“Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) used to perform eleven cycles of ritual prayer during the night, making one of them odd-numbered [witr], and when he had finished, he would recline on his right side.”
The Night Prayer of the Prophet
This narration from Ash-Shama'il Al-Muhammadiyah 270 describes the blessed nightly worship of Allah's Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace). The eleven cycles mentioned comprise eight rak'ahs of Tahajjud followed by two rak'ahs of light prayer (Salat al-Khafifah), culminating in the single witr prayer, thus totaling eleven.
Scholarly Commentary on the Prayer Sequence
The scholars explain that the Prophet's practice demonstrates the excellence of night prayers, which bring one closer to Allah. The odd-numbered prayer (witr) holds special merit as the seal of night worship, as mentioned in another hadith: "Make witr the last of your prayers at night."
The reclining on the right side after completion indicates the permissibility of resting after night prayers and reflects the Prophet's balanced approach to worship - neither excessive nor neglectful. This position also facilitates remembrance of Allah and preparation for the dawn prayer.
Spiritual Significance
This practice teaches us the importance of consistency in night worship while maintaining moderation. The specific number of cycles shows that quality surpasses quantity in devotion. The final reclining position symbolizes complete trust in Allah after fulfilling one's duties of worship.
From "Worship And Devotion Of Rasoolullah" in Ash-Shama'il Al-Muhammadiyah, we learn that the Prophet's nightly routine combined rigorous devotion with practical wisdom, setting the perfect example for his ummah in balancing spiritual and physical needs.