The worship of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa
sallam) in the night
Standing up in worship in the night has been a part and parcel of the blessed lives
of the Prophet’s Family and the Companions of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi
wa sallam). For these great people, there was no difference between one night
and
the other. For them, every night was Shab Qadr and every day, an ‘Eid. As
the night started spreading, it would be justly proud that now these pious
personalities will bless it with their worship.
All the time, they were considered with finding out how the Holy Prophet
(Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) spent His nights and try to do the same. They would
especially ask the Mothers of the Believers as to the worship performed by the
Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) at night. It is because of their
eagerness that these guidelines have reached us. The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu
alaihi wa sallam) would often be busy in offering Salaat. Most of the times, He
would stand and offer Salaat and sometimes, He would sit and offer Salaat so
that this would be an example and an encouragement for the weak and the old
people of the Ummah as well. As mentioned in this Hadith of Sunan Abu
Dawood:
Translation: It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat ‘Abdullah bin Abu Qais
(May Allah be well pleased with him), he says that Hadhrat ‘Aisha (May Allah be
well pleased with her) said: You don’t ever leave worship of the night as the Holy
Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) never stopped the worship of the night.
When He would be ill or tired, He would sit and offer Salaat. (Sunan Abu Dawood,
Hadith No. 1309; Mustadarak ‘Alas Sahihain, Hadith No. 1107)
His blessed feet would be swollen
The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would stand for such long periods
of time in His Salaat that His feet would swell up as is established through this
Hadith of Sahih Bukhari:
Translation: Hadhrat Zyad has related that he heard Hadhrat Mugheera (May
Allah be well pleased with him) say that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa
sallam) stood for so long in Salaat that His feet got swollen. (Sahih Bukhari,
Hadith No. 4836)
Exhortation by the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa
sallam) to pray in the night
The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) Himself would pray in the night and
would exhort the Companions also to do the same. As has been related that
Hadhrat ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar (May Allah be well pleased with them) saw a dream
and related that to Hadhrat Hafsa (May Allah be well pleased with him) and
requested her to relate the dream to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa
sallam). When she did so, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)
remarked:
Translation: What a good man is ‘Abdullah! I wish he would offer Salaat in the
night. After this, Hadhrat ‘Abdullah would rest only for a short space of time in
the night. (Sahih Bukhari, Hadith No. 1122)