“I heard
‘Umar bin Khattab say: ‘The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
‘Whoever
sleeps and misses his daily portion of Qur’an, or any
part of it, let
him read it between the Fajr prayer and the Zuhr
prayer, and it will
be recorded as if he had read it during the
night.”
“Whoever goes to bed intending to wake up and pray during the
night,
but is overwhelmed by sleep until morning comes, what he
intended will
be recorded for him, and his sleep is a charity given
to him by his
Lord.”
Chapter 178: How much (time) is recommended regarding the completion of the Qur’an - كتاب إقامة الصلاة والسنة فيها
It was
narrated from ‘Uthman bin ‘Abdullah bin Aws that his
grandfather
Aws bin Hudhaifah said:
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو خَالِدٍ الأَحْمَرُ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ يَعْلَى الطَّائِفِيِّ، عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَوْسٍ، عَنْ جَدِّهِ، أَوْسِ بْنِ حُذَيْفَةَ قَالَ قَدِمْنَا عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ فِي وَفْدِ ثَقِيفٍ فَنَزَّلُوا الأَحْلاَفَ عَلَى الْمُغِيرَةِ بْنِ شُعْبَةَ وَأَنْزَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ بَنِي مَالِكٍ فِي قُبَّةٍ لَهُ فَكَانَ يَأْتِينَا كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ بَعْدَ الْعِشَاءِ فَيُحَدِّثُنَا قَائِمًا عَلَى رِجْلَيْهِ حَتَّى يُرَاوِحَ بَيْنَ رِجْلَيْهِ وَأَكْثَرُ مَا يُحَدِّثُنَا مَا لَقِيَ مِنْ قَوْمِهِ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ وَيَقُولُ " وَلاَ سَوَاءَ كُنَّا مُسْتَضْعَفِينَ مُسْتَذَلِّينَ فَلَمَّا خَرَجْنَا إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ كَانَتْ سِجَالُ الْحَرْبِ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَهُمْ نُدَالُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَيُدَالُونَ عَلَيْنَا " . فَلَمَّا كَانَ ذَاتَ لَيْلَةٍ أَبْطَأَ عَنِ الْوَقْتِ الَّذِي كَانَ يَأْتِينَا فِيهِ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لَقَدْ أَبْطَأْتَ عَلَيْنَا اللَّيْلَةَ . قَالَ " إِنَّهُ طَرَأَ عَلَىَّ حِزْبِي مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ فَكَرِهْتُ أَنْ أَخْرُجَ حَتَّى أُتِمَّهُ " . قَالَ أَوْسٌ فَسَأَلْتُ أَصْحَابَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ كَيْفَ تُحَزِّبُونَ الْقُرْآنَ قَالُوا ثَلاَثٌ وَخَمْسٌ وَسَبْعٌ وَتِسْعٌ وَإِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ وَثَلاَثَ عَشْرَةَ وَحِزْبُ الْمُفَصَّلِ .
“We came to the Messenger of Allah
(ﷺ) in
the delegation of Thaqif. The allies of Quraish stayed at the
house
of Mughirah bin Shu’bah, and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) camped
Bani Malik in a tent belonging to him. He used to come to us every
night after the ‘Isha’ and speak to us standing on his two feet,
until
he started to shift his weight from one foot to the other. Most
of
what he told us was what he had suffered from his people, the
Quraish.
He said: ‘(The two sides) were not equal. We were weak and
oppressed
and humiliated, and when we went out to Al-Madinah, the
outcome of the
battles between us varied; sometimes we would defeat
them and
sometimes they would defeat us.’ One night he was later
than he
usually was, and I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, you have
come to us
late tonight.’ He said: ‘It occurred to me that I had
not read my
daily portion of Qur’an and I did not want to come out
until I had
completed it.’” Aws said: “I asked the Companions
of the Messenger of
Allah (ﷺ): ‘How did you used to divide up the
Qur’an?’ They said: ‘A
third, a fifth, a seventh, a ninth, an
eleventh, a thirteenth, and
Hizbul-Mufassal.’”
“I memorized the Qur’an
and recited it all in one night. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
‘I
am afraid that you may live a long life and that you may get
bored.
Recite it over the period of a month.’ I said: ‘Let me
benefit from my
strength in my youth.’ He said: ‘Recite it in ten
days.’ I said: ‘Let
me benefit from my strength and my youth.’
He said: ‘Recite it in
seven days.’ I said: ‘Let me benefit
from my strength and my youth,’
but he refused (to alter it any
further).”
Chapter 179: What was narrated concerning recitation in the (voluntary) night Prayers - كتاب إقامة الصلاة والسنة فيها
It was
narrated that Jasrah bint Dijajah said:
حَدَّثَنَا بَكْرُ بْنُ خَلَفٍ أَبُو بِشْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ قُدَامَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ جَسْرَةَ بِنْتِ دَجَاجَةَ، قَالَتْ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا ذَرٍّ، يَقُولُ قَامَ النَّبِيُّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ بِآيَةٍ حَتَّى أَصْبَحَ يُرَدِّدُهَا وَالآيَةُ {إِنْ تُعَذِّبْهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ عِبَادُكَ وَإِنْ تَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ فَإِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ} .
“I heard Abu Dharr
say:
‘The Prophet (ﷺ) stood reciting a Verse and repeating it until
morning came. That Verse was: “If you punish them, they are Your
slaves, and if You forgive them, verily You, only You, are the
All-
Mighty, the All-Wise.’”” [5:118]
Chapter 179: What was narrated concerning recitation in the (voluntary) night Prayers - كتاب إقامة الصلاة والسنة فيها
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ عُبَيْدَةَ، عَنِ الْمُسْتَوْرِدِ بْنِ الأَحْنَفِ، عَنْ صِلَةَ بْنِ زُفَرَ، عَنْ حُذَيْفَةَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ صَلَّى فَكَانَ إِذَا مَرَّ بِآيَةِ رَحْمَةٍ سَأَلَ وَإِذَا مَرَّ بِآيَةِ عَذَابٍ اسْتَجَارَ وَإِذَا مَرَّ بِآيَةٍ فِيهَا تَنْزِيهٌ لِلَّهِ سَبَّحَ .
It was
narrated from Hudhaifah that the Prophet (ﷺ) prayed, and
when he
recited a Verse which mentioned mercy, he would ask for mercy;
when
he recited a Verse that mentioned punishment he would pray for
deliverance from it; and when he recited a Verse that mentioned the
Tanzih of Allah, he would glorify Him.
Chapter 179: What was narrated concerning recitation in the (voluntary) night Prayers - كتاب إقامة الصلاة والسنة فيها
It was
narrated that Abu Laila said:
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ هَاشِمٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي لَيْلَى، عَنْ ثَابِتٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي لَيْلَى، عَنْ أَبِي لَيْلَى، قَالَ صَلَّيْتُ إِلَى جَنْبِ النَّبِيِّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ وَهُوَ يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ تَطَوُّعًا فَمَرَّ بِآيَةِ عَذَابٍ فَقَالَ
" أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ النَّارِ وَوَيْلٌ لأَهْلِ النَّارِ " .
“I prayed beside the Prophet
(ﷺ)
when he was praying voluntary prayers at night. He recited a
Verse
which mentioned punishment and said: ‘I seek refuge with Allah
from
the Fire, woe to the people of the Fire.’”
Chapter 179: What was narrated concerning recitation in the (voluntary) night Prayers - كتاب إقامة الصلاة والسنة فيها
It was
narrated that Ghudaif bin Harith said:
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ ابْنُ عُلَيَّةَ، عَنْ بُرْدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ، عَنْ عُبَادَةَ بْنِ نُسَىٍّ، عَنْ غُضَيْفِ بْنِ الْحَارِثِ، قَالَ أَتَيْتُ عَائِشَةَ فَقُلْتُ أَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ يَجْهَرُ بِالْقُرْآنِ أَوْ يُخَافِتُ بِهِ قَالَتْ رُبَّمَا جَهَرَ وَرُبَّمَا خَافَتَ . قُلْتُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي جَعَلَ فِي هَذَا الأَمْرِ سَعَةً .
“I came to ‘Aishah and
asked: ‘Did the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) recite Qur’an loudly or
softly?’ She said: ‘Sometimes he would recite loud and sometimes
softly.’ I said, ‘Allahu Akbar! Praise is to Allah Who has made
this
matter one of broad scope.’”
“When the Messenger of Allah
(ﷺ)
prayed Tahajjud at night, he would say: “Allahumma lakal-hamd,
Anta
nurus-samawati wal-ard wa man fihinna. Wa lakal-hamd, Anta
qayyamus-samawati wal-ard wa man fihinna. Wa lakal-hamd, Anta
malikus-
samawati wal-ard wa man fihinna. Wa lakal-hamd, Antal-haqq,
wa wa`duka
haqq, wa liqa’uka haqq, wa qawluka haqq, wal-jannatu
haqq, wan-naru haqq, was-sa`atu haqq, wan-nabiyyuna haqq, wa Muhammadun haqq. Allahumma laka aslamtu,
wa bika
amantu, wa `alaika tawakkaltu wa ilaika anabtu, wa bika
khasamtu, wa
ilaika hakamtu, faghfirli ma qaddamtu wa ma akhkhartu,
wa ma asrartu
wa ma a`lantu. Antal-muqaddimu wa Antal-muakhkhiru.
La ilaha illa anta
wa la ilaha ghairuka, wa la hawla wa la quwwata
illa bika (O Allah, to
you is praise, You are the Light of the
heavens and the earth, and
everyone therein. To You is praise, You
are the Sustainer of the
heavens and the earth, and everyone therein.
To You is praise, You are
the Sovereign of the heavens and the earth,
and everyone therein. To
You is praise, You are the Truth; Your
promise is true, the meeting
with You is true, Your saying is true,
Paradise is true, the Fire is
true, the Hour is true, the Prophets
are true, and Muhammad (ﷺ) is true. O
Allah, to You have I submitted, in
You I believe, in You have I put my
trust, to You I turn in
repentance, by Your help I argue, to You I
refer my case, so forgive
me for my past and future sins, what I have
done in secret and what I
have done openly. You are the One Who brings
forward and puts back.
None has the right to be worshipped but You,
and there is none who
has the right to be worshipped other than You.
And there is no power
and no strength except with You.”
Another chain that Ibn `Abbas narrated: “When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stood during the night for Tahajjud,” and he mentioned something similar.
“I asked ‘Aishah: ‘With
what did the Prophet (ﷺ) start voluntary prayers?’ She said: ‘You
have asked me about something which no one has asked before. He used
to say Allahu Akbar ten times, and Al-Hamdu Lillah ten times and
Subhan Allah ten times, and he would say Allahumma aghfirli wahdini,
warzuqni, wa ‘afini (O Allah, forgive me, guide me, grant me
provision
and give me good health),” and he would seek refuge from
the
difficulty of the standing on the Day of Resurrection.”
Chapter 180: What was narrated concerning supplication when a man stands to pray at night - كتاب إقامة الصلاة والسنة فيها
It was
narrated that Abu Salamah bin `Abdur-Rahman said:
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ عُمَرَ، حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ يُونُسَ الْيَمَامِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عِكْرِمَةُ بْنُ عَمَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، قَالَ سَأَلْتُ عَائِشَةَ بِمَا كَانَ يَسْتَفْتِحُ النَّبِيُّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ صَلاَتَهُ إِذَا قَامَ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ قَالَتْ كَانَ يَقُولُ
" اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ جِبْرَئِيلَ وَمِيكَائِيلَ وَإِسْرَافِيلَ فَاطِرَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ عَالِمَ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ أَنْتَ تَحْكُمُ بَيْنَ عِبَادِكَ فِيمَا كَانُوا فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ اهْدِنِي لِمَا اخْتُلِفَ فِيهِ مِنَ الْحَقِّ بِإِذْنِكَ إِنَّكَ لَتَهْدِي إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ " .
قَالَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ عُمَرَ احْفَظُوهُ جِبْرَئِيلُ مَهْمُوزَةً فَإِنَّهُ كَذَا عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ .
“I asked
`Aishah: ‘With what did the Prophet (ﷺ) start his voluntary
prayers?’ She said: ‘He would say: “Allahumma Rabba Jibra’il
wa
Mika’il wa Israfil, Fatiras-samawati wal-ard, `alimal-ghaybi
wash-
shahadah, Anta tahkumu baina `ibadika fima kanu fihi
yakhtalifun,
ihdini lima-khtulifa fihi minal-haqqi bi idhnika,
innaka latahdi ila
siratin mustaqim (O Allah, Lord of Jibra’il,
Mika’il and Israfil,
Creator of the heavens and the earth, Knower
of the unseen and the
seen, You judge between Your slaves concerning
that wherein they
differ. Guide me to the disputed matters of truth
by Your Leave, for
You are the One Who guides to the straight Path).”
(One of the narrators) `Abdur-Rahman bin `Umar said: “Bear in mind the word Jibra’il with a Hamzah - this is how it was narrated from the Prophet (ﷺ).”
It was
narrated that ‘Aishah said, and this is the Hadith of Abu
Bakr.
“During the period after he finished the ‘Isha’ prayer until
the
Fajr, the Prophet (ﷺ) used to pray eleven Rak’ah, saying the
Salam
after each two Rak’ah and praying Witr with one Rak’ah. He
would
prostrate for as long as it takes anyone of you to recite fifty
Verses
before he would raise his head. When the Mu’adh-dhin fell
silent after
the first Adhan for the Subh prayer, he would get up and
pray two
brief Rak’ah.”
Chapter 181: What was narrated concerning how many Rak’ah should be prayed at night - كتاب إقامة الصلاة والسنة فيها
حَدَّثَنَا هَنَّادُ بْنُ السَّرِيِّ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الأَحْوَصِ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنِ الأَسْوَدِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ كَانَ يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ تِسْعَ رَكَعَاتٍ
It was
narrated from ‘Aishah that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to pray nine
Rak’ah at night.
Chapter 181: What was narrated concerning how many Rak’ah should be prayed at night - كتاب إقامة الصلاة والسنة فيها
It was
narrated that ‘Amir Ash-Sha’bi said:
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عُبَيْدِ بْنِ مَيْمُونٍ أَبُو عُبَيْدٍ الْمَدِينِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ، عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ عُقْبَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ عَامِرٍ الشَّعْبِيِّ، قَالَ سَأَلْتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَبَّاسٍ وَعَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عُمَرَ عَنْ صَلاَةِ، رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ بِاللَّيْلِ فَقَالاَ ثَلاَثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً مِنْهَا ثَمَانٍ وَيُوتِرُ بِثَلاَثٍ وَرَكْعَتَيْنِ بَعْدَ الْفَجْرِ .
“I asked ‘Abdullah bin
‘Abbas and ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar about the Prophet’s prayer at
night.
They said: ‘(He prayed) thirteen Rak’ah, including eight,
and three for
Witr, and two Rak’ah after the Fajr.’”
Chapter 181: What was narrated concerning how many Rak’ah should be prayed at night - كتاب إقامة الصلاة والسنة فيها
It was
narrated that Zaid bin Khalid Al-Juhani said:
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ السَّلاَمِ بْنُ عَاصِمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ نَافِعِ بْنِ ثَابِتٍ الزُّبَيْرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا مَالِكُ بْنُ أَنَسٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ قَيْسِ بْنِ مَخْرَمَةَ، أَخْبَرَهُ عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ الْجُهَنِيِّ، قَالَ قُلْتُ لأَرْمُقَنَّ صَلاَةَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ اللَّيْلَةَ . قَالَ فَتَوَسَّدْتُ عَتَبَتَهُ أَوْ فُسْطَاطَهُ فَقَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ خَفِيفَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ طَوِيلَتَيْنِ طَوِيلَتَيْنِ طَوِيلَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُمَا دُونَ اللَّتَيْنِ قَبْلَهُمَا ثُمَّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُمَا دُونَ اللَّتَيْنِ قَبْلَهُمَا ثُمَّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُمَا دُونَ اللَّتَيْنِ قَبْلَهُمَا ثُمَّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ أَوْتَرَ فَتِلْكَ ثَلاَثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً .
“I said, I must
observe how the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prays tonight. So I lay down
at his door. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) got up and prayed two brief
Rak’ah, then two long ones, which were very, very long, then two
Rak’ah which were shorter than the ones preceding them, then two
Rak’ah which were shorter than the ones preceding them, then two
Rak’ah which were shorter than the ones preceding them, then two
Rak’ah, then Witr. That was thirteen Rak’ah.”
Chapter 181: What was narrated concerning how many Rak’ah should be prayed at night - كتاب إقامة الصلاة والسنة فيها
It was
narrated from Kuraib, the freed slave of Ibn ‘Abbas, that Ibn
‘Abbas told him that he slept at the house of Maimunah, the wife of
the Prophet (ﷺ), who was his maternal aunt. He said:
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ خَلاَّدٍ الْبَاهِلِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا مَعْنُ بْنُ عِيسَى، حَدَّثَنَا مَالِكُ بْنُ أَنَسٍ، عَنْ مَخْرَمَةَ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ، عَنْ كُرَيْبٍ، مَوْلَى ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّهُ، نَامَ عِنْدَ مَيْمُونَةَ زَوْجِ النَّبِيِّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ - وَهِيَ خَالَتُهُ - قَالَ فَاضْطَجَعْتُ فِي عَرْضِ الْوِسَادَةِ وَاضْطَجَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ وَأَهْلُهُ فِي طُولِهَا فَنَامَ النَّبِيُّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ حَتَّى إِذَا انْتَصَفَ اللَّيْلُ أَوْ قَبْلَهُ بِقَلِيلٍ أَوْ بَعْدَهُ بِقَلِيلٍ اسْتَيْقَظَ النَّبِيُّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ فَجَعَلَ يَمْسَحُ النَّوْمَ عَنْ وَجْهِهِ بِيَدِهِ ثُمَّ قَرَأَ الْعَشْرَ آيَاتٍ مِنْ آخِرِ سُورَةِ آلِ عِمْرَانَ ثُمَّ قَامَ إِلَى شَنٍّ مُعَلَّقَةٍ فَتَوَضَّأَ مِنْهَا فَأَحْسَنَ وُضُوءَهُ ثُمَّ قَامَ يُصَلِّي . قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبَّاسٍ فَقُمْتُ فَصَنَعْتُ مِثْلَ مَا صَنَعَ ثُمَّ ذَهَبْتُ فَقُمْتُ إِلَى جَنْبِهِ فَوَضَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ يَدَهُ الْيُمْنَى عَلَى رَأْسِي وَأَخَذَ أُذُنِي الْيُمْنَى يَفْتِلُهَا فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ أَوْتَرَ . ثُمَّ اضْطَجَعَ حَتَّى جَاءَهُ الْمُؤَذِّنُ فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ خَفِيفَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ إِلَى الصَّلاَةِ .
“I lay down
across the pillow and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and his wife were
laying along it. The Prophet (ﷺ) slept until midnight, or a little
before, or a little after. The Prophet (ﷺ) woke up and began to rub
the sleep from his face with his hand. Then he recited the last ten
Verses of Surah Al ‘Imran. Then he got up and went to a water skin
that was hanging up and performed ablution from it, and he performed
ablution well, then he stood up and prayed.” ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbas
said: “I stood up and did what he had done, then I went and stood
beside him. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) put his right hand on my
head, took hold of my right ear and tweaked it. Then he prayed two
Rak’ah, then two Rak’ah, then two Rak’ah, then two Rak’ah,
then two
Rak’ah, then two Rak’ah, then he prayed Witr. Then he
lay down until
the Mu’adh-dhin came to him and he prayed two brief
Rak’ah, then he
went out to pray.”
“I came to the Messenger
of Allah (ﷺ) and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, who became a Muslim
with you?’ He said: ‘A free man and a slave.’ I said: ‘Is
there any
hour of the night that is closer to Allah than another?’
He said:
‘Yes, the last half of the night.’”
“Our Lord, the Blessed and Exalted, descends when one third of
the
night remains, every night and He says: ‘Who will ask of Me, that
I
may give him? Who will call upon Me, that I may answer him? Who will
ask My forgiveness, that I may forgive him?’ until dawn comes.”
Hence
they used to prefer voluntary prayers at the end of the night
rather
than at the beginning.