The Book of Qiyam Al-Lail (The Night Prayer) and Voluntary Prayers During the Day
Sahih
The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
أَخْبَرَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الأَعْلَى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ، عَنِ الْحَسَنِ، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ هِشَامِ بْنِ عَامِرٍ، قَالَ قَدِمْتُ الْمَدِينَةَ فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَى عَائِشَةَ - رضى الله عنها - قَالَتْ مَنْ أَنْتَ قُلْتُ أَنَا سَعْدُ بْنُ هِشَامِ بْنِ عَامِرٍ . قَالَتْ رَحِمَ اللَّهُ أَبَاكَ . قُلْتُ أَخْبِرِينِي عَنْ صَلاَةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم . قَالَتْ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ وَكَانَ . قُلْتُ أَجَلْ . قَالَتْ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يُصَلِّي بِاللَّيْلِ صَلاَةَ الْعِشَاءِ ثُمَّ يَأْوِي إِلَى فِرَاشِهِ فَيَنَامُ فَإِذَا كَانَ جَوْفُ اللَّيْلِ قَامَ إِلَى حَاجَتِهِ وَإِلَى طَهُورِهِ فَتَوَضَّأَ ثُمَّ دَخَلَ الْمَسْجِدَ فَيُصَلِّي ثَمَانِيَ رَكَعَاتٍ يُخَيَّلُ إِلَىَّ أَنَّهُ يُسَوِّي بَيْنَهُنَّ فِي الْقِرَاءَةِ وَالرُّكُوعِ وَالسُّجُودِ وَيُوتِرُ بِرَكْعَةٍ ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ ثُمَّ يَضَعُ جَنْبَهُ فَرُبَّمَا جَاءَ بِلاَلٌ فَآذَنَهُ بِالصَّلاَةِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُغْفِيَ وَرُبَّمَا يُغْفِي وَرُبَّمَا شَكَكْتُ أَغْفَى أَوْ لَمْ يُغْفِ حَتَّى يُؤْذِنَهُ بِالصَّلاَةِ فَكَانَتْ تِلْكَ صَلاَةُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَتَّى أَسَنَّ وَلَحُمَ - فَذَكَرَتْ مِنْ لَحْمِهِ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ - قَالَتْ وَكَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ الْعِشَاءَ ثُمَّ يَأْوِي إِلَى فِرَاشِهِ فَإِذَا كَانَ جَوْفُ اللَّيْلِ قَامَ إِلَى طَهُورِهِ وَإِلَى حَاجَتِهِ فَتَوَضَّأَ ثُمَّ يَدْخُلُ الْمَسْجِدَ فَيُصَلِّي سِتَّ رَكَعَاتٍ يُخَيَّلُ إِلَىَّ أَنَّهُ يُسَوِّي بَيْنَهُنَّ فِي الْقِرَاءَةِ وَالرُّكُوعِ وَالسُّجُودِ ثُمَّ يُوتِرُ بِرَكْعَةٍ ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ ثُمَّ يَضَعُ جَنْبَهُ وَرُبَّمَا جَاءَ بِلاَلٌ فَآذَنَهُ بِالصَّلاَةِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُغْفِيَ وَرُبَّمَا أَغْفَى وَرُبَّمَا شَكَكْتُ أَغْفَى أَمْ لاَ حَتَّى يُؤْذِنَهُ بِالصَّلاَةِ قَالَتْ فَمَا زَالَتْ تِلْكَ صَلاَةُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم .
" 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."
Narrated by It was narrated that Sa'd bin Hisham bin 'Amir said:
Context
In this hadith, Aishah recounts the prayer habits of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), detailing his nightly routine of performing prayers after Isha. This narrative showcases the Prophet's dedication to prayer and the balance he maintained between worship and rest, serving as a model for Muslims in their own prayer practices.
Modern Application
Muslims today can draw inspiration from the Prophet's balanced approach to prayer and rest. This hadith encourages individuals to establish a consistent prayer routine that accommodates both worship and personal well-being.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Prayer because it outlines the Prophet Muhammad's (ﷺ) nightly prayer routine, highlighting the importance of maintaining a consistent practice.
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.
And when you have completed the prayer, remember Allah standing, sitting, or [lying] on your sides. But when you become secure, re-establish [regular] prayer. Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times.
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.
This hadith is #1656 from Sunan an-Nasa'i, in the Book of The Book of Qiyam Al-Lail (The Night Prayer) and Voluntary Prayers During the Day. It is graded Sahih and narrated by It was narrated that Sa'd bin Hisham bin 'Amir said:.