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 هَارُونُ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ عَبْدَةَ، عَنْ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ زُرَارَةَ بْنِ أَوْفَى، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ هِشَامٍ، أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ كُنَّا نُعِدُّ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم سِوَاكَهُ وَطَهُورَهُ فَيَبْعَثُهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لِمَا شَاءَ أَنْ يَبْعَثَهُ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَيَسْتَاكُ وَيَتَوَضَّأُ وَيُصَلِّي تِسْعَ رَكَعَاتٍ لاَ يَجْلِسُ فِيهِنَّ إِلاَّ عِنْدَ الثَّامِنَةِ وَيَحْمَدُ اللَّهَ وَيُصَلِّي عَلَى نَبِيِّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَيَدْعُو بَيْنَهُنَّ وَلاَ يُسَلِّمُ تَسْلِيمًا ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي التَّاسِعَةَ وَيَقْعُدُ وَذَكَرَ كَلِمَةً نَحْوَهَا وَيَحْمَدُ اللَّهَ وَيُصَلِّي عَلَى نَبِيِّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَيَدْعُو ثُمَّ يُسَلِّمُ تَسْلِيمًا يُسْمِعُنَا ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ قَاعِدٌ .
"We used to prepare siwak and water for wudu for the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). Allah (SWT) would wake him when He willed to wake him at night, then he would clean his teeth and make wudu, and pray nine rak'ahs, not sitting until the eighth, when he would praise Allah (SWT) and send blessings upon His Prophet and supplicate between them, but he did not say the taslim. Then he prayed the ninth and sat, and said something similar, praising Allah (SWT) and sending blessings upon His Prophet (ﷺ), then he said a taslim that we could hear, then he prayed two rak'ahs sitting down."
Narrated by It was narrated from Sa'd bin Hisham that Aishah said:
Context
In this hadith, Aisha narrates the nighttime prayer routine of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), where he would perform nine rak'ahs without sitting until the eighth. This practice highlights the Prophet's dedication to prayer and the importance of maintaining personal worship, even in the quiet hours of the night. The detailed description of his actions serves as a model for Muslims seeking to enhance their own nightly prayers.
Modern Application
Today, this hadith encourages individuals to establish a routine for nightly prayers, emphasizing the value of personal worship and reflection. Incorporating such practices can foster a deeper spiritual connection and enhance one's overall faith.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Prayer because it provides insight into the Prophet Muhammad's (ﷺ) personal prayer habits and the significance of nightly worship.
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.
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.
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.
This hadith is #1725 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 from Sa'd bin Hisham that Aishah said:.