Abu Dawud

1318. Commentary: Explanation: This sleep of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) would occur after the night prayer (qiyam al-layl) for the sake of rest. Sometimes it would merely be lying down, and at other times he would converse with Aisha (radi Allahu anha). And it is possible that this refers to long nights, not short ones. Allamah Qastallani (rahimahullah) states that resting after the night prayer (qiyam al-layl) gives comfort to the body and removes the hardship of staying awake, in addition to not causing weakness. In contrast, staying awake until morning causes weakness. (Awn al-Ma’bud)

Hadith Commentary:
It was the blessed habit that after completing the Tahajjud prayer, the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) would rest for a short while at the time of sahar (pre-dawn) before Fajr. This is what Hazrat Aisha (radi Allahu anha) is narrating here.

Hadith Commentary:
Imam Bukhari rahimahullah previously mentioned the night vigil of Prophet Dawud alayhis salam.
In these ahadith, he has established that the practice of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam was in accordance with this, as the rooster generally crows at midnight.
This is its natural disposition upon which Allah Ta’ala created it.
Prior to this, the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam would rest until midnight, then upon hearing the rooster’s crow, he would rise and engage in prayer, and then sleep again until the time of suhur (pre-dawn meal).
From this, the similarity between the practice of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and that of Prophet Dawud alayhis salam is established, and sleeping at the time of suhur is also proven. However, during the blessed month of Ramadan, this was not his routine, because he would be occupied with partaking in suhur during the last portion of the night.
After completing this, he would perform the morning (fajr) prayer, as will be clarified in the upcoming section.
(Fath al-Bari: 3/25)

Hadith Commentary:
Vocabulary of the Hadith:
(1)
مَااَلْفٰي:
Did not find.
(2)
اَلسَّحَرُ الْأَعْليٰ:
The last part of the night, the time close to dawn.

Benefits and Issues:
When the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) would finish the night prayer before dawn, he would lie down, and sometimes he would even sleep.

Benefits and Issues:
➊
The usual practice of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) was to begin the Tahajjud prayer after half the night had passed and to finish it an hour or two before Fajr.
Therefore, at the time of true dawn (subh sadiq), the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) would be resting.
However, on many occasions, he would remain engaged in prayer until the end of the night, as is mentioned in other narrations.

➋
Every person may perform Tahajjud during any part of the night according to his convenience.
And its duration may also be more or less.

Benefit:
In this hadith, the last nightly practice of the Noble Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) is mentioned: after completing the tahajjud prayer and witr, he (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) would sleep for a short while during the last part of the pre-dawn (suhur) time. And this is to be understood as his predominant practice.