Sayyida Aisha Siddiqa (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates: Once, Hawla bint Tuwait passed by her. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was also present with her. Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates: I said, "This is Hawla bint Tuwait. People say that she does not sleep at night." Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates: The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "She does not sleep at night? You people should do as much (good) deeds as you have the strength for. By Allah! Allah’s bounty does not cease until you yourselves become weary."

Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: Once the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) passed by a rope tied between two pillars in the mosque. He inquired: "What is this rope for?" The people replied: "So-and-so woman performs prayer, and when she fears sleep overcoming her, she holds onto it." The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "She should pray as long as she is alert, and when sleep overcomes her, she should go to sleep."

Suwaid bin Ghaflah narrates: He went to visit Zar bin Hubaysh during his illness. He reported: Sayyiduna Abu Dharr Ghifari (may Allah be pleased with him) (the narrator is in doubt) or perhaps Sayyiduna Abu Darda (may Allah be pleased with him)—this doubt is from the narrator named Shu’bah—he stated that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said:“Whoever intends in his mind to perform voluntary prayers during a part of the night, but he remains asleep at that time, then that sleep is a charity from Allah Almighty upon him, and that person receives the reward according to his intention.”

Aswad reports: We asked Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) about the night prayer of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): She replied: He would sleep in the early part of the night and perform voluntary prayers in the last part of the night.

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Amr al-As (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates this statement of the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): "The most beloved prayer to Allah Almighty is the prayer of Sayyiduna Dawud (peace be upon him); he used to sleep for half the night, offer voluntary prayers for one third of the night, and then sleep for one sixth of the night. And the most beloved way of fasting to Allah Almighty is the way of fasting of Sayyiduna Dawud (peace be upon him); he used to fast one day and not fast the next day."

Sayyiduna Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: Whenever the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) would wake up at night, he would use the miswak.

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates: Once, he spent the night at the house of the noble wife of the Prophet (peace be upon him), Sayyidah Maymunah (may Allah be pleased with her), who was the maternal aunt of Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with her). He narrates: I lay down on the bed widthwise. The Prophet (peace be upon him) and his wife lay down lengthwise. The Prophet (peace be upon him) slept until, when half the night had passed—or perhaps a little before or after that—the Prophet (peace be upon him) awoke. He wiped his hands over his face to remove the effects of sleep, then he recited the last ten verses of Surah Al-Imran. Then he went to the hanging water-skin, performed ablution from it, and performed ablution well. Then he stood and began to pray. Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: I got up and did as the Prophet (peace be upon him) had done. Then I came and stood by his side. The Prophet (peace be upon him) placed his blessed hand on my head and took hold of my right ear and began to twist it. He performed two rak‘ahs of prayer, then performed two rak‘ahs, then two rak‘ahs, then two rak‘ahs, then two rak‘ahs, then he performed Witr. Then he lay down (and slept) until the mu’adhdhin came to him. He got up, performed two short rak‘ahs, then went out to lead the morning prayer.

Aswad reports: I asked Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) about the night prayer of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): She said: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would sleep in the early part of the night. Then he would wake up and perform prayer. When the time for suhoor would approach, he would perform witr. If he had any need from his wife, he would fulfill it, otherwise he would sleep. Then, when he heard the call to prayer, he would get up. If he was in a state of janabah, he would perform ghusl, otherwise he would perform wudu and proceed for the prayer. (Here the narrator has clarified some words)

Sayyiduna Rabi’ bin Ka’b Aslami (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: Once, I was with the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) at night. I brought water for his ablution and to fulfill his needs. The Prophet (peace be upon him) kept reciting during his night prayers:“Glory is to my Lord, and praise is for Him; glory is to my Lord, praise is for Him.”He continued reciting this for quite a while. Then he kept reciting:“Glory is to the Lord of all the worlds, and glory is to the Lord of all the worlds.”He continued reciting this for quite a while.

Sayyiduna Rabi’ bin Ka’b Aslami (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: I spent the night near the chamber of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) when he was performing voluntary prayers at night, so I kept listening to him. He was reciting:“Glory be to the Lord of all the worlds.”You kept reciting this for quite a while,“Allah, the Exalted, is free from every defect, and all praise is due to Him alone.”