Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Sahihah

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) says: I came to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) while he was praying in the last part of the night. I started praying behind him, so he took my hand, pulled me, and made me stand beside him. When he became engaged in his prayer, I moved back. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) continued praying, and when he finished, he said to me: "What happened to you? I made you stand beside me, yet you moved back?" I said: O Messenger of Allah! Is it befitting for anyone to pray beside you? You are the Messenger of Allah, and Allah the Exalted has granted you so much. (By saying these things) I caused the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) to be amazed and astonished, so he supplicated to Allah to increase me in knowledge and understanding. In the narration of Imam Ahmad, there is this addition: Then I saw the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) sleep, and the sound of his breathing could be heard. Then Sayyiduna Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) came and said: O Messenger of Allah! Lead the prayer. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) stood up, led the prayer, and did not perform ablution again.