'A'isha reported that when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) decided upon doing any act, he continued to do it, and when he slept at night or fell sick he observed twelve rak'ahs during the daytime. I am not aware of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) observing prayer during the whole of the night till morning, or observing fast for a whole month continuously except that of Ramadan.
The Book of Prayer - Travellers
Sahih Muslim 746 f - Commentary by Imam An-Nawawi
Textual Analysis
This noble hadith from the Mother of Believers 'A'isha (may Allah be pleased with her) establishes several important principles regarding the Prophet's worship practices. The phrase "when he decided upon doing any act, he continued to do it" demonstrates the virtue of consistency in righteous deeds rather than sporadic intensity.
The twelve rak'ahs mentioned refer to the confirmed Sunnah prayers (rawatib) that the Prophet maintained with remarkable regularity, making them up if missed due to sleep or illness.
Legal Rulings
Scholars derive from this that the twelve rak'ahs of Sunnah prayers are highly emphasized and should be maintained regularly. These include: two before Fajr, four before Dhuhr and two after, two after Maghrib, and two after Isha.
The Prophet's making up these prayers indicates their importance and that they remain recommended even if missed at their proper times.
Spiritual Insights
The Prophet's avoidance of praying all night or fasting entire months beyond Ramadan teaches us the middle path in worship - avoiding both negligence and excessive rigor. This reflects the divine wisdom in establishing a balanced spiritual life that can be sustained without causing hardship.
His consistency in good deeds, rather than occasional intensity, provides the perfect model for spiritual development that endures throughout one's life.