"I was with the Prophet (ﷺ) and he got up and performed wudu, cleaned his teeth while reciting this verse until he finished: 'Verily, in the creation of the heavens and the Earth, and in the alternation of night and day, there are indeed signs for men of understanding.' Then he prayed two rak'ahs, then he went back and slept until I heard him breathing deeply. Then he got up and performed wudu and cleaned his teeth. Then he prayed two rak'ahs, then he slept, then he got up and performed wudu and cleaned his teeth and prayed two rak'ahs and prayed witr with three rak'ahs."
Narrated by Husain narrated from Habib bin Abi Thabit, from Muhammad bin 'Ali bin 'Abdullah bin Abbas, from his father, that his grandfather said:
Context
This narration describes the Prophet Muhammad's (ﷺ) practice of performing wudu and praying while reciting a verse from the Quran. It illustrates his dedication to prayer and cleanliness, highlighting the importance of both physical and spiritual preparation before engaging in worship. The Prophet (ﷺ) prayed multiple rak'ahs during the night, demonstrating his commitment to maintaining a strong connection with Allah.
Modern Application
Incorporating wudu and oral hygiene into daily prayers can enhance one's spiritual experience. Many Muslims today emphasize the importance of cleanliness and preparation before prayer, reflecting the Prophet's (ﷺ) practices.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Prayer because it emphasizes the act of prayer and the rituals associated with it, including cleanliness and recitation.
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, 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.
And establish prayer at the two ends of the day and at the approach of the night. Indeed, good deeds do away with misdeeds. That is a reminder for those who remember.
This hadith is #1710 from Sunan an-Nasa'i, in the Book of The Book of Qiyam Al-Lail (The Night Prayer) and Voluntary Prayers During the Day and narrated by Husain narrated from Habib bin Abi Thabit, from Muhammad bin 'Ali bin 'Abdullah bin Abbas, from his father, that his grandfather said:.