَّكٍ أَنَّهُ سَأَلَ أُمَّ سَلَمَةَ زَوْجَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنْ قِرَاءَةِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَصَلَاتِهِ؟ فَقَالَتْ: وَمَا لَكُمْ وَصَلَاتُهُ؟ كَانَ يُصَلِّي ثُمَّ يَنَامُ قَدْرَ مَا صَلَّى ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي قَدْرَ مَا نَامَ ثُمَّ يَنَامُ قَدْرَ مَا صَلَّى حَتَّى يُصْبِحَ ثُمَّ نَعَتَتْ قِرَاءَتَهُ فَإِذَا هِيَ تَنْعَتُ قِرَاءَةً مُفَسَّرَةً حَرْفًا حَرْفًا) رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَالتِّرْمِذِيُّ وَالنَّسَائِيُّ