Our Lord, the Blessed and the Exalted, descends every night to the lowest heaven when one-third of the latter part of the night is left, and says: Who supplicates Me so that I may answer him? Who asks Me so that I may give to him? Who asks Me 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 فَيَقُولُ مَنْ يَدْعُونِي فَأَسْتَجِيبَ لَهُ وَمَنْ يَسْأَلُنِي فَأُعْطِيَهُ وَمَنْ يَسْتَغْفِرُنِي فَأَغْفِرَ لَهُ  

Allah descends every night to the lowest heaven when one-third of the first part of the night is over and says: I am the Lord; I am the Lord: who is there to supplicate Me so that I answer him? Who is there to beg of Me so that I grant him? Who is there to beg forgiveness from Me so that I forgive him? He continues like this till the day breaks.  

عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ يَنْزِلُ اللَّهُ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ حِينَ يَمْضِي ثُلُثُ اللَّيْلِ الأَوَّلُ فَيَقُولُ أَنَا الْمَلِكُ أَنَا الْمَلِكُ مَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يَدْعُونِي فَأَسْتَجِيبَ لَهُ مَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يَسْأَلُنِي فَأُعْطِيَهُ مَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يَسْتَغْفِرُنِي فَأَغْفِرَ لَهُ فَلاَ يَزَالُ كَذَلِكَ حَتَّى يُضِيءَ الْفَجْرُ  

When half of the night or two-third of it is over. Allah, the Blessed and the Exalted, descends to the lowest heaven and says: Is there any beggar, so that he be given? Is there any supplicator so that he be answered? Is there any beggar of forgiveness so that he be forgiven? (And Allah continues it saying) till it is daybreak.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِذَا مَضَى شَطْرُ اللَّيْلِ أَوْ ثُلُثَاهُ يَنْزِلُ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى إِلَى السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا فَيَقُولُ هَلْ مِنْ سَائِلٍ يُعْطَى هَلْ مِنْ دَاعٍ يُسْتَجَابُ لَهُ هَلْ مِنْ مُسْتَغْفِرٍ يُغْفَرُ لَهُ حَتَّى يَنْفَجِرَ الصُّبْحُ  

Allah descends to the lowest heaven at half of the night or at one-third of the latter part and says: Who is there to supplicate Me so that I answer him? Who is there to ask Me so that I grant him? And then says: Who will lend to One Who is neither indigent nor tyrant? (This hadith has been narrated by Sa'd b. Sa'id with the same chain of transmitters with this addition:" Then the Blessed and the Exalted (Lord) stretches His Hands and says: Who will lend to One Who is neither indigent nor tyrant? )  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَنْزِلُ اللَّهُ فِي السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا لِشَطْرِ اللَّيْلِ أَوْ لِثُلُثِ اللَّيْلِ الآخِرِ فَيَقُولُ مَنْ يَدْعُونِي فَأَسْتَجِيبَ لَهُ أَوْ يَسْأَلُنِي فَأُعْطِيَهُ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ مَنْ يُقْرِضُ غَيْرَ عَدِيمٍ وَلاَ ظَلُومٍ قَالَ مُسْلِمٌ ابْنُ مَرْجَانَةَ هُوَ سَعِيدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ وَمَرْجَانَةُ أُمُّهُ حَدَّثَنَا هَارُونُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ الأَيْلِيُّ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ بِلاَلٍ عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ وَزَادَ ثُمَّ يَبْسُطُ يَدَيْهِ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى يَقُولُ مَنْ يُقْرِضُ غَيْرَ عَدُومٍ وَلاَ ظَلُومٍ  

Allah waits till when one-third of the first part of the night is over; He descends to the lowest heaven and says: It there any supplicator of forgiveness? Is there any penitant? Is there any petitioner (for mercy and favour)? Is there any solicitor? -till it is daybreak.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُمْهِلُ حَتَّى إِذَا ذَهَبَ ثُلُثُ اللَّيْلِ الأَوَّلُ نَزَلَ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا فَيَقُولُ هَلْ مِنْ مُسْتَغْفِرٍ هَلْ مِنْ تَائِبٍ هَلْ مِنْ سَائِلٍ هَلْ مِنْ دَاعٍ حَتَّى يَنْفَجِرَ الْفَجْرُ  

This hadith is narrated by Ishaq with the same chain uf transmitters except this that the hadith transmitted by Mansur (the above one) is more comprehensive and lengthy.  

عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ غَيْرَ أَنَّ حَدِيثَ مَنْصُورٍ أَتَمُّ وَأَكْثَرُ  

He who observed prayer at night during Ramadan, because of faith and seeking his reward from Allah, his previous sins would be forgiven.  

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

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to exhort (his Companions) to pray (at night) during Ramadan without commanding them to observe it as an obligatory act, and say: He who observed the night prayer in Ramadan because of faith and seeking his reward (from Allah), all his previous sins would be forgiven. When Messenger of Allah ﷺ died, this was the practice, and it continued thus during Abu Bakr's caliphate and the early part of 'Umar's caliphate.  

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُرَغِّبُ فِي قِيَامِ رَمَضَانَ مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَأْمُرَهُمْ فِيهِ بِعَزِيمَةٍ فَيَقُولُ مَنْ قَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ فَتُوُفِّيَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَالأَمْرُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ كَانَ الأَمْرُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ فِي خِلاَفَةِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَصَدْرًا مِنْ خِلاَفَةِ عُمَرَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ  

He who observed the fasts of Ramadan with faith and seeking reward (from Allah), all his previous sins would be forgiven, and he who observed prayer on Lailat-ul- Qadr with faith and seeking reward (from Allah), all his previous sins would be forgiven.  

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

He who prayed on the Lailat-ul-Qadr (the Majestic Night) knowing that it is (the same night). I (believe) that he (the Prophet also) said: (He who does) it with faith and seeking reward (from Allah), his sins would be forgiven.  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ مَنْ يَقُمْ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ فَيُوَافِقُهَا أُرَاهُ قَالَ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ  

I saw what you were doing, but I desisted to come to you (and lead the prayer) for I feared that this prayer might become obligatory for you. (He the narrator) said: It was the month of Ramadan.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ صَلَّى فِي الْمَسْجِدِ ذَاتَ لَيْلَةٍ فَصَلَّى بِصَلاَتِهِ نَاسٌ ثُمَّ صَلَّى مِنَ الْقَابِلَةِ فَكَثُرَ النَّاسُ ثُمَّ اجْتَمَعُوا مِنَ اللَّيْلَةِ الثَّالِثَةِ أَوِ الرَّابِعَةِ فَلَمْ يَخْرُجْ إِلَيْهِمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحَ قَالَ قَدْ رَأَيْتُ الَّذِي صَنَعْتُمْ فَلَمْ يَمْنَعْنِي مِنَ الْخُرُوجِ إِلَيْكُمْ إِلاَّ أَنِّي خَشِيتُ أَنْ تُفْرَضَ عَلَيْكُمْ قَالَ وَذَلِكَ فِي رَمَضَانَ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ came out during the night and observed prayer in the mosque and some of the people prayed along with him. When it was morning the people talked about this and so a large number of people gathered there. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ went out for the second night, and they (the people) prayed along with him. When it was morning the people began to talk about it. So the mosque thronged with people on the third night. He (the Holy Prophet) came out and they prayed along with him. When it was the fourth night, the mosque was filled to its utmost capacity but the Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not come out. Some persons among then cried:" Prayer." But the Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not come to them till he came out for the morning prayer. When he had completed the morning prayer, he turned his face to the people and recited Tashahhud (I bear testi- mony that there is no god but Allah and I bear testimony that Muhammad is His Messen- ger) and then said: Your affair was not hidden from me in the night, but I was afraid that (my observing prayer continuously) might make the night prayer obligatory for you and you might be unable to perform it.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ خَرَجَ مِنْ جَوْفِ اللَّيْلِ فَصَلَّى فِي الْمَسْجِدِ فَصَلَّى رِجَالٌ بِصَلاَتِهِ فَأَصْبَحَ النَّاسُ يَتَحَدَّثُونَ بِذَلِكَ فَاجْتَمَعَ أَكْثَرُ مِنْهُمْ فَخَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي اللَّيْلَةِ الثَّانِيَةِ فَصَلَّوْا بِصَلاَتِهِ فَأَصْبَحَ النَّاسُ يَذْكُرُونَ ذَلِكَ فَكَثُرَ أَهْلُ الْمَسْجِدِ مِنَ اللَّيْلَةِ الثَّالِثَةِ فَخَرَجَ فَصَلَّوْا بِصَلاَتِهِ فَلَمَّا كَانَتِ اللَّيْلَةُ الرَّابِعَةُ عَجَزَ الْمَسْجِدُ عَنْ أَهْلِهِ فَلَمْ يَخْرُجْ إِلَيْهِمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَطَفِقَ رِجَالٌ مِنْهُمْ يَقُولُونَ الصَّلاَةَ فَلَمْ يَخْرُجْ إِلَيْهِمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ حَتَّى خَرَجَ لِصَلاَةِ الْفَجْرِ فَلَمَّا قَضَى الْفَجْرَ أَقْبَلَ عَلَى النَّاسِ ثُمَّ تَشَهَّدَ فَقَالَ أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنَّهُ لَمْ يَخْفَ عَلَىَّ شَأْنُكُمُ اللَّيْلَةَ وَلَكِنِّي خَشِيتُ أَنْ تُفْرَضَ عَلَيْكُمْ صَلاَةُ اللَّيْلِ فَتَعْجِزُوا عَنْهَا  

I heard from Ubayy b. Ka'b a statement made by 'Abdullah b. Mas'ud in which he said: He who gets up for prayer (every night) during the year will hit upon Lailat-ul-Qadr. Ubayy said: By Allah I there is no god but He, that (Lailat-ul-Qadr) is in Ramadhan (He swore without reservation: ) By Allah, I know the night; it is the night on which the Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded us to pray. It is that which precedes the morning of twenty-seventy and its indication is that the sun rises bright on that day without rays.  

أُبَىٌّ وَاللَّهِ الَّذِي لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ إِنَّهَا لَفِي رَمَضَانَ يَحْلِفُ مَا يَسْتَثْنِي وَوَاللَّهِ إِنِّي لأَعْلَمُ أَىُّ لَيْلَةٍ هِيَ هِيَ اللَّيْلَةُ الَّتِي أَمَرَنَا بِهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِقِيَامِهَا هِيَ لَيْلَةُ صَبِيحَةِ سَبْعٍ وَعِشْرِينَ وَأَمَارَتُهَا أَنْ تَطْلُعَ الشَّمْسُ فِي صَبِيحَةِ يَوْمِهَا بَيْضَاءَ لاَ شُعَاعَ لَهَا  

By Allah, I know about Lailat-ul Qadr and I know it fully well that it is the twenty-seventh night (during Ramadan) on which the Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded us to observe prayer. (Shu'ba was in doubt about these words:" the night on which the Messenger of Allah [may peace be upon him] commanded us to observe the prayer." This has been transmitted to me by a friend of mine.)  

أُبَىٌّ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ وَاللَّهِ إِنِّي لأَعْلَمُهَا وَأَكْثَرُ عِلْمِي هِيَ اللَّيْلَةُ الَّتِي أَمَرَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِقِيَامِهَا هِيَ لَيْلَةُ سَبْعٍ وَعِشْرِينَ وَإِنَّمَا شَكَّ شُعْبَةُ فِي هَذَا الْحَرْفِ هِيَ اللَّيْلَةُ الَّتِي أَمَرَنَا بِهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ وَحَدَّثَنِي بِهَا صَاحِبٌ لِي عَنْهُ  

Shu'ba reported this hadith with the same chain of transmitters, but he made no mention that Shu'ba was in doubt and what follows subsequently.  

حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ نَحْوَهُ وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ إِنَّمَا شَكَّ شُعْبَةُ وَمَا بَعْدَهُ  

I spent a night with my maternal aunt (sister of my mother) Maimuna. The Apostle of Allah ﷺ got up during the night and relieved himself, then washed his face and hands and went to sleep. He then got up again, and came to the water skin and loosened its straps, then performed good ablution between the two extremes. He then stood up and observed prayer. I also stood up and stretched my body fearing that he might be under the impression that I was there to find out (what he did at night). So I also performed ablution and stood up to pray, but I stood on his left. He took hold of my hand and made me go around to his right side. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ completed thirteen rakʿahs of his night prayer. He then lay down and slept and snored (and it was his habit to snore while asleep). Then Bilal came and he informed him about the prayer. He (the Holy Prophet) then stood up for prayer and did not perform ablution, and his supplication included these words: "O Allah, place light in my heart, light in my sight, light in my hearing, light on my right hand, light on my left hand, light above me, light below me, light in front of me, light behind me, and enhance light for me." Kuraib (the narrator) said: There are seven (words more) which are in my heart (but I cannot recall them) and I met some of the descendants of Al-ʿAbbas and they narrated these words to me and mentioned in them: (Light) in my sinew, in my flesh, in my blood, in my hair, in my skin, and made a mention of two more things.  

بِتُّ لَيْلَةً عِنْدَ خَالَتِي مَيْمُونَةَ فَقَامَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَأَتَى حَاجَتَهُ ثُمَّ غَسَلَ وَجْهَهُ وَيَدَيْهِ ثُمَّ نَامَ ثُمَّ قَامَ فَأَتَى الْقِرْبَةَ فَأَطْلَقَ شِنَاقَهَا ثُمَّ تَوَضَّأَ وُضُوءًا بَيْنَ الْوُضُوءَيْنِ وَلَمْ يُكْثِرْ وَقَدْ أَبْلَغَ ثُمَّ قَامَ فَصَلَّى فَقُمْتُ فَتَمَطَّيْتُ كَرَاهِيَةَ أَنْ يَرَى أَنِّي كُنْتُ أَنْتَبِهُ لَهُ فَتَوَضَّأْتُ فَقَامَ فَصَلَّى فَقُمْتُ عَنْ يَسَارِهِ فَأَخَذَ بِيَدِي فَأَدَارَنِي عَنْ يَمِينِهِ فَتَتَامَّتْ صَلاَةُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ ثَلاَثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً ثُمَّ اضْطَجَعَ فَنَامَ حَتَّى نَفَخَ وَكَانَ إِذَا نَامَ نَفَخَ فَأَتَاهُ بِلاَلٌ فَآذَنَهُ بِالصَّلاَةِ فَقَامَ فَصَلَّى وَلَمْ يَتَوَضَّأْ وَكَانَ 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 وَعَظِّمْ لِي نُورًا قَالَ كُرَيْبٌ وَسَبْعًا فِي التَّابُوتِ فَلَقِيتُ بَعْضَ وَلَدِ الْعَبَّاسِ فَحَدَّثَنِي بِهِنَّ فَذَكَرَ عَصَبِي وَلَحْمِي وَدَمِي وَشَعَرِي وَبَشَرِي وَذَكَرَ خَصْلَتَيْنِ  

I also stood up and did the same, as the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had done, and then went to him and stood by his side. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ placed his right hand upon my head and took hold of my right ear and twisted it, and then observed a pair of rakʿahs, again a pair of rakʿahs, again a pair of rakʿahs, again a pair of rakʿahs, again a pair of rakʿahs, again a pair of rakʿahs, and then observed Witr and then lay down till the Mu'adhdhin came to him. He (the Holy Prophet) then stood up and observed two short rakʿahs, and then went out (to the mosque) and observed the dawn prayer.  

أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّهُ بَاتَ لَيْلَةً عِنْدَ مَيْمُونَةَ أُمِّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَهِيَ خَالَتُهُ قَالَ فَاضْطَجَعْتُ فِي عَرْضِ الْوِسَادَةِ وَاضْطَجَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَأَهْلُهُ فِي طُولِهَا فَنَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ حَتَّى انْتَصَفَ اللَّيْلُ أَوْ قَبْلَهُ بِقَلِيلٍ أَوْ بَعْدَهُ بِقَلِيلٍ اسْتَيْقَظَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَجَعَلَ 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 فَصَلَّى قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ فَقُمْتُ فَصَنَعْتُ مِثْلَ مَا صَنَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ ثُمَّ ذَهَبْتُ فَقُمْتُ إِلَى جَنْبِهِ فَوَضَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ 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 جَاءَ الْمُؤَذِّنُ فَقَامَ فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ خَفِيفَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ فَصَلَّى الصُّبْحَ  

"He then went to the water-skin and brushed his teeth and performed ablution well. He did not pour water but a little. He then awakened me and I stood up," and the rest of the hadith is the same.  

عَنْ مَخْرَمَةَ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ وَزَادَ ثُمَّ عَمَدَ إِلَى شَجْبٍ مِنْ مَاءٍ فَتَسَوَّكَ وَتَوَضَّأَ وَأَسْبَغَ الْوُضُوءَ وَلَمْ يُهْرِقْ مِنَ الْمَاءِ إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً ثُمَّ حَرَّكَنِي فَقُمْتُ وَسَائِرُ الْحَدِيثِ نَحْوُ حَدِيثِ مَالِكٍ  

I slept (one night) in the house of Maimuna, the wife of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was with her that night. He (after sleeping for half of the night got up and) then performed ablution and then stood up and observed prayer. I too stood on his left side. He took hold of me and made me stand on his right side. He (the Holy Prophet) observed thirteen rakʿahs on that night. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ then slept and snored and it was a habit with him to snore while sleeping. The Mu'adhdhin then came to him (to inform him about the prayer). He then went out and observed prayer without performing ablution. (ʿAmr said: Bukair b. Ashajj had narrated it to me )  

أَنَّهُ قَالَ نِمْتُ عِنْدَ مَيْمُونَةَ زَوْجِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ عِنْدَهَا تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةَ فَتَوَضَّأَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ ثُمَّ قَامَ فَصَلَّى فَقُمْتُ عَنْ يَسَارِهِ فَأَخَذَنِي فَجَعَلَنِي عَنْ يَمِينِهِ فَصَلَّى فِي تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةِ ثَلاَثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً ثُمَّ نَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ حَتَّى نَفَخَ وَكَانَ إِذَا نَامَ نَفَخَ ثُمَّ أَتَاهُ الْمُؤَذِّنُ فَخَرَجَ فَصَلَّى وَلَمْ يَتَوَضَّأْ قَالَ عَمْرٌو فَحَدَّثْتُ بِهِ بُكَيْرَ بْنَ الأَشَجِّ فَقَالَ حَدَّثَنِي كُرَيْبٌ بِذَلِكَ  

I spent one night in the house of my mother's sister Maimuna, daughter of Al-Harith, and said to her: Awake me when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ stands to pray (at night). (She woke me up when) the Messenger of Allah ﷺ stood up for prayer. I stood on his left side. He took hold of my hand and made me stand on his right side, and whenever I dozed off he took hold of my earlobe (and made me alert). He (the narrator) said: He (the Holy Prophet) observed eleven rakʿahs. He then sat with his legs drawn and wrapped in his garment and slept so that I could hear his breathing while asleep. And when the dawn appeared, he observed two short rakʿahs of (Sunnah) prayer.  

بِتُّ لَيْلَةً عِنْدَ خَالَتِي مَيْمُونَةَ بِنْتِ الْحَارِثِ فَقُلْتُ لَهَا إِذَا قَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَأَيْقِظِينِي فَقَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقُمْتُ إِلَى جَنْبِهِ الأَيْسَرِ فَأَخَذَ بِيَدِي فَجَعَلَنِي مِنْ شِقِّهِ الأَيْمَنِ فَجَعَلْتُ إِذَا أَغْفَيْتُ يَأْخُذُ بِشَحْمَةِ أُذُنِي قَالَ فَصَلَّى إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً ثُمَّ احْتَبَى حَتَّى إِنِّي لأَسْمَعُ نَفَسَهُ رَاقِدًا فَلَمَّا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ الْفَجْرُ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ خَفِيفَتَيْنِ  

It was short and performed with a little water.) I also got up and did the same as the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had done. I then came (to him) and stood on his left. He then made me go around to his right side. He then observed prayer and went to sleep till he began to snore. Bilal came to him and informed him about the prayer. He (the Holy Prophet) then went out and observed the dawn prayer without performing ablution. Sufyan said: It was a special (prerogative of the) Apostle of Allah ﷺ for it has been conveyed to us that the eyes of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ sleep, but his heart does not sleep.  

أَنَّهُ بَاتَ عِنْدَ خَالَتِهِ مَيْمُونَةَ فَقَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَتَوَضَّأَ مِنْ شَنٍّ مُعَلَّقٍ وُضُوءًا خَفِيفًا قَالَ وَصَفَ وُضُوءَهُ وَجَعَلَ يُخَفِّفُهُ وَيُقَلِّلُهُ قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ فَقُمْتُ فَصَنَعْتُ مِثْلَ مَا صَنَعَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ ثُمَّ جِئْتُ فَقُمْتُ عَنْ يَسَارِهِ فَأَخْلَفَنِي فَجَعَلَنِي عَنْ يَمِينِهِ فَصَلَّى ثُمَّ اضْطَجَعَ فَنَامَ حَتَّى نَفَخَ ثُمَّ أَتَاهُ بِلاَلٌ فَآذَنَهُ بِالصَّلاَةِ فَخَرَجَ فَصَلَّى الصُّبْحَ وَلَمْ يَتَوَضَّأْ قَالَ سُفْيَانُ وَهَذَا لِلنَّبِيِّ ﷺ خَاصَّةً لأَنَّهُ بَلَغَنَا أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ تَنَامُ عَيْنَاهُ وَلاَ يَنَامُ قَلْبُهُ  

I spent the night in the house of my mother's sister, Maimuna, and observed how the Messenger of Allah ﷺ prayed (at night). He got up and relieved himself. He then washed his face and hands and then went to sleep. He again got up and went near the water-skin and loosened its straps and then poured some water in a bowl and inclined it with his hands (towards himself). He then performed a good ablution between the two extremes and then stood up to pray. I also came and stood by his left side. He took hold of me and made me stand on his right side. It was in thirteen rakʿahs that the (night) prayer of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was completed. He then slept till he began to snore, and we knew that he had gone to sleep by his snoring. He then went out (for the dawn prayer), and said while praying or prostrating himself: "O Allah! place light in my heart, light in my hearing, light in my sight, light on my right, light on my left, light in front of me, light behind me, light above me, light below me, make light for me," or he said: "Make me light."  

بِتُّ فِي بَيْتِ خَالَتِي مَيْمُونَةَ فَبَقَيْتُ كَيْفَ يُصَلِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ فَقَامَ فَبَالَ ثُمَّ غَسَلَ وَجْهَهُ وَكَفَّيْهِ ثُمَّ نَامَ ثُمَّ قَامَ إِلَى الْقِرْبَةِ فَأَطْلَقَ شِنَاقَهَا ثُمَّ صَبَّ فِي الْجَفْنَةِ أَوِ الْقَصْعَةِ فَأَكَبَّهُ بِيَدِهِ عَلَيْهَا ثُمَّ تَوَضَّأَ وُضُوءًا حَسَنًا بَيْنَ الْوُضُوءَيْنِ ثُمَّ قَامَ يُصَلِّي فَجِئْتُ فَقُمْتُ إِلَى جَنْبِهِ فَقُمْتُ عَنْ يَسَارِهِ قَالَ فَأَخَذَنِي فَأَقَامَنِي عَنْ يَمِينِهِ فَتَكَامَلَتْ صَلاَةُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ ثَلاَثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً ثُمَّ نَامَ حَتَّى نَفَخَ وَكُنَّا نَعْرِفُهُ إِذَا نَامَ بِنَفْخِهِ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ إِلَى الصَّلاَةِ فَصَلَّى فَجَعَلَ يَقُولُ فِي صَلاَتِهِ أَوْ فِي سُجُودِهِ اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْ فِي قَلْبِي نُورًا وَفِي سَمْعِي نُورًا وَفِي بَصَرِي نُورًا وَعَنْ يَمِينِي نُورًا وَعَنْ شِمَالِي نُورًا وَأَمَامِي نُورًا وَخَلْفِي نُورًا وَفَوْقِي نُورًا وَتَحْتِي نُورًا وَاجْعَلْ لِي نُورًا أَوْ قَالَ وَاجْعَلْنِي نُورًا  

I met Kuraib and he reported Ibn ʿAbbas as saying: I was with my mother's sister Maimuna and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came there, and then he narrated the rest of the hadith as was narrated by Ghundar and said these words: "Make me light," beyond any doubt.  

قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ كُنْتُ عِنْدَ خَالَتِي مَيْمُونَةَ فَجَاءَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ بِمِثْلِ حَدِيثِ غُنْدَرٍ وَقَالَ وَاجْعَلْنِي نُورًا وَلَمْ يَشُكَّ  

I spent a night in the house of my mother's sister, Maimuna, and then narrated (the rest of the) hadith, but he made no mention of the washing of his face and two hands but he only said: He then came to the water-skin and loosened its straps and performed ablution between the two extremes, and then came to his bed and slept. He then got up for the second time and came to the water-skin and loosened its straps and then performed ablution which was in fact an ablution (it was performed well), and implored (the Lord) thus: "Give me abundant light," and he made no mention of: "Make me light."  

بِتُّ عِنْدَ خَالَتِي مَيْمُونَةَ وَاقْتَصَّ الْحَدِيثَ وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ غَسْلَ الْوَجْهِ وَالْكَفَّيْنِ غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ ثُمَّ أَتَى الْقِرْبَةَ فَحَلَّ شِنَاقَهَا فَتَوَضَّأَ وُضُوءًا بَيْنَ الْوُضُوءَيْنِ ثُمَّ أَتَى فِرَاشَهُ فَنَامَ ثُمَّ قَامَ قَوْمَةً أُخْرَى فَأَتَى الْقِرْبَةَ فَحَلَّ شِنَاقَهَا ثُمَّ تَوَضَّأَ وُضُوءًا هُوَ الْوُضُوءُ وَقَالَ أَعْظِمْ لِي نُورًا وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ وَاجْعَلْنِي نُورًا  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ stood near the water-skin and poured water out of it and performed ablution in which he neither used excess of water nor too little of it, and the rest of the hadith is the same, and in this mention is also made (of the fact) that on that night the Messenger of Allah ﷺ made supplication before Allah in nineteen words. Kuraib reported: I remember twelve words out of these, but have forgotten the rest. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Place light in my heart, light in my tongue, light in my hearing, light in my sight, light above me, light below me, light on my right, light on my left, light in front of me, light behind me, place light in my soul, and make light abundant for me."  

أَنَّ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ بَاتَ لَيْلَةً عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ فَقَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِلَى الْقِرْبَةِ فَسَكَبَ مِنْهَا فَتَوَضَّأَ وَلَمْ يُكْثِرْ مِنَ الْمَاءِ وَلَمْ يُقَصِّرْ فِي الْوُضُوءِ وَسَاقَ الْحَدِيثَ وَفِيهِ قَالَ وَدَعَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لَيْلَتَئِذٍ تِسْعَ عَشْرَةَ كَلِمَةً قَالَ سَلَمَةُ حَدَّثَنِيهَا كُرَيْبٌ فَحَفِظْتُ مِنْهَا ثِنْتَىْ عَشْرَةَ وَنَسِيتُ مَا بَقِيَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْ لِي فِي قَلْبِي نُورًا وَفِي لِسَانِي نُورًا وَفِي سَمْعِي نُورًا وَفِي بَصَرِي نُورًا وَمِنْ فَوْقِي نُورًا وَمِنْ تَحْتِي نُورًا وَعَنْ يَمِينِي نُورًا وَعَنْ شِمَالِي نُورًا وَمِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَىَّ نُورًا وَمِنْ خَلْفِي نُورًا وَاجْعَلْ فِي نَفْسِي نُورًا وَأَعْظِمْ لِي نُورًا  

I slept one night in the house of Maimuna when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was there, with a view to seeing the prayer of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ at night. The Apostle of Allah ﷺ entered into conversation with his wife for a short while, and then went to sleep, and the rest of the hadith is the same and in it mention is made of: "He then got up, performed ablution and brushed his teeth."  

أَنَّهُ قَالَ رَقَدْتُ فِي بَيْتِ مَيْمُونَةَ لَيْلَةَ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ عِنْدَهَا لأَنْظُرَ كَيْفَ صَلاَةُ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ بِاللَّيْلِ قَالَ فَتَحَدَّثَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ مَعَ أَهْلِهِ سَاعَةً ثُمَّ رَقَدَ وَسَاقَ الْحَدِيثَ وَفِيهِ ثُمَّ قَامَ فَتَوَضَّأَ وَاسْتَنَّ  

He spent (one night) in the house of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. He (the Holy Prophet) got up, brushed his teeth and performed ablution and said: "In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of the night and the day, there are indeed signs for people of understanding" (al-Qur'an, iii. 190), to the end of the Surah. He then stood up and prayed two rakʿahs, standing, bowing and prostrating himself at length in them. Then he finished, went to sleep and snored. He did that three times, six rakʿahs altogether, each time cleaning his teeth, performing ablution, and reciting these verses. Then he observed three rakʿahs of Witr. The Mu'adhdhin then pronounced the Adhan and he went out for prayer and was saying: "O Allah! place light in my heart, light in my tongue, place light in my hearing, place light in my eyesight, place light behind me, and light in front of me, and place light above me, and light below me. O Allah! grant me light."  

أَنَّهُ رَقَدَ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَاسْتَيْقَظَ فَتَسَوَّكَ وَتَوَضَّأَ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ { إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلاَفِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ لآيَاتٍ لأُولِي الأَلْبَابِ} فَقَرَأَ هَؤُلاَءِ الآيَاتِ حَتَّى خَتَمَ السُّورَةَ ثُمَّ قَامَ فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ فَأَطَالَ فِيهِمَا الْقِيَامَ وَالرُّكُوعَ وَالسُّجُودَ ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ فَنَامَ حَتَّى نَفَخَ ثُمَّ فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ سِتَّ رَكَعَاتٍ كُلَّ ذَلِكَ يَسْتَاكُ وَيَتَوَضَّأُ وَيَقْرَأُ هَؤُلاَءِ الآيَاتِ ثُمَّ أَوْتَرَ بِثَلاَثٍ فَأَذَّنَ الْمُؤَذِّنُ فَخَرَجَ إِلَى الصَّلاَةِ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْ فِي قَلْبِي نُورًا وَفِي لِسَانِي نُورًا وَاجْعَلْ فِي سَمْعِي نُورًا وَاجْعَلْ فِي بَصَرِي نُورًا وَاجْعَلْ مِنْ خَلْفِي نُورًا وَمِنْ أَمَامِي نُورًا وَاجْعَلْ مِنْ فَوْقِي نُورًا وَمِنْ تَحْتِي نُورًا اللَّهُمَّ أَعْطِنِي نُورًا  

I spent a night in the house of my mother's sister Maimuna. The Apostle of Allah ﷺ got up for observing voluntary prayer (Tahajjud) at night. The Apostle of Allah ﷺ stood by the water-skin and performed ablution and then stood up and prayed. I also got up when I saw him doing that. I also performed ablution from the water-skin and then stood at his left side. He took hold of my hand from behind his back and then turned me from his back to his right side. I (ʿAta', one of the narrators) said: Did it concern the voluntary prayer (at night)? He (Ibn ʿAbbas) said: Yes.  

بِتُّ ذَاتَ لَيْلَةٍ عِنْدَ خَالَتِي مَيْمُونَةَ فَقَامَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يُصَلِّي مُتَطَوِّعًا مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَقَامَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ إِلَى الْقِرْبَةِ فَتَوَضَّأَ فَقَامَ فَصَلَّى فَقُمْتُ لَمَّا رَأَيْتُهُ صَنَعَ ذَلِكَ فَتَوَضَّأْتُ مِنَ الْقِرْبَةِ ثُمَّ قُمْتُ إِلَى شِقِّهِ الأَيْسَرِ فَأَخَذَ بِيَدِي مِنْ وَرَاءِ ظَهْرِهِ يَعْدِلُنِي كَذَلِكَ مِنْ وَرَاءِ ظَهْرِهِ إِلَى الشِّقِّ الأَيْمَنِ قُلْتُ أَفِي التَّطَوُّعِ كَانَ ذَلِكَ قَالَ نَعَمْ  

(My father) Al-ʿAbbas sent me to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and he was in the house of my mother's sister Maimuna and I spent that night along with him. He (the Holy Prophet) got up and prayed at night, and I stood up on his left side. He caught hold of me from behind his back and made me stand on his right side.  

بَعَثَنِي الْعَبَّاسُ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ وَهُوَ فِي بَيْتِ خَالَتِي مَيْمُونَةَ فَبِتُّ مَعَهُ تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةَ فَقَامَ يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَقُمْتُ عَنْ يَسَارِهِ فَتَنَاوَلَنِي مِنْ خَلْفِ ظَهْرِهِ فَجَعَلَنِي عَلَى يَمِينِهِ  

I spent a night in the house of my mother's sister Maimuna, and the rest of the hadith is the same as narrated above.  

بِتُّ عِنْدَ خَالَتِي مَيْمُونَةَ نَحْوَ حَدِيثِ ابْنِ جُرَيْجٍ وَقَيْسِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ  

I heard Ibn 'Abbas saying that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ observed thirteen rak'ahs at night.  

سَمِعْتُ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ يَقُولُ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ ثَلاَثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً  

I would definitely watch at night the prayer observed by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. He prayed two short rak'ahs, then two long, long, long rak'ahs, then he prayed two rak'ahs which were shorter than the two preceding rak'ahs, then he prayed two rak'ahs which were shorter than the two preceding, then he prayed two rak'ahs which were shorter than the two preceding, then observed a single one (Witr), making a total of thirteen rak'ahs  

أَنَّهُ قَالَ لأَرْمُقَنَّ صَلاَةَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ اللَّيْلَةَ فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ خَفِيفَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ طَوِيلَتَيْنِ طَوِيلَتَيْنِ طَوِيلَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُمَا دُونَ اللَّتَيْنِ قَبْلَهُمَا ثُمَّ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُمَا دُونَ اللَّتَيْنِ قَبْلَهُمَا ثُمَّ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُمَا دُونَ اللَّتَيْنِ قَبْلَهُمَا ثُمَّ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُمَا دُونَ اللَّتَيْنِ قَبْلَهُمَا ثُمَّ أَوْتَرَ فَذَلِكَ ثَلاَثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً  

I accompanied the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in a journey and we reached a watering place. He said: Jabir, are you going to enter it? I said: Yes. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ then got down and I entered it. He (the Holy Prophet) then went away to relieve himself and I placed for him water for ablution. He then came back and performed ablution, and then stood and prayed in one garment, having its ends tied from the opposite sides. I stood behind him and he caught hold of my ear and made me stand on his right side.  

كُنْتُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي سَفَرٍ فَانْتَهَيْنَا إِلَى مَشْرَعَةٍ فَقَالَ أَلاَ تُشْرِعُ يَا جَابِرُ قُلْتُ بَلَى قَالَ فَنَزَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَأَشْرَعْتُ قَالَ ثُمَّ ذَهَبَ لِحَاجَتِهِ وَوَضَعْتُ لَهُ وَضُوءًا قَالَ فَجَاءَ فَتَوَضَّأَ ثُمَّ قَامَ فَصَلَّى فِي ثَوْبٍ وَاحِدٍ خَالَفَ بَيْنَ طَرَفَيْهِ فَقُمْتُ خَلْفَهُ فَأَخَذَ بِأُذُنِي فَجَعَلَنِي عَنْ يَمِينِهِ  

'A'isha reported that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ stood up at night to pray, he began his prayer with two short rak'ahs.  

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِذَا قَامَ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ لِيُصَلِّيَ افْتَتَحَ صَلاَتَهُ بِرَكْعَتَيْنِ خَفِيفَتَيْنِ  

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Apostle ﷺ as saying When any one of you gets up at night, he should begin the prayer with two short rak'ahs.  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ إِذَا قَامَ أَحَدُكُمْ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَلْيَفْتَتِحْ صَلاَتَهُ بِرَكْعَتَيْنِ خَفِيفَتَيْنِ  

O Allah, to Thee be the praise Thou art the light of the heavens and the earth. To Thee be the praise; Thou art the Supporter of the heavens and the earth. To Thee be the praise; Thou art the Lord of the heavens and the earth and whatever is therein. Thou art the Truth; Thy promise is True, the meeting with Thee is True. Paradise is true, Hell is true, the Hour is true. O Allah, I submit to Thee; affirm my faith in Thee; repose my trust in Thee, and I return to Thee for repentance; by Thy help I have disputed; and to Thee I have come for decision, so forgive me my earlier and later sins, the sins that I committed in secret and openly. Thou art my God. There is no god but Thee.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَانَ يَقُولُ إِذَا قَامَ إِلَى الصَّلاَةِ مِنْ جَوْفِ اللَّيْلِ اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ نُورُ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ قَيَّامُ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ رَبُّ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَمَنْ فِيهِنَّ أَنْتَ الْحَقُّ وَوَعْدُكَ الْحَقُّ وَقَوْلُكَ الْحَقُّ وَلِقَاؤُكَ حَقٌّ وَالْجَنَّةُ حَقٌّ وَالنَّارُ حَقٌّ وَالسَّاعَةُ حَقٌّ اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ أَسْلَمْتُ وَبِكَ آمَنْتُ وَعَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَإِلَيْكَ أَنَبْتُ وَبِكَ خَاصَمْتُ وَإِلَيْكَ حَاكَمْتُ فَاغْفِرْ لِي مَا قَدَّمْتُ وَأَخَّرْتُ وَأَسْرَرْتُ وَأَعْلَنْتُ أَنْتَ إِلَهِي لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ  

" What I did in secret." And in the hadith narrated by Ibn 'Uyaina there is some addition.  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ أَمَّا حَدِيثُ ابْنِ جُرَيْجٍ فَاتَّفَقَ لَفْظُهُ مَعَ حَدِيثِ مَالِكٍ لَمْ يَخْتَلِفَا إِلاَّ فِي حَرْفَيْنِ قَالَ ابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ مَكَانَ قَيَّامُ قَيِّمُ وَقَالَ وَمَا أَسْرَرْتُ وَأَمَّا حَدِيثُ ابْنِ عُيَيْنَةَ فَفِيهِ بَعْضُ زِيَادَةٍ وَيُخَالِفُ مَالِكًا وَابْنَ جُرَيْجٍ فِي أَحْرُفٍ  

This hadith has been narrated by Ibn 'Abbas by another chain of transmitters and the words are nearly the same (as recorded in the above-mentioned hadith).  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ بِهَذَا الْحَدِيثِ وَاللَّفْظُ قَرِيبٌ مِنْ أَلْفَاظِهِمْ  

I asked 'A'isha, the mother of the believers, (to tell me) the words with which the Messenger of Allah ﷺ commenced the prayer when he got up at night. She said: When he got up at night he would commence his prayer with these words: O Allah, Lord of Gabriel, and Michael, and Israfil, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, Who knowest the unseen and the seen; Thou decidest amongst Thy servants concerning their differences. Guide me with Thy permission in the divergent views (which the people) hold about Truth, for it is Thou Who guidest whom Thou wilt to the Straight Path.  

سَأَلْتُ عَائِشَةَ أُمَّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ بِأَىِّ شَىْءٍ كَانَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَفْتَتِحُ صَلاَتَهُ إِذَا قَامَ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ قَالَتْ كَانَ إِذَا قَامَ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ افْتَتَحَ صَلاَتَهُ اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ جِبْرَائِيلَ وَمِيكَائِيلَ وَإِسْرَافِيلَ فَاطِرَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ عَالِمَ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ أَنْتَ تَحْكُمُ بَيْنَ عِبَادِكَ فِيمَا كَانُوا فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ اهْدِنِي لِمَا اخْتُلِفَ فِيهِ مِنَ الْحَقِّ بِإِذْنِكَ إِنَّكَ تَهْدِي مَنْ تَشَاءُ إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ  

from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ that when he used to stand up for Ṣalāh, he said: "I turn my face in complete devotion to One Who is the Originator of the heaven and the earth and I am not of the polytheists. Verily my prayer, my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the worlds; There is no partner with Him and this is what I have been commanded (to profess and believe) and I am of the believers. O Allah, Thou art the King, there is no god but Thee, Thou art my Lord, and I am Thy bondman. I wronged myself and make a confession of my Sin. Forgive all my sins, for no one forgives the sins but Thee, and guide me in the best of conduct for none but Thee guideth anyone (in) good conduct. Remove sins from me, for none else but Thou can remove sins from me. Here I am at Thy service, and Grace is to Thee and the whole of good is in Thine hand, and one cannot get nearness to Thee through evil. My (power as well as existence) is due to Thee (Thine grace) and I turn to Thee (for supplication). Thou art blessed and Thou art exalted. I seek forgiveness from Thee and turn to Thee in repentance."

And when he would bow, he would say: "O Allah, it is for Thee that I bowed. I affirm my faith in Thee and I submit to Thee, and submit humbly before Thee my hearing, my eyesight, my marrow, my bone, my sinew; and when he would raise his head, he would say: O Allah, our Lord, praise is due to Thee, (the praise) with which is filled the heavens and the earth, and with which is filled that (space) which exists between them, and filled with anything that Thou desireth afterward. And when he prostrated himself, he (the Holy Prophet) would say: O Allah, it is to Thee that I prostrate myself and it is in Thee that I affirm my faith, and I submit to Thee. My face is submitted before One Who created it, and shaped it, and opened his faculties of hearing and seeing. Blessed is Allah, the best of Creators; and he would then say between Tashahhud and the pronouncing of salutation: Forgive me of the earlier and later open and secret (sins) and that where I made transgression and that Thou knowest better than I. Thou art the First and the Last. There is no god, but Thee."  

عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنَّهُ كَانَ إِذَا قَامَ إِلَى الصَّلاَةِ قَالَ: «وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِي فَطَرَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ إِنَّ صَلاَتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَاىَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ؛ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَبِذَلِكَ أُمِرْتُ وَأَنَا مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ۔ اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ الْمَلِكُ، لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ؛ أَنْتَ رَبِّي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ۔ ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي وَاعْتَرَفْتُ بِذَنْبِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي ذُنُوبِي جَمِيعًا؛ إِنَّهُ لاَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ۔ وَاهْدِنِي لأَحْسَنِ الأَخْلاَقِ، لاَ يَهْدِي لأَحْسَنِهَا إِلاَّ أَنْتَ؛ وَاصْرِفْ عَنِّي سَيِّئَهَا، لاَ يَصْرِفُ عَنِّي سَيِّئَهَا إِلاَّ أَنْتَ۔ لَبَّيْكَ وَسَعْدَيْكَ، وَالْخَيْرُ كُلُّهُ فِي يَدَيْكَ، وَالشَّرُّ لَيْسَ إِلَيْكَ، أَنَا بِكَ وَإِلَيْكَ، تَبَارَكْتَ وَتَعَالَيْتَ، أَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْكَ۔»

وَإِذَا رَكَعَ قَالَ: «اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ رَكَعْتُ وَبِكَ آمَنْتُ وَلَكَ أَسْلَمْتُ خَشَعَ لَكَ سَمْعِي وَبَصَرِي وَمُخِّي وَعَظْمِي وَعَصَبِي وَإِذَا رَفَعَ قَالَ اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْدُ مِلْءَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَمِلْءَ الأَرْضِ وَمِلْءَ مَا بَيْنَهُمَا وَمِلْءَ مَا شِئْتَ مِنْ شَىْءٍ بَعْدُ وَإِذَا سَجَدَ قَالَ اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ سَجَدْتُ وَبِكَ آمَنْتُ وَلَكَ أَسْلَمْتُ سَجَدَ وَجْهِي لِلَّذِي خَلَقَهُ وَصَوَّرَهُ وَشَقَّ سَمْعَهُ وَبَصَرَهُ تَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ أَحْسَنُ الْخَالِقِينَ ثُمَّ يَكُونُ مِنْ آخِرِ مَا يَقُولُ بَيْنَ التَّشَهُّدِ وَالتَّسْلِيمِ اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي مَا قَدَّمْتُ وَمَا أَخَّرْتُ وَمَا أَسْرَرْتُ وَمَا أَعْلَنْتُ وَمَا أَسْرَفْتُ وَمَا أَنْتَ أَعْلَمُ بِهِ مِنِّي أَنْتَ الْمُقَدِّمُ وَأَنْتَ الْمُؤَخِّرُ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ۔»  

I turn my face (up to Thee), I am the first of the believers; and when he raised his head from ruku' he said: Allah listened to him who praised Him; O our Lord, praise be to Thee; and he said: He shaped (man) and how fine is his shape? And he (the narrator) said: When he pronounced salutation he said: O Allah, forgive me my earlier (sins), to the end of the hadith; and he did not say it between the Tashahhud and salutation (as mentioned above).  

وَقَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِذَا اسْتَفْتَحَ الصَّلاَةَ كَبَّرَ ثُمَّ قَالَ وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِي وَقَالَ وَأَنَا أَوَّلُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَقَالَ وَإِذَا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ الرُّكُوعِ قَالَ سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ وَقَالَ وَصَوَّرَهُ فَأَحْسَنَ صُوَرَهُ وَقَالَ وَإِذَا سَلَّمَ قَالَ اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي مَا قَدَّمْتُ إِلَى آخِرِ الْحَدِيثِ وَلَمْ يَقُلْ بَيْنَ التَّشَهُّدِ وَالتَّسْلِيمِ  

I prayed with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ one night and he started reciting al-Baqara. I thought that he would bow at the end of one hundred verses, but he proceeded on; I then thought that he would perhaps recite the whole (surah) in a rak'ah, but he proceeded and I thought he would perhaps bow on completing (this surah). He then started al-Nisa', and recited it; he then started Al-i-'Imran and recited leisurely. And when he recited the verses which referred to the Glory of Allah, he glorified (by saying Subhan Allah-Glory to my Lord the Great), and when he recited the verses which tell (how the Lord) is to be begged, he (the Holy Prophet) would then beg (from Him), and when he recited the verses dealing with protection from the Lord, he sought (His) protection and would then bow and say: Glory be to my Mighty Lord; his bowing lasted about the same length of time as his standing (and then on returning to the standing posture after ruku') he would say: Allah listened to him who praised Him, and he would then stand about the same length of time as he had spent in bowing. He would then prostrate himself and say: Glory be to my Lord most High, and his prostration lasted nearly the same length of time as his standing. In the hadith transmitted by Jarir the words are:" He (the Holy Prophet) would say:" Allah listened to him who praised Him, our Lord, to Thee i the praise."  

صَلَّيْتُ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ ذَاتَ لَيْلَةٍ فَافْتَتَحَ الْبَقَرَةَ فَقُلْتُ يَرْكَعُ عِنْدَ الْمِائَةِ ثُمَّ مَضَى فَقُلْتُ يُصَلِّي بِهَا فِي رَكْعَةٍ فَمَضَى فَقُلْتُ يَرْكَعُ بِهَا ثُمَّ افْتَتَحَ النِّسَاءَ فَقَرَأَهَا ثُمَّ افْتَتَحَ آلَ عِمْرَانَ فَقَرَأَهَا يَقْرَأُ مُتَرَسِّلاً إِذَا مَرَّ بِآيَةٍ فِيهَا تَسْبِيحٌ سَبَّحَ وَإِذَا مَرَّ بِسُؤَالٍ سَأَلَ وَإِذَا مَرَّ بِتَعَوُّذٍ تَعَوَّذَ ثُمَّ رَكَعَ فَجَعَلَ يَقُولُ سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ فَكَانَ رُكُوعُهُ نَحْوًا مِنْ قِيَامِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ ثُمَّ قَامَ طَوِيلاً قَرِيبًا مِمَّا رَكَعَ ثُمَّ سَجَدَ فَقَالَ سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الأَعْلَى فَكَانَ سُجُودُهُ قَرِيبًا مِنْ قِيَامِهِ قَالَ وَفِي حَدِيثِ جَرِيرٍ مِنَ الزِّيَادَةِ فَقَالَ سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْدُ  

I prayed with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and he lengthened it till I entertained an evil thought. It was said to him what that thought was. He said: I thought that I should sit down and forsake him.  

عَبْدُ اللَّهِ صَلَّيْتُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَأَطَالَ حَتَّى هَمَمْتُ بِأَمْرِ سَوْءٍ قَالَ قِيلَ وَمَا هَمَمْتَ بِهِ قَالَ هَمَمْتُ أَنْ أَجْلِسَ وَأَدَعَهُ  

A hadith like this has been narrated by A'mash with the same chain of transmitters.  

عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ مِثْلَهُ  

That is a man in whose ears (or in whose ear) the devil urinated.  

ذُكِرَ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ رَجُلٌ نَامَ لَيْلَةً حَتَّى أَصْبَحَ قَالَ ذَاكَ رَجُلٌ بَالَ الشَّيْطَانُ فِي أُذُنَيْهِ أَوْ قَالَ فِي أُذُنِهِ  

Don't you observe (Tahajjud) prayer? I ('Ali) said: Messenger of Allah, verily our souls are in the hands of Allah and when He wants to awaken us, He awakens us. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ went back when I said this to him. He was striking his hand on his thigh while returning, and I heard him say: Verily the man disputes with many things.  

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ طَرَقَهُ وَفَاطِمَةَ فَقَالَ أَلاَ تُصَلُّونَ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّمَا أَنْفُسُنَا بِيَدِ اللَّهِ فَإِذَا شَاءَ أَنْ يَبْعَثَنَا بَعَثَنَا فَانْصَرَفَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ حِينَ قُلْتُ لَهُ ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ سَمِعْتُهُ وَهُوَ مُدْبِرٌ يَضْرِبُ فَخِذَهُ وَيَقُولُ وَكَانَ الإِنْسَانُ أَكْثَرَ شَىْءٍ جَدَلاً  

When any one of you goes to sleep, the devil ties three knots at the back of his neck, sealing every knot with:" You have a long night, so sleep." So if one awakes and mentions Allah, a knot will be loosened; if he performs ablution two knots are loosened; and if he prays (all) knots will be loosened, and in the morning he will be active and in good spirits; otherwise we will be in bad spirits and sluggish in the morning.  

النَّبِيَّ ﷺ يَعْقِدُ الشَّيْطَانُ عَلَى قَافِيَةِ رَأْسِ أَحَدِكُمْ ثَلاَثَ عُقَدٍ إِذَا نَامَ بِكُلِّ عُقْدَةٍ يَضْرِبُ عَلَيْكَ لَيْلاً طَوِيلاً فَإِذَا اسْتَيْقَظَ فَذَكَرَ اللَّهَ انْحَلَّتْ عُقْدَةٌ وَإِذَا تَوَضَّأَ انْحَلَّتْ عُقْدَتَانِ فَإِذَا صَلَّى انْحَلَّتِ الْعُقَدُ فَأَصْبَحَ نَشِيطًا طَيِّبَ النَّفْسِ وَإِلاَّ أَصْبَحَ خَبِيثَ النَّفْسِ كَسْلاَنَ  

Observe some of your prayers in your houses and do not make them graves.  

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

Pray in your houses, and do not make them graves.  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ صَلُّوا فِي بُيُوتِكُمْ وَلاَ تَتَّخِذُوهَا قُبُورًا  

When any one of you observes prayer in the mosque he should reserve a part of his prayer for his house, for Allah would make the prayer as a means of betterment in his house.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِذَا قَضَى أَحَدُكُمُ الصَّلاَةَ فِي مَسْجِدِهِ فَلْيَجْعَلْ لِبَيْتِهِ نَصِيبًا مِنْ صَلاَتِهِ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ جَاعِلٌ فِي بَيْتِهِ مِنْ صَلاَتِهِ خَيْرًا