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 wuold be concerned with finding out how the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) spent His nights and would 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 abandon 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; Mustadrak ‘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)

 

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)