Shuraih bin Hani says: I asked Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) about the prayer of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). She said: When you were engaged in conversation, there was no prayer more appropriate to delay than the Isha prayer. Then, when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would perform this prayer and come to me, he would offer four or six rak'ahs afterwards, and I never saw him spreading anything to protect himself from the ground. Yes, I do remember that on a rainy day we placed a mat under him, but it is as if I can still see water gushing from its torn place.