Caution: Translations of Quran and Ḥadīth may lead to possible misapplications and misinterpretations. This site is intended for students of sacred knowledge that are proficient in comprehending classical Arabic and have a strong foundation in Islamic sciences. Also note that religious injunctions rely on several aspects beyond what one may glean through reading individual aḥādīth.
ahmad-zuhd:1482ʿAbdullāh > Aḥmad > Yūsuf b. Yaʿqūb al-Dawsī > Hishām

[Machine] About this verse, Al-Hasan said: "They used to sleep very little in the night and wake up in the early hours to seek forgiveness. They would prolong their prayers until dawn, then they would supplicate and humble themselves."  

الزهد لأحمد:١٤٨٢حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ حَدَّثَنَا يُوسُفُ بْنُ يَعْقُوبَ الدَّوْسِيُّ حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ

عَنِ الْحَسَنِ فِي هَذِهِ الْآيَةِ {كَانُوا قَلِيلًا مِنَ اللَّيْلِ مَا يَهْجَعُونَ} [الذاريات 17] كَانُوا قَلِيلًا مِنَ اللَّيْلِ مَا يَرْقُدُونَ {وَبِالْأَسْحَارِ هُمْ يَسْتَغْفِرُونَ} [الذاريات 18] قَالَ مَدُّوا الصَّلَاةَ إِلَى السَّحَرِ ثُمَّ دَعُوا وَتَضَرَّعُوا