Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah

Sayyiduna Sa’d bin Hisham narrates that I came to Hazrat Hakim bin Aflah, then we went to the service of Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her). We sought permission, and we were granted permission to be present. We said, “O Mother of the Believers, tell me about the noble character of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).” She replied, “Do you not recite the Qur’an?” She meant the saying of Allah Almighty: « وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ » [ سورہ القلم : 4 ] “Indeed, you are upon a great character.” He said, “Why not, (I do recite this verse).” The Mother of the Believers said, “Indeed, the character of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was the Qur’an itself.” Then I said, “O Mother of the Believers, inform me about the night prayer (Qiyam) of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).” She said, “Do you not recite Surah Al-Muzzammil?” He says, “I said, ‘Yes, I do.’” Then she said, “Indeed, Allah Almighty made standing in the night obligatory at the beginning of this Surah. So the Prophet of Allah and his noble companions stood in prayer at night for a year until their feet swelled. And Allah Almighty kept the last part of this Surah withheld in the heavens for twelve months. Then Allah Almighty revealed ease at the end of this Surah. Thus, after being obligatory, standing at night became voluntary.” Then she narrated the rest of the hadith. At the end of the hadith are these words: “So I went to the service of Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) and related to him the conversation of the Mother of the Believers. He said, ‘(Our mother) has spoken the truth.’”