The Prophet (ﷺ) used some palm fiber mats to section off a small area in the masjid. And the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prayed in it for several nights until the people gathered around him. Then, one night they did not hear his voice, and they thought that he was sleeping, so they cleared their throats to make him come out to them. He said: 'You kept doing that until I feared that it would be made obligatory for you, and if it were made obligatory, you would not be able to do it. O people, pray in your houses, for the best prayer a person offers is in his house, apart from the prescribed (obligatory) prayers.'"
Hadith Context & Significance
This narration from Sunan an-Nasa'i 1599 in "The Book of Qiyam Al-Lail (The Night Prayer) and Voluntary Prayers During the Day" demonstrates the Prophet's wisdom in gradually introducing voluntary night prayers while preventing hardship upon his community.
The Prophet initially prayed in a visible section of the mosque to teach by example, but when excessive public enthusiasm developed, he withdrew to avoid making this supererogatory act burdensome through potential obligation.
Scholarly Commentary on the Action
The use of palm fiber mats (hasir) shows the simplicity of early Islamic worship spaces and the Prophet's preference for modesty over grandeur in places of devotion.
His withdrawal when people gathered excessively reflects the Islamic principle of avoiding what may lead to innovation (bid'ah) or undue difficulty in worship, demonstrating prophetic foresight in preserving the voluntary nature of night prayers.
Jurisprudential Ruling on Prayer Location
The statement "the best prayer a person offers is in his house, apart from the prescribed prayers" establishes the superior merit of performing voluntary prayers in one's home rather than the mosque.
Scholars explain this preference serves multiple purposes: it makes the home a place of blessing, protects one's sincerity from ostentation, maintains the distinction between obligatory and supererogatory acts, and prevents unnecessary burden on worshippers.
Spiritual Wisdom & Practical Application
The phrase "I feared that it would be made obligatory" reveals how Allah protects the ummah through the Prophet's insight, preventing what would be too difficult for most people to consistently maintain.
This teaching encourages balance in worship - being diligent in voluntary acts while maintaining sustainability and avoiding extremes that may lead to abandonment of religious practice altogether.