the mother of believers: Allah enjoined the prayer when He enjoined it, it was two rakʿat only (in every prayer) both when in residence or on journey. Then the prayers offered on journey remained the same, but (the rakʿat of) the prayers for non-travelers were increased.  

فَرَضَ اللَّهُ الصَّلاَةَ حِينَ فَرَضَهَا رَكْعَتَيْنِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ فِي الْحَضَرِ وَالسَّفَرِ فَأُقِرَّتْ صَلاَةُ السَّفَرِ وَزِيدَ فِي صَلاَةِ الْحَضَرِ  

Ibn ʿUmar went on a journey and said, "I accompanied the Prophet ﷺ and he did not offer optional prayers during the journey, and Allah says: 'Verily! In Messenger of Allah ﷺ you have a good example to follow.' " (33.21)  

صَحِبْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَلَمْ أَرَهُ يُسَبِّحُ فِي السَّفَرِ وَقَالَ اللَّهُ جَلَّ ذِكْرُهُ {لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ}  

offered four rakʿat of Zuhr prayer with the Prophet ﷺ at Medina and two rakʿat at Dhul-Hulaifa. (i.e. shortened the ʿAsr prayer).  

صَلَّيْتُ الظُّهْرَ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ بِالْمَدِينَةِ أَرْبَعًا وَبِذِي الْحُلَيْفَةِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ  

I heard Anas saying, "We traveled with the Prophet ﷺ from Medina to Mecca and offered two rakʿat (for every prayer) till we returned to Medina." I said, "Did you stay for a while in Mecca?" He replied, "We stayed in Mecca for ten days."  

سَمِعْتُ أَنَسًا يَقُولُ خَرَجْنَا مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ مِنَ الْمَدِينَةِ إِلَى مَكَّةَ فَكَانَ يُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ حَتَّى رَجَعْنَا إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ قُلْتُ أَقَمْتُمْ بِمَكَّةَ شَيْئًا قَالَ أَقَمْنَا بِهَا عَشْرًا  

I offered the prayer with the Prophet, Abu Bakr and ʿUmar at Mina and it was of two rakʿat. ʿUthman in the early days of his caliphate did the same, but later on he started praying the full prayer.  

صَلَّيْتُ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ بِمِنًى رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَأَبِي بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ وَمَعَ عُثْمَانَ صَدْرًا مِنْ إِمَارَتِهِ ثُمَّ أَتَمَّهَا  

The Prophet ﷺ led us in a two-rakʿat prayer at Mina although our number was more than ever and we were in better security than ever.  

صَلَّى بِنَا النَّبِيُّ ﷺ وَنَحْنُ أَكْثَرُ مَا كُنَّا قَطُّ وَآمَنُهُ بِمِنًى رَكْعَتَيْنِ  

Once on a very cold and stormy night, Ibn ʿUmar pronounced the Adhan for the prayer and then said, "Pray in your homes." He (Ibn ʿUmar) added. "On very cold and rainy nights Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to order the Mu'adh-dhin to say, 'Pray in your homes.' "  

إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَانَ يَأْمُرُ الْمُؤَذِّنَ إِذَا كَانَتْ لَيْلَةٌ ذَاتُ بَرْدٍ وَمَطَرٍ يَقُولُ أَلاَ صَلُّوا فِي الرِّحَالِ  

On a rainy day Ibn ʿAbbas said to his Mu'adh-dhin, "After saying, 'Ash-hadu anna Muhammadan Rasulullah' (I testify that Muhammad is Messenger of Allah ﷺ), do not say 'Haiya 'Alas-Salat' (come for the prayer) but say 'Pray in your houses'." (The man did so). But the people disliked it. Ibn ʿAbbas said, "It was done by one who was much better than I (i.e. the Prophet ﷺ ). No doubt, the Jumua prayer is compulsory but I dislike to put you to task by bringing you out walking in mud and slush."  

أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ فَلاَ تَقُلْ حَىَّ عَلَى الصَّلاَةِ قُلْ صَلُّوا فِي بُيُوتِكُمْ فَكَأَنَّ النَّاسَ اسْتَنْكَرُوا قَالَ فَعَلَهُ مَنْ هُوَ خَيْرٌ مِنِّي إِنَّ الْجُمُعَةَ عَزْمَةٌ وَإِنِّي كَرِهْتُ أَنْ أُخْرِجَكُمْ فَتَمْشُونَ فِي الطِّينِ وَالدَّحْضِ  

The Prophet ﷺ used to offer (Nawafil) prayers on his Rahila (mount) facing its direction by signals, but not the compulsory prayer. He also used to pray witr on his (mount) Rahila.  

كَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يُصَلِّي فِي السَّفَرِ عَلَى رَاحِلَتِهِ حَيْثُ تَوَجَّهَتْ بِهِ يُومِئُ إِيمَاءً صَلاَةَ اللَّيْلِ إِلاَّ الْفَرَائِضَ وَيُوتِرُ عَلَى رَاحِلَتِهِ  

Narrated ʿAbdullah bin Amir that his father had told him that he had seen the Prophet ﷺ praying Nawafil at night on the back of his Mount on a journey, facing whatever direction it took.  

أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّهُ رَأَى النَّبِيَّ ﷺ صَلَّى السُّبْحَةَ بِاللَّيْلِ فِي السَّفَرِ عَلَى ظَهْرِ رَاحِلَتِهِ حَيْثُ تَوَجَّهَتْ بِهِ  

We went to receive Anas bin Malik when he returned from Sham and met him at a place called 'Ainat- Tamr. I saw him praying riding the donkey, with his face to this direction, i.e. to the left of the Qibla. I said to him, "I have seen you offering the prayer in a direction other than that of the Qibla." He replied, "If I had not seen Messenger of Allah ﷺ doing it, I would not have done it."  

اسْتَقْبَلْنَا أَنَسًا حِينَ قَدِمَ مِنَ الشَّأْمِ فَلَقِينَاهُ بِعَيْنِ التَّمْرِ فَرَأَيْتُهُ يُصَلِّي عَلَى حِمَارٍ وَوَجْهُهُ مِنْ ذَا الْجَانِبِ يَعْنِي عَنْ يَسَارِ الْقِبْلَةِ فَقُلْتُ رَأَيْتُكَ تُصَلِّي لِغَيْرِ الْقِبْلَةِ فَقَالَ لَوْلاَ أَنِّي رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَعَلَهُ لَمْ أَفْعَلْهُ رَوَاهُ ابْنُ طَهْمَانَ عَنْ حَجَّاجٍ عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ سِيرِينَ عَنْ أَنَسٍ ؓ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ  

"I saw Messenger of Allah ﷺ delaying the Maghrib prayer till he offered it along with the ʿIsha' prayer whenever he was in a hurry during the journey." Salim narrated, "Ibn ʿUmar used to do the same whenever he was in a hurry during the journey." And Salim added, "Ibn ʿUmar used to pray the Maghrib and ʿIsha' prayers together in Al-Muzdalifa." Salim said, "Ibn ʿUmar delayed the Maghrib prayer because at that time he heard the news of the death of his wife Safiya bint Abi ʿUbaid. I said to him, 'The prayer (is due).' He said, 'Go on.' Again I said, 'The prayer (is due).' He said, 'Go on,' till we covered two or three miles. Then he got down, prayed and said, 'I saw the Prophet ﷺ praying in this way, whenever he was in a hurry during the journey.' ʿAbdullah (bin ʿUmar) added, "Whenever the Prophet was in a hurry, he used to delay the Maghrib prayer and then offer three rakʿat (of the Maghrib) and perform Taslim, and after waiting for a short while, Iqama used to be pronounced for the ʿIsha' prayer when he would offer two rakʿat and perform Taslim. He would never offer any optional prayer till the middle of the night (when he used to pray the Tahajjud)."  

رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِذَا أَعْجَلَهُ السَّيْرُ فِي السَّفَرِ يُؤَخِّرُ الْمَغْرِبَ حَتَّى يَجْمَعَ بَيْنَهَا وَبَيْنَ الْعِشَاءِ قَالَ سَالِمٌ وَكَانَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ يَفْعَلُهُ إِذَا أَعْجَلَهُ السَّيْرُ وَزَادَ اللَّيْثُ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي يُونُسُ عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ قَالَ سَالِمٌ كَانَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ ؓ يَجْمَعُ بَيْنَ الْمَغْرِبِ وَالْعِشَاءِ بِالْمُزْدَلِفَةِ قَالَ سَالِمٌ وَأَخَّرَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ الْمَغْرِبَ وَكَانَ اسْتُصْرِخَ عَلَى امْرَأَتِهِ صَفِيَّةَ بِنْتِ أَبِي عُبَيْدٍ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ الصَّلاَةُ فَقَالَ سِرْ فَقُلْتُ الصَّلاَةُ فَقَالَ سِرْ حَتَّى سَارَ مِيلَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلاَثَةً ثُمَّ نَزَلَ فَصَلَّى ثُمَّ قَالَ هَكَذَا رَأَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ يُصَلِّي إِذَا أَعْجَلَهُ السَّيْرُ وَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ رَأَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ إِذَا أَعْجَلَهُ السَّيْرُ يُؤَخِّرُ الْمَغْرِبَ فَيُصَلِّيهَا ثَلاَثًا ثُمَّ يُسَلِّمُ ثُمَّ قَلَّمَا يَلْبَثُ حَتَّى يُقِيمَ الْعِشَاءَ فَيُصَلِّيَهَا رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ يُسَلِّمُ وَلاَ يُسَبِّحُ بَعْدَ الْعِشَاءِ حَتَّى يَقُومَ مِنْ جَوْفِ اللَّيْلِ  

Whenever the Prophet ﷺ started on a journey before noon, he used to delay the Zuhr prayers till the time for the 'Asr prayer and then he would dismount and offer them together; and whenever the sun declined before he started on a journey he used to offer the Zuhr prayers and then ride (for journey).  

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِذَا ارْتَحَلَ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَزِيغَ الشَّمْسُ أَخَّرَ الظُّهْرَ إِلَى وَقْتِ الْعَصْرِ ثُمَّ نَزَلَ فَجَمَعَ بَيْنَهُمَا فَإِنْ زَاغَتِ الشَّمْسُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَرْتَحِلَ صَلَّى الظُّهْرَ ثُمَّ رَكِبَ  

I heard Abu Ash-sha'tha' Jabir saying, "I heard Ibn ʿAbbas saying, 'I offered with Messenger of Allah ﷺ eight rakʿat (of Zuhr and ʿAsr prayers) together and seven rakʿat (the Maghrib and the ʿIsha' prayers) together.' " I said, "O Abu Ash-shatha! I think he must have prayed the Zuhr late and the ʿAsr early; the ʿIsha early and the Maghrib late." Abu Ash-sha'tha' said, "I also think so." (See Hadith No. 518 Vol. 1).  

صَلَّيْتُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ ثَمَانِيًا جَمِيعًا وَسَبْعًا جَمِيعًا قُلْتُ يَا أَبَا الشَّعْثَاءِ أَظُنُّهُ أَخَّرَ الظُّهْرَ وَعَجَّلَ الْعَصْرَ وَعَجَّلَ الْعِشَاءَ وَأَخَّرَ الْمَغْرِبَ قَالَ وَأَنَا أَظُنُّهُ  

You should not give away a part of your prayer to Satan by thinking that it is necessary to depart (after finishing the prayer) from one's right side only; I have seen the Prophet ﷺ often leave from the left side.  

عَبْدُ اللَّهِ لاَ يَجْعَلْ أَحَدُكُمْ لِلشَّيْطَانِ شَيْئًا مِنْ صَلاَتِهِ يَرَى أَنَّ حَقًّا عَلَيْهِ أَنْ لاَ يَنْصَرِفَ إِلاَّ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ لَقَدْ رَأَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ كَثِيرًا يَنْصَرِفُ عَنْ يَسَارِهِ  

Messenger of Allah ﷺ passed by a man praying two rakʿat after the Iqama (had been pronounced). When Messenger of Allah ﷺ completed the prayer, the people gathered around him (the Prophet) or that man and Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to him (protesting), Are there four rakʿat in Fajr prayer? Are there four rakʿat in Fajr prayer?"  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ رَأَى رَجُلاً وَقَدْ أُقِيمَتِ الصَّلاَةُ يُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لاَثَ بِهِ النَّاسُ وَقَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: «الصُّبْحَ أَرْبَعًا؟ الصُّبْحَ أَرْبَعًا؟»  

Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "If anyone of you enters a mosque, he should pray two rakʿat before sitting."  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ إِذَا دَخَلَ أَحَدُكُمُ الْمَسْجِدَ فَلْيَرْكَعْ رَكْعَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَجْلِسَ  

I was with the Prophet ﷺ in a Ghazwa (Military Expedition) and my camel was slow and exhausted. The Prophet came up to me and said, "O Jabir." I replied, "Yes?" He said, "What is the matter with you?" I replied, "My camel is slow and tired, so I am left behind." So, he got down and poked the camel with his stick and then ordered me to ride. I rode the camel and it became so fast that I had to hold it from going ahead of Messenger of Allah ﷺ . He then asked me, have you got married?" I replied in the affirmative. He asked, "A virgin or a matron?" I replied, "I married a matron." The Prophet ﷺ said, "Why have you not married a virgin, so that you may play with her and she may play with you?" Jabir replied, "I have sisters (young in age) so I liked to marry a matron who could collect them all and comb their hair and look after them." The Prophet ﷺ said, "You will reach, so when you have arrived (at home), I advise you to associate with your wife (that you may have an intelligent son)." Then he asked me, "Would you like to sell your camel?" I replied in the affirmative and the Prophet ﷺ purchased it for one Uqiya of gold. Messenger of Allah ﷺ reached before me and I reached in the morning, and when I went to the mosque, I found him at the door of the mosque. He asked me, "Have you arrived just now?" I replied in the affirmative. He said, "Leave your camel and come into (the mosque) and pray two rakʿat." I entered and offered the prayer. He told Bilal to weigh and give me one Uqiya of gold. So Bilal weighed for me fairly and I went away. The Prophet ﷺ sent for me and I thought that he would return to me my camel which I hated more than anything else. But the Prophet ﷺ said to me, "Take your camel as well as its price."  

كُنْتُ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فِي غَزَاةٍ فَأَبْطَأَ بِي جَمَلِي وَأَعْيَا فَأَتَى عَلَىَّ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فَقَالَ جَابِرٌ فَقُلْتُ نَعَمْ قَالَ مَا شَأْنُكَ قُلْتُ أَبْطَأَ عَلَىَّ جَمَلِي وَأَعْيَا فَتَخَلَّفْتُ فَنَزَلَ يَحْجُنُهُ بِمِحْجَنِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ ارْكَبْ فَرَكِبْتُ فَلَقَدْ رَأَيْتُهُ أَكُفُّهُ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ تَزَوَّجْتَ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ قَالَ بِكْرًا أَمْ ثَيِّبًا قُلْتُ بَلْ ثَيِّبًا قَالَ أَفَلاَ جَارِيَةً تُلاَعِبُهَا وَتُلاَعِبُكَ قُلْتُ إِنَّ لِي أَخَوَاتٍ فَأَحْبَبْتُ أَنْ أَتَزَوَّجَ امْرَأَةً تَجْمَعُهُنَّ وَتَمْشُطُهُنَّ وَتَقُومُ عَلَيْهِنَّ قَالَ أَمَّا إِنَّكَ قَادِمٌ فَإِذَا قَدِمْتَ فَالْكَيْسَ الْكَيْسَ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَتَبِيعُ جَمَلَكَ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ فَاشْتَرَاهُ مِنِّي بِأُوقِيَّةٍ ثُمَّ قَدِمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَبْلِي وَقَدِمْتُ بِالْغَدَاةِ فَجِئْنَا إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ فَوَجَدْتُهُ عَلَى باب الْمَسْجِدِ قَالَ الآنَ قَدِمْتَ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ قَالَ فَدَعْ جَمَلَكَ فَادْخُلْ فَصَلِّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ فَدَخَلْتُ فَصَلَّيْتُ فَأَمَرَ بِلاَلاً أَنْ يَزِنَ لَهُ أُوقِيَّةً فَوَزَنَ لِي بِلاَلٌ فَأَرْجَحَ فِي الْمِيزَانِ فَانْطَلَقْتُ حَتَّى وَلَّيْتُ فَقَالَ ادْعُ لِي جَابِرًا قُلْتُ الآنَ يَرُدُّ عَلَىَّ الْجَمَلَ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ شَىْءٌ أَبْغَضَ إِلَىَّ مِنْهُ قَالَ خُذْ جَمَلَكَ وَلَكَ ثَمَنُهُ  

Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to give up a good deed, although he loved to do it, for fear that people might act on it and it might be made compulsory for them. The Prophet ﷺ never prayed the Duha prayer, but I offer it.  

إِنْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لَيَدَعُ الْعَمَلَ وَهْوَ يُحِبُّ أَنْ يَعْمَلَ بِهِ خَشْيَةَ أَنْ يَعْمَلَ بِهِ النَّاسُ فَيُفْرَضَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَمَا سَبَّحَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ سُبْحَةَ الضُّحَى قَطُّ وَإِنِّي لأُسَبِّحُهَا  

Only Um Hani told us that she had seen the Prophet ﷺ offering the Duha (forenoon prayer). She said, "On the day of the conquest of Mecca, the Prophet ﷺ took a bath in my house and offered eight rakʿat. I never saw him praying such a light prayer but he performed perfect prostration and bowing.  

أَنَّهُ رَأَى النَّبِيَّ ﷺ صَلَّى الضُّحَى غَيْرُ أُمِّ هَانِئٍ ذَكَرَتْ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ يَوْمَ فَتْحِ مَكَّةَ اغْتَسَلَ فِي بَيْتِهَا فَصَلَّى ثَمَانِ رَكَعَاتٍ فَمَا رَأَيْتُهُ صَلَّى صَلاَةً أَخَفَّ مِنْهَا غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ يُتِمُّ الرُّكُوعَ وَالسُّجُودَ  

My friend (the Prophet ﷺ) advised me to do three things and I shall not leave them till I die: (1) to fast three days every month, (2) to offer the Duha prayer, and (3) to offer Witr before sleeping.  

أَوْصَانِي خَلِيلِي بِثَلاَثٍ لاَ أَدَعُهُنَّ حَتَّى أَمُوتَ: (١) صَوْمِ ثَلاَثَةِ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ، (٢) وَصَلاَةِ الضُّحَى، (٣) وَنَوْمٍ عَلَى وِتْرٍ.  

When the Mu'adh-dhin pronounced the Adhan for Fajr prayer and the dawn became evident the Prophet ordered a two rakʿat light prayer (Sunna) before the Iqama of the compulsory (congregational) prayer.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَانَ إِذَا اعْتَكَفَ الْمُؤَذِّنُ لِلصُّبْحِ وَبَدَا الصُّبْحُ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ خَفِيفَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ أَنْ تُقَامَ الصَّلاَةُ  

The Prophet ﷺ used to offer two light rakʿat between the Adhan and the Iqama of the Fajr prayer.  

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ خَفِيفَتَيْنِ بَيْنَ النِّدَاءِ وَالإِقَامَةِ مِنْ صَلاَةِ الصُّبْحِ  

The Prophet ﷺ used to make the two rakʿat before the Fajr prayer so light that I would wonder whether he recited Al-Fatiha (or not).  

كَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ ح وَحَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ يُونُسَ حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرٌ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى هُوَ ابْنُ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَنْ عَمْرَةَ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ؓ قَالَتْ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يُخَفِّفُ الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ اللَّتَيْنِ قَبْلَ صَلاَةِ الصُّبْحِ حَتَّى إِنِّي لأَقُولُ هَلْ قَرَأَ بِأُمِّ الْكِتَابِ  

The Prophet ﷺ was never more regular and particular in offering any Nawafil than the two rakʿat (Sunna) of the Fajr prayer.  

لَمْ يَكُنِ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ عَلَى شَىْءٍ مِنَ النَّوَافِلِ أَشَدَّ مِنْهُ تَعَاهُدًا عَلَى رَكْعَتَىِ الْفَجْرِ  

I offered with the Prophet ﷺ two rakʿat before the Zuhr and two rakʿat after the Zuhr prayer; two rakʿat after Maghrib, ʿIsha' and the Jumua prayers. Those of the Maghrib and ʿIsha' were offered in his house. My sister Hafsa told me that the Prophet ﷺ used to offer two light rakʿat after dawn and it was the time when I never went to the Prophet."  

صَلَّيْتُ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ سَجْدَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ الظُّهْرِ وَسَجْدَتَيْنِ بَعْدَ الظُّهْرِ وَسَجْدَتَيْنِ بَعْدَ الْمَغْرِبِ وَسَجْدَتَيْنِ بَعْدَ الْعِشَاءِ وَسَجْدَتَيْنِ بَعْدَ الْجُمُعَةِ فَأَمَّا الْمَغْرِبُ وَالْعِشَاءُ فَفِي بَيْتِهِ قَالَ ابْنُ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ عُقْبَةَ عَنْ نَافِعٍ بَعْدَ الْعِشَاءِ فِي أَهْلِهِ  

I did not see the Prophet ﷺ reciting (the Qur'an) in the night prayer while sitting except when he became old; when he used to recite while sitting, and when thirty or forty verses remained from the Sura, he would get up and recite them and then bow.  

مَا رَأَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ يَقْرَأُ فِي شَىْءٍ مِنْ صَلاَةِ اللَّيْلِ جَالِسًا حَتَّى إِذَا كَبِرَ قَرَأَ جَالِسًا فَإِذَا بَقِيَ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ السُّورَةِ ثَلاَثُونَ أَوْ أَرْبَعُونَ آيَةً قَامَ فَقَرَأَهُنَّ ثُمَّ رَكَعَ  

(the mother of the faithful believers) Messenger of Allah ﷺ (in his last days) used to pray sitting. He would recite while sitting, and when thirty or forty verses remained from the recitation he would get up and recite them while standing and then he would bow and prostrate. He used to do the same in the second rakʿa. After finishing the Prayer he used to look at me and if I was awake he would talk to me and if I was asleep, he would lie down.  

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ أُمِّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ؓ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَانَ يُصَلِّي جَالِسًا فَيَقْرَأُ وَهْوَ جَالِسٌ فَإِذَا بَقِيَ مِنْ قِرَاءَتِهِ نَحْوٌ مِنْ ثَلاَثِينَ أَوْ أَرْبَعِينَ آيَةً قَامَ فَقَرَأَهَا وَهْوَ قَائِمٌ ثُمَّ يَرْكَعُ ثُمَّ يَسْجُدُ يَفْعَلُ فِي الرَّكْعَةِ الثَّانِيَةِ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ فَإِذَا قَضَى صَلاَتَهُ نَظَرَ فَإِنْ كُنْتُ يَقْظَى تَحَدَّثَ مَعِي وَإِنْ كُنْتُ نَائِمَةً اضْطَجَعَ  

I asked ʿAisha, "How is the prayer of Messenger of Allah ﷺ during the month of Ramadan." She said, "Messenger of Allah ﷺ never exceeded eleven rakʿat in Ramadan or in other months; he used to offer four rakʿat-- do not ask me about their beauty and length, then four rakʿat, do not ask me about their beauty and length, and then three rakʿat." Aisha further said, "I said, 'O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Do you sleep before offering the witr prayer?' He replied, 'O ʿAisha! My eyes sleep but my heart remains awake'!"  

أَنَّهُ أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّهُ سَأَلَ عَائِشَةَ ؓ كَيْفَ كَانَتْ صَلاَةُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي رَمَضَانَ فَقَالَتْ مَا كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَزِيدُ فِي رَمَضَانَ وَلاَ فِي غَيْرِهِ عَلَى إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً يُصَلِّي أَرْبَعًا فَلاَ تَسَلْ عَنْ حُسْنِهِنَّ وَطُولِهِنَّ ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي أَرْبَعًا فَلاَ تَسَلْ عَنْ حُسْنِهِنَّ وَطُولِهِنَّ ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي ثَلاَثًا قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَتَنَامُ قَبْلَ أَنْ تُوتِرَ فَقَالَ يَا عَائِشَةُ إِنَّ عَيْنَىَّ تَنَامَانِ وَلاَ يَنَامُ قَلْبِي  

The Prophet ﷺ used to offer thirteen rakʿat of the night prayer and that included the witr and two rakʿat (Sunna) of the Fajr prayer.  

كَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ ثَلاَثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً مِنْهَا الْوِتْرُ وَرَكْعَتَا الْفَجْرِ  

I asked ʿAisha "How is the night prayer of the Prophet?" She replied, "He used to sleep early at night, and get up in its last part to pray, and then return to his bed. When the Mu'adh-dhin pronounced the Adhan, he would get up. If he was in need of a bath he would take it; otherwise he would perform ablution and then go out (for the prayer)."  

سَأَلْتُ عَائِشَةَ ؓ كَيْفَ صَلاَةُ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ بِاللَّيْلِ قَالَتْ كَانَ يَنَامُ أَوَّلَهُ وَيَقُومُ آخِرَهُ فَيُصَلِّي ثُمَّ يَرْجِعُ إِلَى فِرَاشِهِ فَإِذَا أَذَّنَ الْمُؤَذِّنُ وَثَبَ فَإِنْ كَانَ بِهِ حَاجَةٌ اغْتَسَلَ وَإِلاَّ تَوَضَّأَ وَخَرَجَ  

I asked ʿAisha which deed was most loved by the Prophet. She said, "A deed done continuously." I further asked, "When did he used to get up (in the night for the prayer)." She said, "He used to get up on hearing the crowing of a cock."  

سَأَلْتُ عَائِشَةَ ؓ أَىُّ الْعَمَلِ كَانَ أَحَبَّ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَتِ الدَّائِمُ قُلْتُ مَتَى كَانَ يَقُومُ قَالَتْ يَقُومُ إِذَا سَمِعَ الصَّارِخَ  

In my house he (Prophet ﷺ ) never passed the last hours of the night but sleeping.  

مَا أَلْفَاهُ السَّحَرُ عِنْدِي إِلاَّ نَائِمًا تَعْنِي النَّبِيَّ ﷺ  

Messenger of Allah ﷺ offered witr prayer at different nights at various hours extending (from the ʿIsha' prayer) up to the last hour of the night.  

كُلَّ اللَّيْلِ أَوْتَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَانْتَهَى وِتْرُهُ إِلَى السَّحَرِ  

Once a person asked Messenger of Allah ﷺ ﷺ about the night prayer. Allah's Apostle ﷺ replied, "The night prayer is offered as two Rakʿat followed by two Rakʿat and so on and if anyone is afraid of the approaching dawn (Fajr prayer) he should pray one Rakʿah and this will be a Witr for all the Rakʿat which he has prayed before."  

أَنَّ رَجُلاً سَأَلَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَنْ صَلاَةِ اللَّيْلِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ صَلاَةُ اللَّيْلِ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى فَإِذَا خَشِيَ أَحَدُكُمُ الصُّبْحَ صَلَّى رَكْعَةً وَاحِدَةً تُوتِرُ لَهُ مَا قَدْ صَلَّى  

The Prophet ﷺ said, "Make witr as your last prayer at night."  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ اجْعَلُوا آخِرَ صَلاَتِكُمْ بِاللَّيْلِ وِتْرًا  

that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Our Lord, the Blessed, the Superior, comes every night down on the nearest Sky when the last third of the night remains, saying: ’Is there anyone to invoke Me, so that I may respond to [his invocation]? Is there anyone to ask Me, so that I may grant him [his request]? Is there anyone seeking My forgiveness, so that I may forgive him?’”  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ: «يَنْزِلُ رَبُّنَا تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا حِينَ يَبْقَى ثُلُثُ اللَّيْلِ الآخِرُ يَقُولُ: مَنْ يَدْعُونِي فَأَسْتَجِيبَ لَهُ؟ مَنْ يَسْأَلُنِي فَأُعْطِيَهُ؟ مَنْ يَسْتَغْفِرُنِي فَأَغْفِرَ لَهُ؟»  

Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Whoever establishes prayers during the nights of Ramadan faithfully out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah's rewards (not for showing off), all his past sins will be forgiven."  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ مَنْ قَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ  

Once in the middle of the night Messenger of Allah ﷺ went out and prayed in the mosque and some men prayed with him. The next morning the people spoke about it and so more people gathered and prayed with him (in the second night). They circulated the news in the morning, and so, on the third night the number of people increased greatly. Messenger of Allah ﷺ came out and they prayed behind him. On the fourth night the mosque was overwhelmed by the people till it could not accommodate them. Messenger of Allah ﷺ came out only for the Fajr prayer and when he finished the prayer, he faced the people and recited "Tashah-hud" (I testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that Muhammad is His Apostle), and then said, "Amma ba'du. Verily your presence (in the mosque at night) was not hidden from me, but I was afraid that this prayer (Prayer of Tahajjud) might be made compulsory and you might not be able to carry it out."  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ خَرَجَ ذَاتَ لَيْلَةٍ مِنْ جَوْفِ اللَّيْلِ فَصَلَّى فِي الْمَسْجِدِ فَصَلَّى رِجَالٌ بِصَلاَتِهِ فَأَصْبَحَ النَّاسُ فَتَحَدَّثُوا فَاجْتَمَعَ أَكْثَرُ مِنْهُمْ فَصَلَّوْا مَعَهُ فَأَصْبَحَ النَّاسُ فَتَحَدَّثُوا فَكَثُرَ أَهْلُ الْمَسْجِدِ مِنَ اللَّيْلَةِ الثَّالِثَةِ فَخَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَصَلَّوْا بِصَلاَتِهِ فَلَمَّا كَانَتِ اللَّيْلَةُ الرَّابِعَةُ عَجَزَ الْمَسْجِدُ عَنْ أَهْلِهِ حَتَّى خَرَجَ لِصَلاَةِ الصُّبْحِ فَلَمَّا قَضَى الْفَجْرَ أَقْبَلَ عَلَى النَّاسِ فَتَشَهَّدَ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنَّهُ لَمْ يَخْفَ عَلَىَّ مَكَانُكُمْ لَكِنِّي خَشِيتُ أَنْ تُفْرَضَ عَلَيْكُمْ فَتَعْجِزُوا عَنْهَا  

One night I slept at the house of Maimuna. The Prophet ﷺ woke up, answered the call of nature, washed his face and hands, and then slept. He got up (late at night), went to a water skin, opened the mouth thereof and performed ablution not using much water, yet he washed all the parts properly and then offered the prayer. I got up and straightened my back in order that the Prophet ﷺ might not feel that I was watching him, and then I performed the ablution, and when he got up to offer the prayer, I stood on his left. He caught hold of my ear and brought me over to his right side. He offered thirteen rakʿat in all and then lay down and slept till he started blowing out his breath as he used to do when he slept. In the meantime Bilal informed the Prophet ﷺ of the approaching time for the (Fajr) prayer, and the Prophet offered the Fajr (Morning) prayer without performing new ablution. He used to say in his invocation, Allahumma ijʿal fi qalbi nuran wa fi basari nuran, wa fi samʿi nuran, waʿan yamini nuran, waʿan yasari nuran, wa fawqi nuran, wa tahti nuran, wa amami nuran, wa khalfi nuran, wajʿal li nuran." Kuraib (a sub narrator) said, "I have forgotten seven other words, (which the Prophet ﷺ mentioned in this invocation). I met a man from the offspring of Al-ʿAbbas and he narrated those seven things to me, mentioning, '(Let there be light in) my nerves, my flesh, my blood, my hair and my body,' and he also mentioned two other things."  

بِتُّ عِنْدَ مَيْمُونَةَ فَقَامَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فَأَتَى حَاجَتَهُ غَسَلَ وَجْهَهُ وَيَدَيْهِ ثُمَّ نَامَ ثُمَّ قَامَ فَأَتَى الْقِرْبَةَ فَأَطْلَقَ شِنَاقَهَا ثُمَّ تَوَضَّأَ وُضُوءًا بَيْنَ وُضُوءَيْنِ لَمْ يُكْثِرْ وَقَدْ أَبْلَغَ فَصَلَّى فَقُمْتُ فَتَمَطَّيْتُ كَرَاهِيَةَ أَنْ يَرَى أَنِّي كُنْتُ أَتَّقِيهِ فَتَوَضَّأْتُ فَقَامَ يُصَلِّي فَقُمْتُ عَنْ يَسَارِهِ فَأَخَذَ بِأُذُنِي فَأَدَارَنِي عَنْ يَمِينِهِ فَتَتَامَّتْ صَلاَتُهُ ثَلاَثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً ثُمَّ اضْطَجَعَ فَنَامَ حَتَّى نَفَخَ وَكَانَ إِذَا نَامَ نَفَخَ فَآذَنَهُ بِلاَلٌ بِالصَّلاَةِ فَصَلَّى وَلَمْ يَتَوَضَّأْ وَكَانَ يَقُولُ فِي دُعَائِهِ اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْ فِي قَلْبِي نُورًا وَفِي بَصَرِي نُورًا وَفِي سَمْعِي نُورًا وَعَنْ يَمِينِي نُورًا وَعَنْ يَسَارِي نُورًا وَفَوْقِي نُورًا وَتَحْتِي نُورًا وَأَمَامِي نُورًا وَخَلْفِي نُورًا وَاجْعَلْ لِي نُورًا قَالَ كُرَيْبٌ وَسَبْعٌ فِي التَّابُوتِ فَلَقِيتُ رَجُلاً مِنْ وَلَدِ الْعَبَّاسِ فَحَدَّثَنِي بِهِنَّ فَذَكَرَ عَصَبِي وَلَحْمِي وَدَمِي وَشَعَرِي وَبَشَرِي وَذَكَرَ خَصْلَتَيْنِ  

That he stayed overnight in the house of Maimuna the wife of the Prophet, his aunt. He added : I lay on the bed (cushion transversally) while Messenger of Allah ﷺ and his wife lay in the lengthwise direction of the cushion. Messenger of Allah ﷺ slept till the middle of the night, either a bit before or a bit after it and then woke up, rubbing the traces of sleep off his face with his hands. He then, recited the last ten verses of Sura Al-ʿImran, got up and went to a hanging water-skin. He then Performed the ablution from it and it was a perfect ablution, and then stood up to offer the prayer. I, too, got up and did as the Prophet had done. Then I went and stood by his side. He placed his right hand on my head and caught my right ear and twisted it. He prayed two rakʿat then two rakʿat and two rakʿat and then two rakʿat and then two rakʿat and then two rakʿat (separately six times), and finally one rakʿa (the witr). Then he lay down again in the bed till the Mu'adh-dhin came to him where upon the Prophet ﷺ got up, offered a two light rakʿat prayer and went out and led the Fajr prayer.  

أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّهُ بَاتَ لَيْلَةً عِنْدَ مَيْمُونَةَ زَوْجِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ وَهِيَ خَالَتُهُ فَاضْطَجَعْتُ فِي عَرْضِ الْوِسَادَةِ وَاضْطَجَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَأَهْلُهُ فِي طُولِهَا فَنَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ حَتَّى إِذَا انْتَصَفَ اللَّيْلُ أَوْ قَبْلَهُ بِقَلِيلٍ أَوْ بَعْدَهُ بِقَلِيلٍ اسْتَيْقَظَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَجَلَسَ يَمْسَحُ النَّوْمَ عَنْ وَجْهِهِ بِيَدِهِ ثُمَّ قَرَأَ الْعَشْرَ الآيَاتِ الْخَوَاتِمَ مِنْ سُورَةِ آلِ عِمْرَانَ ثُمَّ قَامَ إِلَى شَنٍّ مُعَلَّقَةٍ فَتَوَضَّأَ مِنْهَا فَأَحْسَنَ وُضُوءَهُ ثُمَّ قَامَ يُصَلِّي قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ فَقُمْتُ فَصَنَعْتُ مِثْلَ مَا صَنَعَ ثُمَّ ذَهَبْتُ فَقُمْتُ إِلَى جَنْبِهِ فَوَضَعَ يَدَهُ الْيُمْنَى عَلَى رَأْسِي وَأَخَذَ بِأُذُنِي الْيُمْنَى يَفْتِلُهَا فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ أَوْتَرَ ثُمَّ اضْطَجَعَ حَتَّى أَتَاهُ الْمُؤَذِّنُ فَقَامَ فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ خَفِيفَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ فَصَلَّى الصُّبْحَ  

The prayer of the Prophet ﷺ used to be of thirteen rakʿat, i.e. of the night prayer.  

كَانَ صَلاَةُ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ ثَلاَثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً يَعْنِي بِاللَّيْلِ  

Whenever the Prophet ﷺ offered the night (Tahajjud) prayer, he used to say, "O Allah! All the Praises are for You; You are the Light of the Heavens and the Earth. And all the Praises are for You; You are the Keeper of the Heavens and the Earth. All the Praises are for You; You are the Lord of the Heavens and the Earth and whatever is therein. You are the Truth, and Your Promise is the Truth, and Your Speech is the Truth, and meeting You is the Truth, and Paradise is the Truth and Hell (Fire) is the Truth and all the prophets are the Truth and the Hour is the Truth. O Allah! I surrender to You, and believe in You, and depend upon You, and repent to You, and in Your cause I fight and with Your orders I rule. So please forgive my past and future sins and those sins which I did in secret or in public. It is You Whom I worship, None has the right to be worshipped except You ." (See Hadith No. 329,Vol. 8)  

أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ يَقُولُ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ إِذَا تَهَجَّدَ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ قَالَ اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ نُورُ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ قَيِّمُ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ رَبُّ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَمَنْ فِيهِنَّ أَنْتَ الْحَقُّ وَوَعْدُكَ الْحَقُّ وَقَوْلُكَ الْحَقُّ وَلِقَاؤُكَ الْحَقُّ وَالْجَنَّةُ حَقٌّ وَالنَّارُ حَقٌّ وَالنَّبِيُّونَ حَقٌّ وَالسَّاعَةُ حَقٌّ اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ أَسْلَمْتُ وَبِكَ آمَنْتُ وَعَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَإِلَيْكَ أَنَبْتُ وَبِكَ خَاصَمْتُ وَإِلَيْكَ حَاكَمْتُ فَاغْفِرْ لِي مَا قَدَّمْتُ وَمَا أَخَّرْتُ وَمَا أَسْرَرْتُ وَمَا أَعْلَنْتُ أَنْتَ إِلَهِي لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ  

ʿAbdullah said, "One night I offered the Tahajjud prayer with the Prophet ﷺ and he kept on standing till an ill-thought came to me." We said, "What was the ill-thought?" He said, "It was to sit down and leave the Prophet (standing)."  

صَلَّيْتُ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ لَيْلَةً فَلَمْ يَزَلْ قَائِمًا حَتَّى هَمَمْتُ بِأَمْرِ سَوْءٍ قُلْنَا وَمَا هَمَمْتَ قَالَ هَمَمْتَ أَنْ أَقْعُدَ وَأَذَرَ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ  

It was mentioned before the Prophet ﷺ that there was a man who slept the night till morning (after sunrise). The Prophet ﷺ said, "He is a man in whose ears (or ear) Satan had urinated."  

ذُكِرَ عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ رَجُلٌ نَامَ لَيْلَهُ حَتَّى أَصْبَحَ قَالَ ذَاكَ رَجُلٌ بَالَ الشَّيْطَانُ فِي أُذُنَيْهِ أَوْ قَالَ فِي أُذُنِهِ  

One night Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to me and Fatima, the daughter of the Prophet ﷺ and asked, "Won't you pray (at night)?" I said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Our souls are in the hands of Allah and if He wants us to get up He will make us get up." When I said that, he left us without saying anything and I heard that he was hitting his thigh and saying, "But man is more quarrelsome than anything." (18.54)  

أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ طَرَقَهُ وَفَاطِمَةَ بِنْتَ النَّبِيِّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ لَيْلَةً فَقَالَ أَلاَ تُصَلِّيَانِ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَنْفُسُنَا بِيَدِ اللَّهِ فَإِذَا شَاءَ أَنْ يَبْعَثَنَا بَعَثَنَا فَانْصَرَفَ حِينَ قُلْنَا ذَلِكَ وَلَمْ يَرْجِعْ إِلَىَّ شَيْئًا ثُمَّ سَمِعْتُهُ وَهْوَ مُوَلٍّ يَضْرِبُ فَخِذَهُ وَهْوَ يَقُولُ وَكَانَ الإِنْسَانُ أَكْثَرَ شَىْءٍ جَدَلاً}  

Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Satan puts three knots at the back of the head of any of you if he is asleep. On every knot he reads and exhales the following words, 'The night is long, so stay asleep.' When one wakes up and remembers Allah, one knot is undone; and when one performs ablution, the second knot is undone, and when one prays the third knot is undone and one gets up energetic with a good heart in the morning; otherwise one gets up lazy and with a mischievous heart."  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ يَعْقِدُ الشَّيْطَانُ عَلَى قَافِيَةِ رَأْسِ أَحَدِكُمْ إِذَا هُوَ نَامَ ثَلاَثَ عُقَدٍ يَضْرِبُ كُلَّ عُقْدَةٍ عَلَيْكَ لَيْلٌ طَوِيلٌ فَارْقُدْ فَإِنِ اسْتَيْقَظَ فَذَكَرَ اللَّهَ انْحَلَّتْ عُقْدَةٌ فَإِنْ تَوَضَّأَ انْحَلَّتْ عُقْدَةٌ فَإِنْ صَلَّى انْحَلَّتْ عُقْدَةٌ فَأَصْبَحَ نَشِيطًا طَيِّبَ النَّفْسِ وَإِلاَّ أَصْبَحَ خَبِيثَ النَّفْسِ كَسْلاَنَ  

The Prophet ﷺ had said, "Offer some of your prayers (Nawafil) at home, and do not take your houses as graves."  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ اجْعَلُوا فِي بُيُوتِكُمْ مِنْ صَلاَتِكُمْ وَلاَ تَتَّخِذُوهَا قُبُورًا  

The Prophet ﷺ said, "The example of the one who celebrates the Praises of his Lord (Allah) in comparison to the one who does not celebrate the Praises of his Lord, is that of a living creature compared to a dead one."  

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ مَثَلُ الَّذِي يَذْكُرُ رَبَّهُ وَالَّذِي لاَ يَذْكُرُ مَثَلُ الْحَىِّ وَالْمَيِّتِ  

Messenger of Allah ﷺ made a small room in the month of Ramadan (Saʿid said, "I think that Zaid bin Thabit said that it was made of a mat") and he prayed there for a few nights, and so some of his companions prayed behind him. When he came to know about it, he kept on sitting. In the morning, he went out to them and said, "I have seen and understood what you did. You should pray in your houses, for the best prayer of a person is that which he prays in his house except the compulsory prayers."  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ اتَّخَذَ حُجْرَةً قَالَ حَسِبْتُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ مِنْ حَصِيرٍ فِي رَمَضَانَ فَصَلَّى فِيهَا لَيَالِيَ فَصَلَّى بِصَلاَتِهِ نَاسٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ فَلَمَّا عَلِمَ بِهِمْ جَعَلَ يَقْعُدُ فَخَرَجَ إِلَيْهِمْ فَقَالَ قَدْ عَرَفْتُ الَّذِي رَأَيْتُ مِنْ صَنِيعِكُمْ فَصَلُّوا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ فِي بُيُوتِكُمْ فَإِنَّ أَفْضَلَ الصَّلاَةِ صَلاَةُ الْمَرْءِ فِي بَيْتِهِ إِلاَّ الْمَكْتُوبَةَ قَالَ عَفَّانُ حَدَّثَنَا وُهَيْبٌ حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى سَمِعْتُ أَبَا النَّضْرِ عَنْ بُسْرٍ عَنْ زَيْدٍ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ