The Night Prayer of the Beloved

This narration from Ash-Shama'il Al-Muhammadiyah 265 describes the consistent worship practice of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) during the night hours. The thirteen rak'ahs include the Witr prayer, which is the concluding prayer of the night.

Scholarly Commentary

Imam al-Nawawi explains in his commentary that these thirteen cycles typically consisted of eight rak'ahs of Tahajjud, two rak'ahs of the Sunnah prayer before Fajr, and three rak'ahs of Witr. This demonstrates the Prophet's balance between worship and rest.

Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani notes that the Prophet (ﷺ) would sometimes shorten these prayers when traveling or when circumstances required, showing the flexibility within Islamic worship while maintaining the essence of devotion.

Spiritual Significance

The night prayer represents the highest form of voluntary worship, performed when others sleep and distractions are minimal. It reflects the Prophet's profound connection with his Lord and his role as the perfect guide for humanity.

This practice teaches us the importance of seeking private communion with Allah during the stillness of night, when hearts are most receptive to divine remembrance and supplication.