الفتح الربانی
Fath al-Rabbani
أبواب صلاة الليل والوترChapters on Night Prayer and Witr
بَابُ مَا رُوِيَ عَنْ أُمِّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا فِي صِفَةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى
Chapter on What is Narrated from Aisha Regarding the Description of the Prophet
Hadith 2144
عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا قَامَ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ يُصَلِّي افْتَتَحَ الصَّلَاةَ بِرَكْعَتَيْنِ خَفِيفَتَيْنِ
Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) says that when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) would get up at night to pray, he would begin his standing (qiyam) with two light rak‘ahs.
Hadith 2145
وَعَنْهَا أَيْضًا قَالَتْ: كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ مَا بَيْنَ صَلَاةِ الْعِشَاءِ الْآخِرَةِ إِلَى الْفَجْرِ إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً، يُسَلِّمُ فِي كُلِّ اثْنَتَيْنِ وَيُوْتِرُ بِوَاحِدَةٍ وَيَسْجُدُ فِي سُبْحَتِهِ بِقَدْرِ مَا يَقْرَأُ أَحَدُكُمْ بِخَمْسِينَ آيَةً قَبْلَ أَنْ يَرْفَعَ رَأْسَهُ فَإِذَا سَكَتَ الْمُؤَذِّنُ بِالْأُوْلَى مِنْ أَذَانِهِ قَامَ فَرَكَعَ رَكْعَتَيْنِ خَفِيفَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ اضْطَجَعَ عَلَى شِقِّهِ الْأَيْمَنِ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَهُ الْمُؤَذِّنُ فَيَخْرُجُ مَعَهُ
It is narrated from Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), she says that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to offer a total of eleven rak'ahs from the 'Isha prayer until the Fajr prayer. He would say salam after every two rak'ahs and perform one witr. In this prayer, each prostration of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was equal to fifty verses. When the muezzin finished the first adhan, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would get up and offer two light rak'ahs, and then lie down on his right side, until the muezzin would come to him. Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would go with him to the mosque.
Hadith 2146
عَنِ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ هِشَامٍ أَنَّهُ دَخَلَ عَلَى أُمِّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا فَسَأَلَهَا عَنْ صَلَاةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَتْ: كَانَ يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ ثَمَانَ رَكَعَاتٍ وَيُوْتِرُ بِالْتَاسِعَةِ وَيُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ وَذَكَرَتِ الْوُضُوءَ أَنَّهُ كَانَ يَقُومُ إِلَى صَلَاتِهِ فَيَأْمُرُ بِطَهُورِهِ وَسِوَاكِهِ فَلَمَّا بَدَّنَ صَلَّى سِتَّ رَكَعَاتٍ وَأَوْتَرَ بِالسَّابِعَةِ وَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ، قَالَتْ: فَلَمْ يَزَلْ عَلَى ذَلِكَ حَتَّى قُبِضَ، قُلْتُ: إِنِّي أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَسْأَلَكَ عَنِ التَّبَتُّلِ فَمَا تَرَيْنَ فِيهِ؟ قَالَتْ: فَلَا تَفْعَلْ، أَمَا سَمِعْتَ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يَقُولُ: {وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلًا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ وَجَعَلْنَا لَهُمْ أَزْوَاجًا وَذُرِّيَّةً} فَلَا تَبَتَّلْ، قَالَ فَخَرَجَ وَقَدْ فَقُهَ فَقَدِمَ الْبَصْرَةَ فَلَمْ يَلْبَثْ إِلَّا يَسِيرًا حَتَّى خَرَجَ إِلَى أَرْضِ مَكْرَانَ فَقُتِلَ هُنَالكَ عَلَى أَفْضَلِ عَمَلِهِ
It is narrated from Sa’d bin Hisham that he came to Umm al-Mu’minin Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) and asked her about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). She said: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to pray eight rak’ahs at night, then the ninth, that is, one rak’ah of witr, and after that he would sit and pray two rak’ahs. Then Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) mentioned ablution: Because of getting up for prayer at night, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would instruct that water for ablution and a miswak be arranged. Then, when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) became old, he would perform six rak’ahs, then the seventh as witr, and two rak’ahs sitting. Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) remained on this routine until he passed away. Sa’d bin Hisham said to Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her): I want to ask you about not marrying (in order to devote myself to worship); what is your opinion about this? She said: Do not do so. Have you not read the saying of Allah Almighty: {وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلاً مِنْ قَبْلِکَ وَجَعَلْنَا لَھُمْ أَزَوَاجًا وَّذُرِّیَّۃً} (And indeed We sent Messengers before you and We assigned to them wives and offspring)? Therefore, do not practice abstinence (tabattul). In this way, Sa’d bin Hisham became a jurist and then set out for Basra, but after staying there for a few days, he went towards the region of Makran and there he was martyred upon his best deed.
Hadith 2147
عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ قَالَ: سَأَلْتُ الْأَسْوَدَ بْنَ يَزِيدَ عَمَّا حَدَّثَتْهُ عَائِشَةُ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا عَنْ صَلَاةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَتْ: كَانَ يَنَامُ أَوَّلَ اللَّيْلِ وَيُحْيِي آخِرَهُ، ثُمَّ إِنْ كَانَتْ لَهُ حَاجَةٌ إِلَى أَهْلِهِ قَضَى حَاجَتَهُ ثُمَّ نَامَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَمَسَّ مَاءً، فَإِذَا كَانَ عِنْدَ النِّدَاءِ الْأَوَّلِ قَالَتْ: وَثَبَ، وَلَا وَاللَّهِ! مَا قَالَتْ قَامَ، فَأَفَاضَ عَلَيْهِ الْمَاءَ وَلَا وَاللَّهِ! مَا قَالَتْ اغْتَسَلَ وَأَنَا أَعْلَمُ بِمَا تُرِيدُ، وَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ جُنُبًا تَوَضَّأَ وُضُوءَ الرَّجُلِ لِلصَّلَاةِ ثُمَّ صَلَّى الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ
Abu Ishaq says: I asked Aswad bin Yazid about that matter which Lady Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) had narrated to him regarding the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). He replied that Lady Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) had said: In the early part of the night, you would sleep, and in its latter part, you would wake up. Then, if you felt the need for intimacy, you would fulfill the right of your spouse and then sleep, even though you had not touched water. When the first call to prayer was given, you would, as if, spring up, pour water over yourself, and if you were not in a state of major impurity, you would perform the regular ablution for prayer and then offer two units of prayer. The narrator says that Lady Aisha did not say that you (peace and blessings be upon him) would stand and perform the full ritual bath, although I knew what she (may Allah be pleased with her) intended to say.
Hadith 2148
عَنْ مَسْرُوقٍ قَالَ: سَأَلْتُ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا عَنْ صَلَاةِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِاللَّيْلِ، فَقَالَتْ: كَانَ إِذَا سَمِعَ الصَّارِخَ قَامَ فَصَلَّى
Masruq says: I asked Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) about the night prayer of the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), so she said: When he (peace and blessings be upon him) heard the crowing of the rooster, he would get up and perform prayer.
Hadith 2149
عَنْ زُرَارَةَ بْنِ أَوْفَى قَالَ: سَأَلْتُ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا عَنْ صَلَاةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِاللَّيْلِ، فَقَالَتْ: كَانَ يُصَلِّي الْعِشَاءَ ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي بَعْدَهَا رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ يَنَامُ، فَإِذَا اسْتَيْقَظَ وَعِنْدَهُ وَضُوءُهُ مُغَطًّى وَسِوَاكُهُ، اسْتَاكَ ثُمَّ تَوَضَّأَ فَقَامَ فَصَلَّى ثَمَانَ رَكَعَاتٍ يَقْرَأُ فِيهِنَّ بِفَاتِحَةِ الْكِتَابِ وَمَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ، فَلَا يَقْعُدُ فِي شَيْءٍ مِنْهُنَّ إِلَّا فِي الثَّامِنَةِ، فَإِنَّهُ يَقْعُدُ فِيهَا فَيَتَشَهَّدُ ثُمَّ يَقُومُ وَلَا يُسَلِّمُ، فَيُصَلِّي رَكْعَةً وَاحِدَةً ثُمَّ يَجْلِسُ فَيَتَشَهَّدُ وَيَدْعُو، ثُمَّ يُسَلِّمُ تَسْلِيمَةً وَاحِدَةً ((السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ)) يَرْفَعُ بِهَا صَوْتَهُ حَتَّى يُوقِظَنَا، ثُمَّ يُكَبِّرُ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ فَيَقْرَأُ ثُمَّ يَرْكَعُ وَيَسْجُدُ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ، فَيُصَلِّي جَالِسًا رَكْعَتَيْنِ، فَهَٰذِهِ إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً، فَلَمَّا كَثُرَ لَحْمُهُ وَثَقُلَ جَعَلَ التِّسْعَ سَبْعًا لَا يَقْعُدُ إِلَّا كَمَا يَقْعُدُ فِي الْأُوْلَى وَيُصَلِّي الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ قَاعِدًا، فَكَانَتْ هَٰذِهِ صَلَاةَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ حَتَّى قَبَضَهُ اللَّهُ
Zararah bin Aufi says: I asked Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) about the night prayer of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). She said: He would perform the Isha prayer, then after that he would pray two rak’ahs and go to sleep. When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) would wake up at night, he would have covered water for ablution and a miswak placed near him. He (peace and blessings be upon him) would use the miswak, perform ablution, and offer eight rak’ahs. In every rak’ah, he would recite Surah Al-Fatihah and as much additional recitation as Allah willed. He (peace and blessings be upon him) would perform all these rak’ahs consecutively, and after the eighth, he would sit, recite the tashahhud, then without saying salam, he would stand for the ninth rak’ah, and after praying one rak’ah, he would sit for tashahhud, recite the tashahhud and supplications, then say salam with a single salam, raising his voice enough to wake us. Then, while sitting, he (peace and blessings be upon him) would say the takbir of starting prayer and begin recitation, and while sitting, he would perform two rak’ahs. This was the eleven rak’ah prayer of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). When his body became heavier and he gained weight, he performed seven rak’ahs instead of nine, also performing them consecutively, and would sit for tashahhud after six rak’ahs as before. Then, while sitting, he would perform two rak’ahs. After that, this remained his prayer until Allah, the Exalted, caused him (peace and blessings be upon him) to pass away.
Hadith 2150
(وَعَنْهُ مِنْ طَرِيقٍ ثَانٍ) عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ هِشَامٍ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِأُمِّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا: كَيْفَ كَانَتْ صَلَاةُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ؟ قَالَتْ: كَانَ يُصَلِّي الْعِشَاءَ فَذَكَرَ الْحَدِيثَ وَيُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ قَائِمًا يَرْفَعُ صَوْتَهُ كَأَنَّهُ يُوقِظُنَا بَلْ يُوقِظُنَا، ثُمَّ يَدْعُو بِدُعَاءٍ يُسْمِعُنَا، ثُمَّ يُسَلِّمُ تَسْلِيمَةً يَرْفَعُ بِهَا صَوْتَهُ
(Second chain) Sa’d bin Hisham says: I asked Umm al-Mu’minin Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) about how the night prayer of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was. She said: You would perform the ‘Isha prayer, then (she) mentioned the hadith as before, except that in this version the words are: Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) would stand and pray two rak’ahs and would raise his voice in them, as if he was waking us up, rather, he (peace and blessings be upon him) would wake us up. Then he would supplicate while we were listening, and then he would give salam in a loud voice.
Hadith 2151
عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ قَالَ: سَأَلْتُ عَائِشَةَ كَيْفَ كَانَتْ صَلَاةُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَتْ: وَأَيُّكُمْ يَسْتَطِيعُ مَا كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَسْتَطِيعُ، كَانَ عَمَلُهُ دِيمَةً
Alqamah says: I asked Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). She said: Who among you has the ability for that which the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) had?
Hadith 2152
(وَمِنْ طَرِيقٍ ثَانٍ) عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا عَنْ صَلَاةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ، قَالَتْ: مَا رَأَيْتُهُ كَانَ يُفَضِّلُ لَيْلَةً عَلَى لَيْلَةٍ
(Second chain) Ibrahim says: I asked Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). She said: I did not see him giving preference to one night over another night.
Hadith 2153
عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا أَنَّ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَإِذَا فَرَغَ مِنَ صَلَاتِهِ اضْطَجَعَ، فَإِنْ كُنْتُ يَقْظَانَةً تَحَدَّثَ مَعِي وَإِنْ كُنْتُ نَائِمَةً نَامَ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَهُ الْمُؤَذِّنُ
It is narrated from Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to perform prayer at night. When he finished his prayer, he would lie down, but if I was awake, he would talk with me, and if I was asleep, he would also sleep, until the muezzin would come to him (peace and blessings be upon him).
Hadith 2154
عَنْ مُسْلِمِ بْنِ مِخْرَاقَ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِعَائِشَةَ: يَا أُمَّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ! إِنَّ نَاسًا يَقْرَأُ أَحَدُهُمُ الْقُرْآنَ فِي لَيْلَةٍ مَرَّتَيْنِ أَوْثَلَاثًا؟ فَقَالَتْ: أُولَئِكَ قَرَأُوا وَلَمْ يَقْرَأُوا، كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُومُ اللَّيْلَةَ التَّامَّةَ، فَيَقْرَأُ سُورَةَ الْبَقَرَةِ وَسُورَةَ آلِ عِمْرَانَ وَسُورَةَ النِّسَاءِ، ثُمَّ لَا يَمُرُّ بِآيَةٍ فِيهَا اسْتِبْشَارٌ إِلَّا دَعَا اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَرَغِبَ وَلَا يَمُرُّ بِآيَةٍ فِيهَا تَخْوِيفٌ إِلَّا دَعَا اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَاسْتَعَاذَ
Muslim bin Mukhrāq says: I said to Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her): O Mother of the Believers! Indeed, there are some people among whom some recite the Qur’an two or three times in one night. She said: These are the people who, even after reciting, have not truly recited. When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) would stand in prayer for the whole night, then he would be able to recite Surah Al-Baqarah, Surah Aal-e-Imran, and Surah An-Nisa, and even in that, whenever he (peace and blessings be upon him) would come across a verse containing glad tidings, he would supplicate to Allah and express desire, and whenever he would come across a verse containing warning, he would supplicate to Allah and seek His protection.
