It is narrated from Umm al-Mu'minin Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "There is no person who habitually prays every night, then (one day) sleep overcomes him, except that Allah, the Lord of Might and Majesty, writes the reward of the prayer for him, and his sleep will be charity for him."

It is narrated from Umm al-Mu'mineen Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that I used to sleep in front of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and my feet would be in front of him. So when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) would go into prostration, he would press me, so I would draw up my feet. Then when he stood up, I would stretch out my feet again. Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) says that in those days there were no lamps in the houses.

It is narrated from Umm al-Mu'minin Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "When any of you becomes drowsy during prayer, let him sleep until his sleep is over, because if he prays while sleepy, he may intend to seek forgiveness but (due to the overpowering of sleep) may begin to curse himself instead."

Ismail bin Hakeem heard from the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, that he mentioned a woman who used to pray all night. He asked, "Who is this woman?" The people said, "She is Hawla, the daughter of Tuwait, who does not sleep at night." The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, disliked this matter to the extent that displeasure became apparent on his blessed face. Then the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: "Allah does not tire (of giving reward) until you tire (of worship), so do as much as you are able."

It is narrated from Aslam that Sayyiduna Umar bin Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, used to pray at night as much as Allah willed, and when the last part of the night came, he would wake his family for prayer and say to them, "Prayer, prayer!" Then he would recite this verse: "And enjoin prayer upon your family and be steadfast therein. We do not ask you for provision; We provide for you. And the good end is for those who are righteous."

Imam Malik, may Allah have mercy on him, was informed that Hazrat Sa'id bin al-Musayyib, may Allah have mercy on him, used to say that sleeping before the 'Isha prayer and talking after the 'Isha prayer is disliked.

Imam Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) was informed that Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) used to say that the voluntary prayers of the day and night are in sets of two rak'ahs. After every two rak'ahs, one should say the salam.

Imam Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) said: In our view, this is the ruling.