8. Book of Virtues
٨۔ كتاب الفضائل
The Prophet ﷺ used to offer night prayers till his feet became swollen. Somebody said, to him," "Allah has forgiven you, your faults of the past and those to follow." On that, he said, "Shouldn't I be a thankful slave of Allah)?"
قَامَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ حَتَّى تَوَرَّمَتْ قَدَمَاهُ فَقِيلَ لَهُ غَفَرَ اللَّهُ لَكَ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِكَ وَمَا تَأَخَّرَ قَالَ أَفَلاَ أَكُونُ عَبْدًا شَكُورًا
Praying the night prayer as a display of gratitude to Allah
that the Prophet of Allah ﷺ would stand in prayer at night until his feet became cracked, so Aishah said: “Why do you do this, O Messenger of Allah, when Allah has forgiven you what came before of your sins and what came after?” He said: “Should I not love to be a grateful servant?”
Then, when his flesh increased (i.e., he became heavier), he prayed sitting; and when he wanted to bow, he would stand, recite, then bow.
أَنَّ نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَانَ يَقُومُ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ حَتَّى تَتَفَطَّرَ قَدَمَاهُ، فَقَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ: لِمَ تَصْنَعُ هَذَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَقَدْ غَفَرَ اللَّهُ لَكَ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِكَ وَمَا تَأَخَّرَ؟ قَالَ: «أَفَلاَ أُحِبُّ أَنْ أَكُونَ عَبْدًا شَكُورًا؟».
فَلَمَّا كَثُرَ لَحْمُهُ صَلَّى جَالِسًا فَإِذَا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَرْكَعَ قَامَ فَقَرَأَ ثُمَّ رَكَعَ
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘Do not be like so-and-so, who used to pray voluntary night prayers then stopped praying voluntary night prayers.”
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لاَ تَكُنْ مِثْلَ فُلاَنٍ كَانَ يَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ فَتَرَكَ قِيَامَ اللَّيْلِ
'Abdullah, don't be like so and so who observed prayer during the whole night and then abandoned it (altogether).
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ لاَ تَكُنْ بِمِثْلِ فُلاَنٍ كَانَ يَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ فَتَرَكَ قِيَامَ اللَّيْلِ
"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to me: 'O Abdullah do not be like so-and-so; he used to pray Qiyam Al-Lail and then he stopped.'"
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لاَ تَكُنْ يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ مِثْلَ فُلاَنٍ كَانَ يَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ فَتَرَكَ قِيَامَ اللَّيْلِ
"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to me: 'Do not be like so-and-so; he used to pray Qiyam Al-Lail then he stopped.'"
لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لاَ تَكُنْ مِثْلَ فُلاَنٍ كَانَ يَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ فَتَرَكَ قِيَامَ اللَّيْلِ
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
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
Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "During your sleep, Satan knots three knots at the back of the head of each of you, and he breathes the following words at each knot, 'The night is, long, so keep on sleeping,' If that person wakes up and celebrates the praises of Allah, then one knot is undone, and when he performs ablution the second knot is undone, and when he prays, all the knots are undone, and he gets up in the morning lively and in good spirits, otherwise he gets up in low spirits and lethargic."
أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ يَعْقِدُ الشَّيْطَانُ عَلَى قَافِيَةِ رَأْسِ أَحَدِكُمْ إِذَا هُوَ نَامَ ثَلاَثَ عُقَدٍ يَضْرِبُ كُلَّ عُقْدَةٍ مَكَانَهَا عَلَيْكَ لَيْلٌ طَوِيلٌ فَارْقُدْ فَإِنِ اسْتَيْقَظَ فَذَكَرَ اللَّهَ انْحَلَّتْ عُقْدَةٌ فَإِنْ تَوَضَّأَ انْحَلَّتْ عُقْدَةٌ فَإِنْ صَلَّى انْحَلَّتْ عُقَدُهُ كُلُّهَا فَأَصْبَحَ نَشِيطًا طَيِّبَ النَّفْسِ وَإِلاَّ أَصْبَحَ خَبِيثَ النَّفْسِ كَسْلاَنَ
That the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "(All of you) worship Ar-Rahman, feed others, spread the (greeting of) Salam, then you will enter Paradise in security." He said: This Hadith is Hasan Sahih.
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ اعْبُدُوا الرَّحْمَنَ وَأَطْعِمُوا الطَّعَامَ وَأَفْشُوا السَّلاَمَ *تَدْخُلُوا **الْجَنَّةَ **بِسَلاَمٍ *
Best fast after Ramadan is Muharram and the best prayer after the fard is the night prayer
The most excellent fast after Ramadan is God's month. al-Muharram, and the most excellent prayer after what is prescribed is prayer during the night.
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَفْضَلُ الصِّيَامِ بَعْدَ رَمَضَانَ شَهْرُ اللَّهِ الْمُحَرَّمُ وَأَفْضَلُ الصَّلاَةِ بَعْدَ الْفَرِيضَةِ صَلاَةُ اللَّيْلِ
A man said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! How is the prayer of the night?" He said, "Two rakʿat followed by two rakʿat and so on, and when you apprehend the approaching dawn, offer one rakʿa as witr."
يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ كَيْفَ صَلاَةُ اللَّيْلِ قَالَ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى فَإِذَا خِفْتَ الصُّبْحَ فَأَوْتِرْ بِوَاحِدَةٍ
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to pray (voluntary prayers) at night two by two, and he would pray one Rak’ah of Witr.”
كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى وَيُوتِرُ بِرَكْعَةٍ
Sometimes Messenger of Allah ﷺ would not fast (for so many days) that we thought that he would not fast that month and he sometimes used to fast (for so many days) that we thought he would not leave fasting throughout that month and (as regards his prayer and sleep at night), if you wanted to see him praying at night, you could see him praying and if you wanted to see him sleeping, you could see him sleeping.
أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَنَسًا ؓ يَقُولُ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُفْطِرُ مِنَ الشَّهْرِ حَتَّى نَظُنَّ أَنْ لاَ يَصُومَ مِنْهُ وَيَصُومُ حَتَّى نَظُنَّ أَنْ لاَ يُفْطِرَ مِنْهُ شَيْئًا وَكَانَ لاَ تَشَاءُ أَنْ تَرَاهُ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ مُصَلِّيًا إِلاَّ رَأَيْتَهُ وَلاَ نَائِمًا إِلاَّ رَأَيْتَهُ
Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to leave fasting in a certain month till we thought that he would not fast in that month, and he used to fast in another month till we thought he would not stop fasting at all in that month. And if one wanted to see him praying at night, one could see him (in that condition), and if one wanted to see him sleeping at night, one could see him (in that condition) too.
أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَنَسًا ؓ يَقُولُ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُفْطِرُ مِنَ الشَّهْرِ حَتَّى نَظُنَّ أَنْ لاَ يَصُومَ مِنْهُ وَيَصُومُ حَتَّى نَظُنَّ أَنْ لاَ يُفْطِرَ مِنْهُ شَيْئًا وَكَانَ لاَ تَشَاءُ تَرَاهُ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ مُصَلِّيًا إِلاَّ رَأَيْتَهُ وَلاَ نَائِمًا إِلاَّ رَأَيْتَهُ وَقَالَ سُلَيْمَانُ عَنْ حُمَيْدٍ أَنَّهُ سَأَلَ أَنَسًا فِي الصَّوْمِ
Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to pray eleven rakʿat at night and that was his night prayer and each of his prostrations lasted for a period enough for one of you to recite fifty verses before Messenger of Allah ﷺ raised his head. He also used to pray two rakʿat (Sunnah) before the (compulsory) Fajr prayer and then lie down on his right side till the Mu'adh-dhin came to him for the prayer.
أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَانَ يُصَلِّي إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً كَانَتْ تِلْكَ صَلاَتَهُ تَعْنِي بِاللَّيْلِ فَيَسْجُدُ السَّجْدَةَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَدْرَ مَا يَقْرَأُ أَحَدُكُمْ خَمْسِينَ آيَةً قَبْلَ أَنْ يَرْفَعَ رَأْسَهُ وَيَرْكَعُ رَكْعَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ صَلاَةِ الْفَجْرِ ثُمَّ يَضْطَجِعُ عَلَى شِقِّهِ الأَيْمَنِ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَهُ الْمُؤَذِّنُ لِلصَّلاَةِ
Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to offer eleven rakʿat and that was his prayer. He used to prolong the prostration to such an extent that one could recite fifty verses (of the Qur'an) before he would lift his head. He used to pray two rakʿat (Sunna) before the Fajr prayer and then used to lie down on his right side till the call-maker came and informed him about the prayer.
أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَانَ يُصَلِّي إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً كَانَتْ تِلْكَ صَلاَتَهُ يَسْجُدُ السَّجْدَةَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَدْرَ مَا يَقْرَأُ أَحَدُكُمْ خَمْسِينَ آيَةً قَبْلَ أَنْ يَرْفَعَ رَأْسَهُ وَيَرْكَعُ رَكْعَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ صَلاَةِ الْفَجْرِ ثُمَّ يَضْطَجِعُ عَلَى شِقِّهِ الأَيْمَنِ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَهُ الْمُنَادِي لِلصَّلاَةِ
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
that he asked ʿAisha "How was the prayer of Messenger of Allah ﷺ in Ramadan?" She replied, "He did not pray more than eleven rakʿat in Ramadan or in any other month. He used to pray four rakʿat ---- let alone their beauty and length----and then he would pray four ----let alone their beauty and length ---- and then he would pray three rakʿat (witr)." She added, "I asked, 'O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Do you sleep before praying the witr?' He replied, 'O ʿAisha! My eyes sleep but my heart does not sleep."
أَنَّهُ سَأَلَ عَائِشَةَ ؓ كَيْفَ كَانَتْ صَلاَةُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي رَمَضَانَ فَقَالَتْ مَا كَانَ يَزِيدُ فِي رَمَضَانَ وَلاَ فِي غَيْرِهَا عَلَى إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً يُصَلِّي أَرْبَعًا فَلاَ تَسَلْ عَنْ حُسْنِهِنَّ وَطُولِهِنَّ ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي أَرْبَعًا فَلاَ تَسَلْ عَنْ حُسْنِهِنَّ وَطُولِهِنَّ ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي ثَلاَثًا فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَتَنَامُ قَبْلَ أَنْ تُوتِرَ قَالَ يَا عَائِشَةُ إِنَّ عَيْنَىَّ تَنَامَانِ وَلاَ يَنَامُ قَلْبِي
That he asked ʿAisha "How was the prayer of Messenger of Allah ﷺ in the month of Ramadan?" She replied, "He used not to pray more than eleven rakʿat whether in Ramadan or in any other month. He used to offer four rakʿat, let alone their beauty and length, and then four rakʿat, let alone their beauty and length. Afterwards he would offer three rakʿat. I said, 'O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Do you go to bed before offering the witr prayer?' He said, 'My eyes sleep, but my heart does not sleep."'
أَنَّهُ سَأَلَ عَائِشَةَ ؓ كَيْفَ كَانَتْ صَلاَةُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي رَمَضَانَ قَالَتْ مَا كَانَ يَزِيدُ فِي رَمَضَانَ وَلاَ غَيْرِهِ عَلَى إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً يُصَلِّي أَرْبَعَ رَكَعَاتٍ فَلاَ تَسْأَلْ عَنْ حُسْنِهِنَّ وَطُولِهِنَّ ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي أَرْبَعًا فَلاَ تَسْأَلْ عَنْ حُسْنِهِنَّ وَطُولِهِنَّ ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي ثَلاَثًا فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ تَنَامُ قَبْلَ أَنْ تُوتِرَ قَالَ تَنَامُ عَيْنِي وَلاَ يَنَامُ قَلْبِي
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
Description of the lengthy night prayer of the Prophet ﷺ
I prayed with the Prophet ﷺ one night. He began reciting Sūrat al-Baqarah, and I thought he would bow at the hundredth verse, but he continued. Then I thought he would recite it in one rakʿah, but he continued. Then I thought he would bow after finishing it; then he began Sūrat al-Nisāʾ and recited it, then began Āl ʿImrān and recited it. He recited in a measured, unhurried manner:
When he passed a verse containing glorification, he would glorify Allah; when he passed a verse containing a supplication, he would ask; and when he passed a verse seeking refuge, he would seek refuge.
Then he bowed and began saying, “Glory be to my Lord, the Magnificent,” and his bowing was about as long as his standing. Then he said, “Allah hears whoever praises Him,” then he stood for a long time, nearly as long as his bowing. Then he prostrated and said, “Glory be to my Lord, the Most High,” and his prostration was nearly as long as his standing.
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
The most excellent prayer is that in which the duration of standing is longer.
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَفْضَلُ الصَّلاَةِ طُولُ الْقُنُوتِ
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked about the prayer which was most excellent. He said: That in which the standing is longer. (This hadith is narrated by another chain of transmitters too.)
سُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَىُّ الصَّلاَةِ أَفْضَلُ قَالَ طُولُ الْقُنُوتِ قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ
Messenger of Allah ﷺ told me, "The most beloved prayer to Allah is that of David and the most beloved fasts to Allah are those of David. He used to sleep for half of the night and then pray for one third of the night and again sleep for its sixth part and used to fast on alternate days."
أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ لَهُ أَحَبُّ الصَّلاَةِ إِلَى اللَّهِ صَلاَةُ دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ وَأَحَبُّ الصِّيَامِ إِلَى اللَّهِ صِيَامُ دَاوُدَ وَكَانَ يَنَامُ نِصْفَ اللَّيْلِ وَيَقُومُ ثُلُثَهُ وَيَنَامُ سُدُسَهُ وَيَصُومُ يَوْمًا وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمًا
Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to me, "The most beloved fasting to Allah was the fasting of (the Prophet) David who used to fast on alternate days. And the most beloved prayer to Allah was the prayer of David who used to sleep for (the first) half of the night and pray for 1/3 of it and (again) sleep for a sixth of it."
قَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَحَبُّ الصِّيَامِ إِلَى اللَّهِ صِيَامُ دَاوُدَ كَانَ يَصُومُ يَوْمًا وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمًا وَأَحَبُّ الصَّلاَةِ إِلَى اللَّهِ صَلاَةُ دَاوُدَ كَانَ يَنَامُ نِصْفَ اللَّيْلِ وَيَقُومُ ثُلُثَهُ وَيَنَامُ سُدُسَهُ
There is an hour during the night in which no Muslim individual will ask Allah for good in this world and the next without His giving it to him; and that applies to every night.
سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ يَقُولُ إِنَّ فِي اللَّيْلِ لَسَاعَةً لاَ يُوَافِقُهَا رَجُلٌ مُسْلِمٌ يَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ خَيْرًا مِنْ أَمْرِ الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ إِلاَّ أَعْطَاهُ إِيَّاهُ وَذَلِكَ كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ
'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
'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
Making up for missed night prayers
that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ missed the night prayer due to pain or any other reason, he observed twelve rakahs during the daytime.
أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَانَ إِذَا فَاتَتْهُ الصَّلاَةُ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ مِنْ وَجَعٍ أَوْ غَيْرِهِ صَلَّى مِنَ النَّهَارِ ثِنْتَىْ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً.
Making up for missing recitation of the Quran
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Should anyone fall asleep and fail to recite his portion of the Quran, or a part of it, if he recites it between the dawn prayer and the noon prayer, it will be recorded for him as though he had recited it during the night."
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: «مَنْ نَامَ عَنْ حِزْبِهِ أَوْ عَنْ شَىْءٍ مِنْهُ فَقَرَأَهُ فِيمَا بَيْنَ صَلاَةِ الْفَجْرِ وَصَلاَةِ الظُّهْرِ كُتِبَ لَهُ كَأَنَّمَا قَرَأَهُ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ».
The Prophet ﷺ said: May Allah have mercy on a man who gets up at night and prays, and awakens his wife; if she refuses, he should sprinkle water on her face. May Allah have mercy on a woman who gets up at night and prays, and awakens her husband; if he refuses, she would sprinkle water on his face.
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ رَحِمَ اللَّهُ رَجُلاً قَامَ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَصَلَّى وَأَيْقَظَ امْرَأَتَهُ فَإِنْ أَبَتْ نَضَحَ فِي وَجْهِهَا الْمَاءَ رَحِمَ اللَّهُ امْرَأَةً قَامَتْ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَصَلَّتْ وَأَيْقَظَتْ زَوْجَهَا فَإِنْ أَبَى نَضَحَتْ فِي وَجْهِهِ الْمَاءَ
The Prophet ﷺ said: May Allah show mercy to a man who gets up during the night and prays, who wakens his wife and she prays; if she refuses, he sprinkles water on her face. May Allah show mercy to a woman who gets up during the night and prays, who wakens her husband and he prays; if he refuses she sprinkles water on his face.
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ رَحِمَ اللَّهُ رَجُلاً قَامَ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَصَلَّى وَأَيْقَظَ امْرَأَتَهُ فَصَلَّتْ فَإِنْ أَبَتْ نَضَحَ فِي وَجْهِهَا الْمَاءَ رَحِمَ اللَّهُ امْرَأَةً قَامَتْ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَصَلَّتْ وَأَيْقَظَتْ زَوْجَهَا فَإِنْ أَبَى نَضَحَتْ فِي وَجْهِهِ الْمَاءَ
The Prophet ﷺ said: If a man awakens his wife at night, and then both pray or both offer two rak'ahs together, the (name of the )man will be recorded among those who mention the name of Allah, and the (name of the) woman will be recorded among those who mention the name of Allah. Ibn Kathir did not narrate this tradition as a statement of the Prophet ﷺ, but he reported it as a statement of Abu Sa'id. Abu Dawud said: This tradition has been narrated by Ibn Mahdi from Sufyan and I think he mentioned the name of Sufyan. He also said: The tradition transmitted by Sufyan is a statement of the Companion (and not that of the Prophet).
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِذَا أَيْقَظَ الرَّجُلُ أَهْلَهُ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَصَلَّيَا أَوْ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ جَمِيعًا كُتِبَا فِي الذَّاكِرِينَ وَالذَّاكِرَاتِ وَلَمْ يَرْفَعْهُ ابْنُ كَثِيرٍ وَلاَ ذَكَرَ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ جَعَلَهُ كَلاَمَ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ
Taking power-naps to recharge during night prayer
that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "If anyone of you feels drowsy while praying he should go to bed until his slumber is over because in praying while drowsy one does not know whether one is asking for forgiveness or something for themselves."
أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ: «إِذَا نَعَسَ أَحَدُكُمْ وَهُوَ يُصَلِّي فَلْيَرْقُدْ حَتَّى يَذْهَبَ عَنْهُ النَّوْمُ، فَإِنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ إِذَا صَلَّى وَهُوَ نَاعِسٌ لاَ يَدْرِي لَعَلَّهُ يَسْتَغْفِرُ فَيَسُبَّ نَفْسَهُ»
When any one of you gets up at night (for prayer) and his tongue falters in (the recitation) of the Qar'an, and he does not know what he is reciting, he should go to sleep.
عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَذَكَرَ أَحَادِيثَ مِنْهَا وَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِذَا قَامَ أَحَدُكُمْ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَاسْتَعْجَمَ الْقُرْآنُ عَلَى لِسَانِهِ فَلَمْ يَدْرِ مَا يَقُولُ فَلْيَضْطَجِعْ