It was narrated that Anas bin Malik said: "We waited for the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) one night until it was nearly halfway through the night. Then he came and prayed, then he turned to face us, and it is as if I can see the brightness of his silver ring on his hand."

وَحَدَّثَنِى حَجَّاجُ بْنُ الشَّاعِرِ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو زَيْدٍ سَعِيدُ بْنُ الرَّبِيعِ حَدَّثَنَا قُرَّةُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ عَنْ قَتَادَةَ عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ قَالَ نَظَرْنَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- لَيْلَةً حَتَّى كَانَ قَرِيبٌ مِنْ نِصْفِ اللَّيْلِ ثُمَّ جَاءَ فَصَلَّى ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ عَلَيْنَا بِوَجْهِهِ فَكَأَنَّمَا أَنْظُرُ إِلَى وَبِيصِ خَاتَمِهِ فِى يَدِهِ مِنْ فِضَّةٍ.

It was narrated that Abu Musa said: "My companions and I - who came with me in the ship - were staying in the valley of Buthan, and the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) was in Al-Madinah. Every night it would be the turn of a group of them to go to the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) at the time of 'Isha' prayer." Abu Musa said: "My companions and I went to the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w), but something kept him busy until he prayed while it was very dark, almost halfway through the night. Then the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) came out and led them in prayer, and when he had finished his prayer he said to those who were present: 'Wait! I will tell you something and give you glad tidings. It is Allah's blessing to you that no one else among the people is praying at this hour except you."' Abu Musa said: "We went back rejoicing at what we had heard from the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w)."

وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَامِرٍ الأَشْعَرِىُّ وَأَبُو كُرَيْبٍ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ عَنْ بُرَيْدٍ عَنْ أَبِى بُرْدَةَ عَنْ أَبِى مُوسَى قَالَ كُنْتُ أَنَا وَأَصْحَابِى الَّذِينَ قَدِمُوا مَعِى فِى السَّفِينَةِ نُزُولاً فِى بَقِيعِ بُطْحَانَ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- بِالْمَدِينَةِ فَكَانَ يَتَنَاوَبُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- عِنْدَ صَلاَةِ الْعِشَاءِ كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ نَفَرٌ مِنْهُمْ قَالَ أَبُو مُوسَى فَوَافَقْنَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- أَنَا وَأَصْحَابِى وَلَهُ بَعْضُ الشُّغُلِ فِى أَمْرِهِ حَتَّى أَعْتَمَ بِالصَّلاَةِ حَتَّى ابْهَارَّ اللَّيْلُ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- فَصَلَّى بِهِمْ فَلَمَّا قَضَى صَلاَتَهُ قَالَ لِمَنْ حَضَرَهُ « عَلَى رِسْلِكُمْ أُعْلِمُكُمْ وَأَبْشِرُوا أَنَّ مِنْ نِعْمَةِ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ أَنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِنَ النَّاسِ أَحَدٌ يُصَلِّى هَذِهِ السَّاعَةَ غَيْرُكُمْ ». أَوْ قَالَ « مَا صَلَّى هَذِهِ السَّاعَةَ أَحَدٌ غَيْرُكُمْ ». لاَ نَدْرِى أَىَّ الْكَلِمَتَيْنِ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو مُوسَى فَرَجَعْنَا فَرِحِينَ بِمَا سَمِعْنَا مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم-.

Ibn Juraij said: "I said to 'Ata': 'Which time do you like most to pray 'Isha' - which the people call Al-'Atamah - as an Imam or alone?' He said: 'I heard Ibn 'Abbas say: "The Prophet of Allah (s.a.w) prayed 'Isha' one night when it was very dark, when the people had fallen asleep and woken up, and fallen asleep again and woken up. Then 'Umar bin Al-Khattab stood up and said. 'The prayer."' 'Ata' said: 'Ibn 'Abbas said: "Then the Prophet of Allah (s.a.w) came out, and it is as if I can see him now, with his head dripping water, placing his hand on the side of his head and saying: 'Were it not that it would be too difficult for my Ummah, I would have commanded them to pray it like this (at this time)."' I asked 'Ata' how the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) placed his hand on his head as Ibn 'Abbas had said. 'Ata' spread his fingers a little and placed the ends of his fingers on the side of his head, then he moved them like this until his thumb was touching the side of his ear that is next to the face, then over the edge of the ear and the end of his beard, but he did not hold on to anything, except like this. I said to 'Ata': "How long did he delay ('Isha') that night?" He said: "I do not know." Ata' said: "I like most to pray 'Isha' late, whether as an Imam or alone, as the Prophet (s.a.w) prayed it on that night. If that is too hard for you, whether you are praying alone or as an Imam leading the people in congregation, then pray it at the middle hour, neither too early nor too late."

وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَافِعٍ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لِعَطَاءٍ أَىُّ حِينٍ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْكَ أَنْ أُصَلِّىَ الْعِشَاءَ الَّتِى يَقُولُهَا النَّاسُ الْعَتَمَةَ إِمَامًا وَخِلْوًا قَالَ سَمِعْتُ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ يَقُولُ أَعْتَمَ نَبِىُّ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- ذَاتَ لَيْلَةٍ الْعِشَاءَ - قَالَ - حَتَّى رَقَدَ نَاسٌ وَاسْتَيْقَظُوا وَرَقَدُوا وَاسْتَيْقَظُوا فَقَامَ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ فَقَالَ الصَّلاَةَ. فَقَالَ عَطَاءٌ قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ فَخَرَجَ نَبِىُّ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- كَأَنِّى أَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِ الآنَ يَقْطُرُ رَأْسُهُ مَاءً وَاضِعًا يَدَهُ عَلَى شِقِّ رَأْسِهِ قَالَ « لَوْلاَ أَنْ يَشُقَّ عَلَى أُمَّتِى لأَمَرْتُهُمْ أَنْ يُصَلُّوهَا كَذَلِكَ ». قَالَ فَاسْتَثْبَتُّ عَطَاءً كَيْفَ وَضَعَ النَّبِىُّ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- يَدَهُ عَلَى رَأْسِهِ كَمَا أَنْبَأَهُ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ فَبَدَّدَ لِى عَطَاءٌ بَيْنَ أَصَابِعِهِ شَيْئًا مِنْ تَبْدِيدٍ ثُمَّ وَضَعَ أَطْرَافَ أَصَابِعِهِ عَلَى قَرْنِ الرَّأْسِ ثُمَّ صَبَّهَا يُمِرُّهَا كَذَلِكَ عَلَى الرَّأْسِ حَتَّى مَسَّتْ إِبْهَامُهُ طَرَفَ الأُذُنِ مِمَّا يَلِى الْوَجْهَ ثُمَّ عَلَى الصُّدْغِ وَنَاحِيَةِ اللِّحْيَةِ لاَ يُقَصِّرُ وَلاَ يَبْطِشُ بِشَىْءٍ إِلاَّ كَذَلِكَ. قُلْتُ لِعَطَاءٍ كَمْ ذُكِرَ لَكَ أَخَّرَهَا النَّبِىُّ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- لَيْلَتَئِذٍ قَالَ لاَ أَدْرِى. قَالَ عَطَاءٌ أَحَبُّ إِلَىَّ أَنْ أُصَلِّيَهَا إِمَامًا وَخِلْوًا مُؤَخَّرَةً كَمَا صَلاَّهَا النَّبِىُّ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- لَيْلَتَئِذٍ فَإِنْ شَقَّ عَلَيْكَ ذَلِكَ خِلْوًا أَوْ عَلَى النَّاسِ فِى الْجَمَاعَةِ وَأَنْتَ إِمَامُهُمْ فَصَلِّهَا وَسَطًا لاَ مُعَجَّلَةً وَلاَ مُؤَخَّرَةً.

It was narrated that Jabir bin Samurah said: "The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) used to offer the (other) prayers as you do, but he used to delay 'Isha' later than you do, and he used to make his prayers brief."

وَحَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ وَأَبُو كَامِلٍ الْجَحْدَرِىُّ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ عَنْ سِمَاكٍ عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ سَمُرَةَ قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- يُصَلِّى الصَّلَوَاتِ نَحْوًا مِنْ صَلاَتِكُمْ وَكَانَ يُؤَخِّرُ الْعَتَمَةَ بَعْدَ صَلاَتِكُمْ شَيْئًا وَكَانَ يُخِفُّ الصَّلاَةَ. وَفِى رِوَايَةِ أَبِى كَامِلٍ يُخَفِّفُ.

It was narrated that 'Abdullah bin 'Umar said: "I heard the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) say: 'Do not let the Bedouins overpower you with regard to the name of your prayer. It is 'Isha', but they delay milking their camels until it is very dark."

وَحَدَّثَنِى زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ وَابْنُ أَبِى عُمَرَ قَالَ زُهَيْرٌ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِى لَبِيدٍ عَنْ أَبِى سَلَمَةَ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- يَقُولُ « لاَ تَغْلِبَنَّكُمُ الأَعْرَابُ عَلَى اسْمِ صَلاَتِكُمْ أَلاَ إِنَّهَا الْعِشَاءُ وَهُمْ يُعْتِمُونَ بِالإِبِلِ ».

'Urwah bin Az-Zubair narrated that 'Aishah, the wife of the Prophet (s.a.w), told him: "The believing women used to attend Fajr prayer with the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w), wrapped in their Mirt, then they would go back to their houses and no one would recognize them, because the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) would pray when it was still dark."

وَحَدَّثَنِى حَرْمَلَةُ بْنُ يَحْيَى أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ أَخْبَرَنِى يُونُسُ أَنَّ ابْنَ شِهَابٍ أَخْبَرَهُ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِى عُرْوَةُ بْنُ الزُّبَيْرِ أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ زَوْجَ النَّبِىِّ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- قَالَتْ لَقَدْ كَانَ نِسَاءٌ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَشْهَدْنَ الْفَجْرَ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- مُتَلَفِّعَاتٍ بِمُرُوطِهِنَّ ثُمَّ يَنْقَلِبْنَ إِلَى بُيُوتِهِنَّ وَمَا يُعْرَفْنَ مِنْ تَغْلِيسِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- بِالصَّلاَةِ.

It was narrated that 'Aishah said: "The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) used to pray Subh, then the women would leave, wrapped in their Mirt, and no one would recognize them because it was so dark."

وَحَدَّثَنَا نَصْرُ بْنُ عَلِىٍّ الْجَهْضَمِىُّ وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ مُوسَى الأَنْصَارِىُّ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا مَعْنٌ عَنْ مَالِكٍ عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ عَمْرَةَ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ إِنْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- لَيُصَلِّى الصُّبْحَ فَيَنْصَرِفُ النِّسَاءُ مُتَلَفِّعَاتٍ بِمُرُوطِهِنَّ مَا يُعْرَفْنَ مِنَ الْغَلَسِ. وَقَالَ الأَنْصَارِىُّ فِى رِوَايَتِهِ مُتَلَفِّفَاتٍ.

It was narrated that Muhammad bin 'Amr bin Al-Hasan bin 'Ali said: "When Al-Hajjaj came to Al-Madinah, we asked Jabir bin 'Abdullah and he said: 'The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) used to pray Zuhr at midday, 'Asr when the sun was still bright, Maghrib when the sun set, and sometimes he would delay 'Isha' and sometimes he would hasten to pray it. If he saw that they had gathered, he would pray early, and if he saw that they were coming late, he would delay it. And they'" - or he said: "'the Prophet (s.a.w) - used to pray Subh when it was still dark."'

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِى شَيْبَةَ حَدَّثَنَا غُنْدَرٌ عَنْ شُعْبَةَ ح قَالَ وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى وَابْنُ بَشَّارٍ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِىٍّ قَالَ لَمَّا قَدِمَ الْحَجَّاجُ الْمَدِينَةَ فَسَأَلْنَا جَابِرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- يُصَلِّى الظُّهْرَ بِالْهَاجِرَةِ وَالْعَصْرَ وَالشَّمْسُ نَقِيَّةٌ وَالْمَغْرِبَ إِذَا وَجَبَتْ وَالْعِشَاءَ أَحْيَانًا يُؤَخِّرُهَا وَأَحْيَانًا يُعَجِّلُ كَانَ إِذَا رَآهُمْ قَدِ اجْتَمَعُوا عَجَّلَ وَإِذَا رَآهُمْ قَدْ أَبْطَئُوا أَخَّرَ وَالصُّبْحَ كَانُوا أَوْ - قَالَ - كَانَ النَّبِىُّ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- يُصَلِّيهَا بِغَلَسٍ.

It was narrated from Shu'bah who said: "Sayyar bin Salamah informed me: 'I heard my father asking Abu Barzah about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w).'" He said: "I said: 'Did you hear him?' He said: 'It is as if I can hear him now.' He said: 'I heard my father asking him about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w).'" He said: "He did not mind delaying some of them," meaning 'Isha', "until halfway through the night, and he did not like to sleep before 'Isha' nor speak afterwards." Shu'bah said: "Then I met him later on and I asked him, and he said: 'He used to pray Zuhr when the sun passed its zenith, and he prayed 'Asr and a man could go to the farthest part of Al-Madinah and the sun would still be bright.' As for Maghrib, I do not know what time he mentioned. Then I met him after that and I asked him, and he said: 'He used to pray Subh and a man would leave, looking at his companion whom he knew, and he would recognize him. And he used to recite between sixty and one hundred verses in it."'

وَحَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ حَبِيبٍ الْحَارِثِىُّ حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدُ بْنُ الْحَارِثِ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ أَخْبَرَنِى سَيَّارُ بْنُ سَلاَمَةَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبِى يَسْأَلُ أَبَا بَرْزَةَ عَنْ صَلاَةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- - قَالَ - قُلْتُ آنْتَ سَمِعْتَهُ قَالَ فَقَالَ كَأَنَّمَا أَسْمَعُكَ السَّاعَةَ - قَالَ - سَمِعْتُ أَبِى يَسْأَلُهُ عَنْ صَلاَةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- فَقَالَ كَانَ لاَ يُبَالِى بَعْضَ تَأْخِيرِهَا - قَالَ يَعْنِى الْعِشَاءَ - إِلَى نِصْفِ اللَّيْلِ وَلاَ يُحِبُّ النَّوْمَ قَبْلَهَا وَلاَ الْحَدِيثَ بَعْدَهَا. قَالَ شُعْبَةُ ثُمَّ لَقِيتُهُ بَعْدُ فَسَأَلْتُهُ فَقَالَ وَكَانَ يُصَلِّى الظُّهْرَ حِينَ تَزُولُ الشَّمْسُ وَالْعَصْرَ يَذْهَبُ الرَّجُلُ إِلَى أَقْصَى الْمَدِينَةِ وَالشَّمْسُ حَيَّةٌ - قَالَ - وَالْمَغْرِبَ لاَ أَدْرِى أَىَّ حِينٍ ذَكَرَ. قَالَ ثُمَّ لَقِيتُهُ بَعْدُ فَسَأَلْتُهُ فَقَالَ وَكَانَ يُصَلِّى الصُّبْحَ فَيَنْصَرِفُ الرَّجُلُ فَيَنْظُرُ إِلَى وَجْهِ جَلِيسِهِ الَّذِى يَعْرِفُ فَيَعْرِفُهُ. قَالَ وَكَانَ يَقْرَأُ فِيهَا بِالسِّتِّينَ إِلَى الْمِائَةِ.

It was narrated from Shu'bah from Sayyar bin Salamah who said: "I heard Abu Barzah say: 'The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) did not mind delaying 'Isha' prayer until halfway through the night. He did not like to sleep before it nor speak after it."' Shu'bah said: "Then I met him again, and he said: 'Or until one-third of the way through the night.'"

حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُعَاذٍ حَدَّثَنَا أَبِى حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ عَنْ سَيَّارِ بْنِ سَلاَمَةَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا بَرْزَةَ يَقُولُ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- لاَ يُبَالِى بَعْضَ تَأْخِيرِ صَلاَةِ الْعِشَاءِ إِلَى نِصْفِ اللَّيْلِ وَكَانَ لاَ يُحِبُّ النَّوْمَ قَبْلَهَا وَلاَ الْحَدِيثَ بَعْدَهَا. قَالَ شُعْبَةُ ثُمَّ لَقِيتُهُ مَرَّةً أُخْرَى فَقَالَ أَوْ ثُلُثِ اللَّيْلِ.