"I stayed overnight with my maternal aunt Maimunah bin Al-Harith, and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stayed overnight with her. I saw him get up to relieve himself and he went to the waterskin and undid its string, then he performed wudu and that was moderate (in the amount of water used). Then he went to his bed and slept. Then he got up again and went to the waterskin and undid its string, and performed wudu again, like the first time. Then he stood and prayed, and when he prostrated he said: 'Allahummaj'al fi qalbi nuran waj'al fi sami' nuran waj'al fi basri nuran, waj'al min tahti nuran waj'al min fawqi nuran, wa 'an yamii nuran wa 'an yasari nuran waj'al amami nuran, waj'al khalfi nuran wa a'zimli nura (O Allah, place light in my heart, and place light in my hearing, and place light in my seeing, and place light beneath me, and place light above me, and light on my right, and light on my left, and place light behind me, and make the light greater for me.') Then he slept until he started to snore, then Bilal came and woke him up for the prayer."
Narrated by It was narrated that Ibn 'Abbas said:
Context
In this narration, Ibn 'Abbas describes a night spent with the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) at his aunt's house. The Prophet demonstrated the practice of performing wudu (ablution) before prayer and engaged in prayer with heartfelt supplications. This highlights the significance of cleanliness and preparation before worship, as well as the personal connection one can have with Allah during prayer.
Modern Application
Today, this hadith encourages individuals to maintain cleanliness and perform wudu properly before daily prayers. It also serves as a reminder to engage in personal supplications, fostering a deeper spiritual connection during prayer.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Prayer and Prophetic Conduct because it illustrates the Prophet's practice of prayer and ablution, serving as a model for Muslims to follow.
O you who have believed, when you rise to [perform] prayer, wash your faces and your forearms to the elbows and wipe over your heads and wash your feet to the ankles. And if you are in a state of janabah, then purify yourselves. But if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women and do not find water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and hands with it. Allah does not intend to make difficulty for you, but He intends to purify you and complete His favor upon you that you may be grateful.
Indeed, your Lord knows, [O Muhammad], that you stand [in prayer] almost two thirds of the night or half of it or a third of it, and [so do] a group of those with you. And Allah determines [the extent of] the night and the day. He has known that you [Muslims] will not be able to do it and has turned to you in forgiveness, so recite what is easy [for you] of the Qur'an. He has known that there will be among you those who are ill and others traveling throughout the land seeking [something] of the bounty of Allah and others fighting for the cause of Allah. So recite what is easy from it and establish prayer and give zakah and loan Allah a goodly loan. And whatever good you put forward for yourselves - you will find it with Allah. It is better and greater in reward. And seek forgiveness of Allah. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
Establish prayer at the decline of the sun [from its meridian] until the darkness of the night and [also] the Qur'an of dawn. Indeed, the recitation of dawn is ever witnessed.
O you who have believed, let those whom your right hands possess and those who have not [yet] reached puberty among you ask permission of you [before entering] at three times: before the dawn prayer and when you put aside your clothing [for rest] at noon and after the night prayer. [These are] three times of privacy for you. There is no blame upon you nor upon them beyond these [periods], for they continually circulate among you - some of you, among others. Thus does Allah make clear to you the verses; and Allah is Knowing and Wise.
This hadith is #1123 from Sunan an-Nasa'i, in the Book of The Book of The At-Tatbiq (Clasping One's Hands Together). It is graded Sahih and narrated by It was narrated that Ibn 'Abbas said:.