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)
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