Once I passed the night in the house of Maimuna (his aunt). I slept across the bed while Allah's Apostle and his wife slept length-wise. The Prophet (ﷺ) slept till midnight or nearly so and woke up rubbing his face and recited ten verses from Surat "Al-`Imran." Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) went towards a leather skin and performed ablution in the most perfect way and then stood for the prayer. I did the same and stood beside him. The Prophet (ﷺ) put his right hand on my head, twisted my ear and then prayed two rak`at five times and then ended his prayer with witr. He laid down till the Mu'adh-dhin came then he stood up and offered two rak`at (Sunnah of Fajr prayer) and then went out and offered the Fajr prayer. (See Hadith 183)
Hadith Commentary: The Excellence of Night Prayer and Witr
This noble narration from Sahih al-Bukhari 992 demonstrates the Prophet's consistent practice of night prayer (Tahajjud) and Witr, showing their immense virtue in Islamic tradition. The Prophet's actions upon waking - rubbing his face, reciting Qur'an, and performing perfect ablution - teach us the proper etiquette for night worship.
Scholarly Analysis of the Prophet's Actions
The Prophet's recitation of ten verses from Surah Al-Imran before prayer indicates the importance of Qur'anic reflection in preparing one's heart for worship. His meticulous ablution, despite the late hour, shows that quality of worship surpasses mere quantity.
The placement of hands on the companion's head and twisting of the ear was a gentle, affectionate gesture demonstrating the Prophet's teaching methodology - combining physical closeness with spiritual instruction.
The Structure of Night Prayer
The sequence of two rak'at prayers performed five times (totaling ten rak'at) followed by Witr represents the optimal method of night prayer. Scholars note this pattern allows for frequent breaks and renewal of intention, maintaining devotion throughout the night.
The final Witr prayer concludes the night worship, following the Prophetic practice of making Witr the last prayer of the night. The subsequent brief rest and Fajr Sunnah prayers complete this beautiful cycle of worship.
Legal Rulings and Spiritual Benefits
Islamic jurists derive from this hadith that sleeping before Witr is permissible if one intends to wake up for it later. The Prophet's practice also confirms the legitimacy of praying night prayers in congregation occasionally.
Spiritually, this narration teaches the importance of consistency in worship, the value of secluding oneself with Allah in the latter part of the night, and how to balance worship with necessary rest.