The Companions during the lifetime of the messenger of Allah (May peace be upon him) used to wait for the night prayer so much so that their heads were lowered down (by dozing). Then they offered prayer and did not perform ablution. Abu Dawud said: Shu’bah on the authority of Qatadah added: We lowered down our heads (on accounts of dozing) in the day of the Messenger of Allah (May peace be upon him). Abu Dawud said; This tradition has been transmitted through a different chain of narrators.
كَانَ أَصْحَابُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَنْتَظِرُونَ الْعِشَاءَ الآخِرَةَ حَتَّى تَخْفِقَ رُءُوسُهُمْ ثُمَّ يُصَلُّونَ وَلاَ يَتَوَضَّئُونَ