Abdullah bin Shaqiq (may Allah have mercy on him) narrates: I asked Umm al-Mu'mineen Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) about the voluntary prayers of Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). She replied: Sometimes the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) would spend a long portion of the night standing in prayer, and sometimes he would spend a long portion of the night sitting in prayer. When he recited (Qur'an) standing, he would also perform bowing (ruku') and prostration (sujood) standing, and when he recited sitting, he would also perform bowing and prostration sitting.