Hadithcore
Riyad as-Salihin, 579

Ubayy bin Ka'b (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

When one- third of the night would pass, Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would get up and call out, "O people, remember Allah. The Rajifah (i.e., the first Blowing of the Trumpet which will shake the whole universe and thus cause all life to cease) has come, followed by Ar-Radifah (i.e., the second Blowing of the Trumpet which will restore life and thus mark the Resurrection Day). Death has approached with all that it comprises. Death has approached with all that it comprises." I said: "O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), I frequently invoke Allah to elevate your rank. How much of my supplications should I devote to you?" He said, "You may devote as much as you wish." When I suggested a quarter, he said, "Do whatever you wish, but it will be better for you if you increase it." I suggested half, and he said, "Do whatever you wish, but it will be better for you if you increase." I suggested two- thirds, and he said, "Do whatever you wish but it will be better for you if you increase it." I said, "Shall I devote all my supplications invoking Allah to elevate your rank?" He said, "Then you will be freed from your worries and your sins will be forgiven." <b>[At- Tirmidhi, who classified it as Hadith Hasan]</b>.

وعن أبي بن كعب رضي الله عنه‏:‏ كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم‏:‏ إذا ذهب ثلث الليل، قام فقال‏:‏ ‏"‏يا أيها الناس اذكروا الله، جاءت الراجفة، تتبعها الرادفة، جاء الموت بما فيه، جاء الموت بما فيه” قلت‏:‏ يا رسول الله إنى أكثر الصلاة عليك، فكم أجعل لك من صلاتى‏؟‏ قال‏:‏ “ما شئت” قلت‏:‏ الربع‏؟‏ قال‏:‏ “ما شئت، فإن زذت فهو لك” قلت‏:‏ فالنصف‏؟‏ قال‏:‏ ما شئت فإن زذت فهو لك قلت ” فالثلثين‏؟‏ قال‏:‏ ما شئت فإن زدت فهو خير لك” قلت‏:‏ أجعل لك صلاتى كلها‏؟‏ قال‏:‏ “إذا تكفى همك، ويغفر لك ذنبك” ‏(‏‏(‏رواه الترمذى وقال‏:‏ حديث حسن‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏

References1 variant
In-Book Reference
Introduction, Hadith 579
Sharh · explanationclick to expand
<b>Guidance from the Hadith:</b><br> 1) The best Qiyām (voluntary night prayer) is what is offered in the last third of the night. So, who is ready to start?<br> 2) It shows the merit of invoking Allah’s peace and blessings upon the Prophet, which is part of the prescribed Dhikr (remembrance of Allah). This invocation brings security to people’s hearts, relieves their distress, and eliminates their sins.<br> <br> <b>Benefit:</b><br> In his book Jalā’ al-Afhām Fi Fadl al-Salāh wa al-Salām ‘Ala Khayr al-Anām, the erudite scholar Ibn Al-Qayyim said:<br> “Our Shaykh Abu al-‘Abbās was asked about the meaning of this Hadith - the Hadith reported by Ubayy ibn Ka‘b - and he said: Ubayy ibn Ka‘b used to make supplication for himself, and he asked the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) as to whether he should devote one-fourth of his supplication to invoking Allah’s peace and blessings upon him. To this, the Prophet replied: ‘If it is more, then it will be better for you.’ He asked about half of the supplication and got the same reply, and then about the entire supplication, and thereupon he got this reply: ‘Then, you will be relieved of your worries and your sins will be forgiven.’ This is because when a person invokes Allah’s blessings upon the Prophet once, Allah Almighty bestows His blessings upon that person ten times, and whomever Allah bestows His blessings upon, He relieves him of his distress and forgives his sins. That is the meaning of Ubayy’s words.”<br> <br> <b>Words in the Hadith:</b><br> The Rājifah: the first blowing of the Horn, which will shake the whole universe and thus cause all life to cease.<br> The Rādifah: the second blowing of the Horn, which will restore life and thus mark the Resurrection Day.