Riyad as-Salihin, 102

Hudhaifah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

I offered Salat (Tahajjud - optional night prayer) with the Prophet (ﷺ) one night, and he started reciting (Surat) Al-Baqarah. I thought that he would bow at the end of one hundred Verses, but he continued reciting; I, then, thought that he would perhaps recite the whole (Surah) in a Rak'ah, but he proceeded on, and I thought he would perhaps bow on completing (this Surah); he then started (reciting Surat) An-Nisa'; he then started (Surat) Al-'Imran and his recitation was unhurried. And when he recited the Verses which referred to the Glory of Allah, he glorified Him (by saying Subhan Allah - My Rubb, the Supreme is far removed from every imperfection), the Great, and when he recited the Verses that mention supplication, he supplicated, and when he recited the Verses that mention seeking Refuge of the Rubb, he sought (His) Refuge. Then he bowed and said: "My Rubb, the Supreme is far removed from every imperfection (Subhana Rabbiyal-Azim);" his bowing lasted about the same length of time as his standing (and then on returning to the standing posture after Ruku') he said: "Allah listened to him who praised Him (Sami' Allahu liman hamidah, Rabbana wa lakal hamd)." Then he stood about the same length of time as he had spent in bowing. He then prostrated himself and said: "My Rubb, the Supreme is far removed from every imperfection (Subhana Rabbiyal-A'la)," and his prostration lasted nearly the same length of time as his standing. [Muslim].

الثامن‏:‏ عن أبي عبد الله حذيفة بن اليمان، رضي الله عنهما، قال‏:‏ صليت مع النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم ذات ليلة، فافتتح البقرة، فقلت يركع عند المائة، ثم مضى؛ فقلت يصلي بها في ركعة، فمضى؛ فقلت يركع بها، ثم افتتح النساء؛ فقرأها، ثم افتتح آل عمران فقرأها، يقرأ مترسلاً إذا مر بآية فيها تسبيح سبح، وإذا مر بسؤال سأل، وإذا مر بتعوذ تعوذ، ثم ركع فجعل يقول‏:‏ ‏"‏ سبحان ربي العظيم‏"‏ فكان ركوعه نحواً من قيامه ثم قال‏:‏ ‏"‏ سمع الله لمن حمده، ربنا لك الحمد‏"‏ ثم قام قياماً طويلاً قريباً مما ركع، ثم سجد فقال‏:‏ ‏"‏ سبحان ربي الأعلى‏"‏ فكان سجوده قريباً من قيامه‏"‏ ‏(‏‏(‏رواه مسلم‏)‏‏.‏

References1 variant

In-Book Reference: Introduction, Hadith 102

Sharh · explanationclick to expand

Guidance from the Hadith: 1) It shows how the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) used to strive diligently to perform acts of obedience in the most perfect manner (to set an example for all Muslims). 2) It is sometimes permissible to observe the night prayer in congregation as long as it is not arranged and not done on a regular basis. In Ramadan, however, the Sunnah is that people perform the night prayer in congregation. 3) The individual praying the night prayer should combine supplication, remembrance of Allah, and contemplation. He should ask for mercy when he recites a verse of mercy, seek refuge when he recites a verse of threatening, and glorifies Allah when he recites a verse of glorification. 4) It shows the excellence of long standing in the night prayer, which is a kind of striving against the self for the sake of Allah Almighty. Words in the Hadith: He recited slowly: without haste; a measured recitation with clear proper pronunciation of the letters.

Related hadiths12