Anas bin Malik reported: (The people) stood up for the night prayer and a man stood up and spoke forth: Messenger of Allah, I have to say something to you. He (the Prophet) entered into secret conversation with him, till the people or some of the people dozed off, ad then he led them in prayer. He (Thabit al-Bunani) did not mention ablution.

Humaid reported: I asked Thabit al-Bunani whether it was permissible for a man to talk after the qamah had been pronounced. He narrated a tradition on the authority of Anas: (once) the Iqamah was pronounced, and a person came to the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم and detained him after the Iqamah had been pronounced.

Anas reported: the Iqamah was pronounced (for the night prayer) and the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم remained engaged in talking (to a person) in the corner of the mosque. He did not begin prayer until the people slept.