How the Beloved Prophet of Allāh صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would worship

The renowned Companion, Sayyidunā Abū Hurayrah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ narrates that the final Prophet of Allāh صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would keep fasts and offer great amounts of ṣalāh to the extent his blessed feet would swell.^[1] Umm al-Muʾminīn Sayyidatunā ꜤĀˈishah Ṣiddīqah رَضِیَ اللہُ عَنْہا once said, “The Messenger of Allāh صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم never left qiyām al-layl (offering nafl ṣalāh at night). If he was unwell, he would sit and pray.”^[2]

As narrated by Umm al-Muʾminīn Sayyidatunā Umm Salamah رَضِیَ اللہُ عَنْہا, the blessed practice of Allāh’s Messenger صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was to offer ṣalāh at night and then to sleep for the same amount of time that he had prayed. Upon awakening, he would offer ṣalāh for as long as he had slept. He would then sleep again for as long as he had offered ṣalāh. This blessed practice would continue until the time of fajr began.^[3]

Sayyidunā Jābir رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ explains, “The Messenger of Allāh صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would use miswak as soon as he awoke, perform wuḍūˈ and offer ṣalāh.”^[4]

The Companion, Sayyidunā Ḥudhayfah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ beautifully relates, “One night, the final Prophet of Allāh صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was offering ṣalāh in the masjid. Considering this a priceless opportunity, I stood behind and began offering ṣalāh following him. The Messenger of Allāh صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم then began reciting Sūrah al-Baqarah. In my heart, I thought the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would recite a hundred verses and go into rukūꜤ. He did not do so, but instead recited more. I then thought he صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would recite two hundred verses and go into rukūꜤ, but again, he صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم did not do so. When this occurred, I now thought the Messenger of Allāh صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would recite the entirety of Sūrah al-Baqarah.