I asked 'A'isha about the Messenger of Allah's (ﷺ) voluntary prayers, and she replied: Before the noon prayer, he used to pray four rak'ahs in my house; then would go out and lead the people in prayer; then come in and pray two rak'ahs. He would then lead the people in the sunset prayer; then come in and pray two rak'ahs. Then he would lead the people in the 'Isha' prayer, and enter my house and pray two rak'ahs. He would pray nine rak'ahs during the night, including Witr. At night he would pray for a long time standing and for a long time sitting, and when he recited the Holy Qur'an while standing, he would bow and prostrate himself from the standing position, and when he recited while sitting, he would bow and prostrate himself from the sitting position, and when it was dawn he would pray two rak'ahs.
The Book of Prayer - Travellers
Sahih Muslim - Hadith Reference: Sahih Muslim 730a
Textual Analysis
This noble hadith from the Mother of Believers 'A'isha (may Allah be pleased with her) comprehensively details the voluntary prayers (nawafil) of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) throughout the day and night, demonstrating his perfect devotion beyond the obligatory prayers.
Commentary on Daytime Voluntary Prayers
The four rak'ahs before Dhuhr are known as Sunnah al-Rawatib, highly emphasized prayers that the Prophet (ﷺ) never abandoned whether at home or traveling. The two rak'ahs after Dhuhr complete the six rak'ahs of confirmed Sunnah for this prayer time.
The two rak'ahs after Maghrib and two after 'Isha' are among the recommended prayers that bring immense reward and draw one closer to Allah. These demonstrate the Prophet's continuous connection with his Lord throughout the day.
Night Prayer (Tahajjud) Explanation
The nine rak'ahs of night prayer including Witr represent the Qiyam al-Layl, the crown of the righteous. The Prophet (ﷺ) would combine standing and sitting positions during recitation, showing flexibility in worship while maintaining lengthy devotion.
Reciting while standing then bowing from standing position, or reciting while sitting then bowing from sitting position, demonstrates the permissibility of both methods and the importance of adapting worship to one's capability while maintaining proper form.
Fajr Sunnah Prayer
The two rak'ahs at dawn are the Sunnah of Fajr, which the Prophet (ﷺ) described as "better than this world and all it contains." He would pray them lightly, often reciting short surahs, yet never missed them even when traveling.
Legal Rulings Derived
This hadith establishes the legitimacy of praying voluntary prayers at home, the virtue of praying Sunnah before and after obligatory prayers, the permissibility of combining standing and sitting in night prayer, and the confirmed practice of two rak'ahs before Fajr.
It also shows the Prophet's balance between leading the community in congregational prayer and maintaining his personal devotion in private, teaching us the importance of both public and private worship.