20.

The Book of Qiyam Al-Lail (The Night Prayer) and Voluntary Prayers During the Day

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كتاب قيام الليل وتطوع النهار

It was narrated that Sa'd bin Hisham bin 'Amir said: I came to Al-Madinah and entered upon Aishah, may Allah (SWT) be pleased with her. She said: 'Who are you?' I said: 'I am Sa'd bin Hisham bin 'Amir.' She said: 'May Allah have mercy on your father.' I said: 'Tell me about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).' She said: 'The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) did such and such.' I said: 'Yes indeed.' She said: 'The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to pray Isha' at night, then he would go to his bed and sleep. In the middle of the night, he would get up to relieve himself and go to his water for purification and perform wudu. Then he went into the Masjid and prayed eight rak'ahs. I think he made the recitation, bowing and prostration equal in length. Then he prayed one rak'ah of witr, then he prayed two rak'ahs sitting down. Then he lay down on his side. Sometimes Bilal would come and tell him that it was time to pray before he napped, and sometimes he napped. And sometimes I was not sure if he had napped or not before he told him that it was time to pray. This is how the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to pray until he grew older and gained weight - and she mentioned whatever Allah (SWT) willed about his gaining weight. She said: And the Prophet (ﷺ) used to lead the people in praying witr, then he would go to his bed. In the middle of the night, he would get up and go to water for purification, and to relieve himself, then he would perform wudu. Then he would go into the masjid and pray six rak'ahs, and I think he made the recitation, bowing, and prostration equal in length. Then he prayed one rak'ah of witr, then he prayed two rak'ahs sitting down. Then he lay down on his side. Sometimes Bilal would come and tell him that it was time to pray before he napped, and sometimes he napped. And sometimes I was not sure if he had napped or not before he told him that it was time to pray. She said: And this is how the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) continued to pray.

Ummul Momineen Aisha (رضي الله تعالى عنها) narrated that the Apostle of Allah ( صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) did not refrain from (kissing) my forehead when he was fasting, and he did not die until most of his prayers were offered sitting down. Then she said something to the effect that (referred to the prayers) other than the obligatory prayers, ‘And the dearest of actions to him was that in which a person persists, even if it is little’.

Al-Aswad narrated that Ummul Momineen Umm Salama (رضي الله تعالى عنها) said, ‘the Apostle of Allah ( صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) did not pass away until most of his prayers were offered sitting down, except for the obligatory prayers’.

Abu Salama narrated that Ummul Momineen Umm Salama (رضي الله تعالى عنها) said ‘the Apostle of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) did not pass away until most of his prayers were offered sitting down, except for the obligatory prayers, and the dearest of actions to him were those which were done persistently, even if they were few’.

Abu Salama narrated that Ummul Momineen Umm Salama (رضي الله تعالى عنها) said, ‘By the One in Whose Hand is my soul. The Apostle of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) did not pass away until most of his prayers were offered sitting down, except for the obligatory prayers, and the dearest of actions to him were those which were done persistently, even if they were few’.

Abu Salama narrated that Ummul Momineen Aisha (رضي الله تعالى عنها) told him that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) did not die until most of his prayers were offered sitting down.

It was narrated that Abdullah bin Shaqiq said: I said to Aishah: 'Did the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) pray sitting down?' She said: 'Yes, after the people had worn him out.'