Section 1: Verses 1–21
Thematic progression across verses 1–21
وَٱلَّيۡلِ إِذَا يَغۡشَىٰ 1
Wallaili izaa yaghshaa
By the night as it covers
وَٱلنَّهَارِ إِذَا تَجَلَّىٰ 2
Wannahaari izaa tajalla
And the day as it reveals
وَمَا خَلَقَ ٱلذَّكَرَ وَٱلۡأُنثَىٰٓ 3
Wa maa khalaqaz zakara wal unthaa
And He who created the male and the female
إِنَّ سَعۡيَكُمۡ لَشَتَّىٰ 4
Inna sa'yakum lashattaa
Your endeavors are indeed diverse
فَأَمَّا مَنۡ أَعۡطَىٰ وَٱتَّقَىٰ 5
Fa ammaa man a'taa wattaqaa
As for him who gives and is righteous
وَصَدَّقَ بِٱلۡحُسۡنَىٰ 6
Wa saddaqa bil husnaa
And confirms goodness
فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُۥ لِلۡيُسۡرَىٰ 7
Fasanu yassiruhoo lilyusraa
We will ease his way towards ease
وَأَمَّا مَنۢ بَخِلَ وَٱسۡتَغۡنَىٰ 8
Wa ammaa mam bakhila wastaghnaa
But as for him who is stingy and complacent
وَكَذَّبَ بِٱلۡحُسۡنَىٰ 9
Wa kazzaba bil husnaa
And denies goodness
فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُۥ لِلۡعُسۡرَىٰ 10
Fasanu yassiruhoo lil'usraa
We will ease his way towards difficulty
وَمَا يُغۡنِي عَنۡهُ مَالُهُۥٓ إِذَا تَرَدَّىٰٓ 11
Wa maa yughnee 'anhu maaluhooo izaa taraddaa
And his money will not avail him when he plummets
إِنَّ عَلَيۡنَا لَلۡهُدَىٰ 12
Inna 'alainaa lal hudaa
It is upon Us to guide
وَإِنَّ لَنَا لَلۡأٓخِرَةَ وَٱلۡأُولَىٰ 13
Wa inna lanaa lal Aakhirata wal oolaa
And to Us belong the Last and the First
فَأَنذَرۡتُكُمۡ نَارࣰ ا تَلَظَّىٰ 14
Fa anzartukum naaran talazzaa
I have warned you of a Fierce Blaze
لَا يَصۡلَىٰهَآ إِلَّا ٱلۡأَشۡقَى 15
Laa yaslaahaaa illal ashqaa
None will burn in it except the very wicked
ٱلَّذِي كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّىٰ 16
Allazee kazzaba wa tawallaa
He who denies and turns away
وَسَيُجَنَّبُهَا ٱلۡأَتۡقَى 17
Wa sa yujannnabuhal atqaa
But the devout will avoid it
ٱلَّذِي يُؤۡتِي مَالَهُۥ يَتَزَكَّىٰ 18
Allazee yu'tee maalahoo yatazakkaa
He who gives his money to become pure
وَمَا لِأَحَدٍ عِندَهُۥ مِن نِّعۡمَةࣲ تُجۡزَىٰٓ 19
Wa maa li ahadin 'indahoo min ni'matin tujzaaa
Seeking no favor in return
إِلَّا ٱبۡتِغَآءَ وَجۡهِ رَبِّهِ ٱلۡأَعۡلَىٰ 20
Illab tighaaa'a wajhi rabbihil a 'laa
Only seeking the acceptance of his Lord, the Most High
وَلَسَوۡفَ يَرۡضَىٰ 21
Wa lasawfa yardaa
And he will be satisfied
Quran-Anchored Prophetic Context
Authentic narrations in the active corpus that explicitly cite, name, or explain verses in Surah Al-Lail.
حَدَّثَنَا مَالِكُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْرَائِيلُ، عَنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ،، قَالَ قَدِمْتُ الشَّأْمَ فَصَلَّيْتُ رَكْعَتَيْنِ، ثُمَّ قُلْتُ اللَّهُمَّ يَسِّرْ لِي جَلِيسًا صَالِحًا، فَأَتَيْتُ قَوْمًا فَجَلَسْتُ إِلَيْهِمْ، فَإِذَا شَيْخٌ قَدْ جَاءَ حَتَّى جَلَسَ إِلَى جَنْبِي، قُلْتُ مَنْ هَذَا قَالُوا أَبُو الدَّرْدَاءِ. فَقُلْتُ إِنِّي دَعَوْتُ اللَّهَ أَنْ يُيَسِّرَ لِي جَلِيسًا صَالِحًا فَيَسَّرَكَ لِي، قَالَ مِمَّنْ أَنْتَ قُلْتُ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكُوفَةِ. قَالَ أَوَلَيْسَ عِنْدَكُمُ ابْنُ أُمِّ عَبْدٍ صَاحِبُ النَّعْلَيْنِ وَالْوِسَادِ وَالْمِطْهَرَةِ وَفِيكُمُ الَّذِي أَجَارَهُ اللَّهُ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ عَلَى لِسَانِ نَبِيِّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَوَلَيْسَ فِيكُمْ صَاحِبُ سِرِّ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم الَّذِي لاَ يَعْلَمُ أَحَدٌ غَيْرُهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ كَيْفَ يَقْرَأُ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ {وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَى}، فَقَرَأْتُ عَلَيْهِ {وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَى * وَالنَّهَارِ إِذَا تَجَلَّى * وَالذَّكَرِ وَالأُنْثَى}. قَالَ وَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ أَقْرَأَنِيهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنْ فِيهِ إِلَى فِيَّ.
I went to Sham and offered a two-rak`at prayer and then said, "O Allah! Bless me with a good pious companion." So I went to some people and sat with them. An old man came and sat by my side. I asked, "Who is he?" They replied, "(He is) Abu-Ad-Darda.' I said (to him), "I prayed to Allah to bless me with a pious companion and He sent you to me." He asked me, "From where are you?" I replied, "From the people of Al-Kufa." He said, "Isn't there amongst you Ibn Um `Abd, the one who used to carry the shoes, the cushion(or pillow) and the water for ablution? Is there amongst you the one whom Allah gave Refuge from Satan through the request of His Prophet. Is there amongst you the one who keeps the secrets of the Prophet (ﷺ) which nobody knows except him?" Abu Darda further asked, "How does `Abdullah (bin Mas`ud) recite the Sura starting with, 'By the Night as it conceals (the light)." (92.1) Then I recited before him: 'By the Night as it envelops: And by the Day as it appears in brightness; And by male and female.' (91.1-3) On this Abu Ad-Darda' said, "By Allah, the Prophet (ﷺ) made me recite the Sura in this way while I was listening to him (reciting it).
حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى، عَنْ أَبِي عَوَانَةَ، عَنْ مُغِيرَةَ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ، دَخَلْتُ الشَّأْمَ فَصَلَّيْتُ رَكْعَتَيْنِ، فَقُلْتُ اللَّهُمَّ يَسِّرْ لِي جَلِيسًا. فَرَأَيْتُ شَيْخًا مُقْبِلاً، فَلَمَّا دَنَا قُلْتُ أَرْجُو أَنْ يَكُونَ اسْتَجَابَ. قَالَ مِنْ أَيْنَ أَنْتَ قُلْتُ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكُوفَةِ. قَالَ أَفَلَمْ يَكُنْ فِيكُمْ صَاحِبُ النَّعْلَيْنِ وَالْوِسَادِ وَالْمِطْهَرَةِ أَوَلَمْ يَكُنْ فِيكُمُ الَّذِي أُجِيرَ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ أَوَلَمْ يَكُنْ فِيكُمْ صَاحِبُ السِّرِّ الَّذِي لاَ يَعْلَمُهُ غَيْرُهُ كَيْفَ قَرَأَ ابْنُ أُمِّ عَبْدٍ {وَاللَّيْلِ} فَقَرَأْتُ {وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَى * وَالنَّهَارِ إِذَا تَجَلَّى * وَالذَّكَرِ وَالأُنْثَى}. قَالَ أَقْرَأَنِيهَا النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَاهُ إِلَى فِيَّ، فَمَا زَالَ هَؤُلاَءِ حَتَّى كَادُوا يَرُدُّونِي.
I went to Sham and was offering a two-rak`at prayer; I said, "O Allah! Bless me with a (pious) companion." Then I saw an old man coming towards me, and when he came near I said, (to myself), "I hope Allah has given me my request." The man asked (me), "Where are you from?" I replied, "I am from the people of Kufa." He said, "Weren't there amongst you the Carrier of the (Prophet's) shoes, Siwak and the ablution water container? Weren't there amongst you the man who was given Allah's Refuge from the Satan? And weren't there amongst you the man who used to keep the (Prophet's) secrets which nobody else knew? How did Ibn Um `Abd (i.e. `Abdullah bin Mas`ud) use to recite Surat-al-lail (the Night:92)?" I recited:-- "By the Night as it envelops By the Day as it appears in brightness. And by male and female." (92.1- 3) On that, Abu Darda said, "By Allah, the Prophet (ﷺ) made me read the Verse in this way after listening to him, but these people (of Sham) tried their best to let me say something different."
حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ قَدِمَ أَصْحَابُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَلَى أَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ فَطَلَبَهُمْ فَوَجَدَهُمْ فَقَالَ أَيُّكُمْ يَقْرَأُ عَلَى قِرَاءَةِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ كُلُّنَا. قَالَ فَأَيُّكُمْ يَحْفَظُ وَأَشَارُوا إِلَى عَلْقَمَةَ. قَالَ كَيْفَ سَمِعْتَهُ يَقْرَأُ {وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَى}. قَالَ عَلْقَمَةُ {وَالذَّكَرِ وَالأُنْثَى}. قَالَ أَشْهَدُ أَنِّي سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقْرَأُ هَكَذَا، وَهَؤُلاَءِ يُرِيدُونِي عَلَى أَنْ أَقْرَأَ {وَمَا خَلَقَ الذَّكَرَ وَالأُنْثَى} وَاللَّهِ لاَ أُتَابِعُهُمْ.
The companions of `Abdullah (bin Mas`ud) came to Abu Darda', (and before they arrived at his home), he looked for them and found them. Then he asked them,: 'Who among you can recite (Qur'an) as `Abdullah recites it?" They replied, "All of us." He asked, "Who among you knows it by heart?" They pointed at 'Alqama. Then he asked Alqama. "How did you hear `Abdullah bin Mas`ud reciting Surat Al-Lail (The Night)?" Alqama recited: 'By the male and the female.' Abu Ad-Darda said, "I testify that I heard me Prophet reciting it likewise, but these people want me to recite it:-- 'And by Him Who created male and female.' but by Allah, I will not follow them."
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عَدِيٍّ، عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ، وَمَنْصُورٍ، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ عُبَيْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ السُّلَمِيِّ، عَنْ عَلِيٍّ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ كُنَّا مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي جَنَازَةٍ فَجَعَلَ يَنْكُتُ الأَرْضَ بِعُودٍ، فَقَالَ " لَيْسَ مِنْكُمْ مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلاَّ وَقَدْ فُرِغَ مِنْ مَقْعَدِهِ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ وَالنَّارِ ". فَقَالُوا أَفَلاَ نَتَّكِلُ قَالَ " اعْمَلُوا فَكُلٌّ مُيَسَّرٌ ". {فَأَمَّا مَنْ أَعْطَى وَاتَّقَى} الآيَةَ.
We were with the Prophet (ﷺ) in a funeral procession, and he started scraping the ground with a small stick and said, "There is none amongst you but has been assigned a place (either) in Paradise and (or) in the Hell-Fire." The people said (to him), "Should we not depend upon it?" He said: carry on doing (good) deeds, for everybody will find easy such deeds as will lead him to his destined place. He then recited: "As for him who gives (in charity) and keeps his duty to Allah.." (92.5)
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدَانُ، عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ عُبَيْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ السُّلَمِيِّ، عَنْ عَلِيٍّ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ كُنَّا جُلُوسًا مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَمَعَهُ عُودٌ يَنْكُتُ فِي الأَرْضِ وَقَالَ " مَا مِنْكُمْ مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلاَّ قَدْ كُتِبَ مَقْعَدُهُ مِنَ النَّارِ أَوْ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ ". فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ أَلاَ نَتَّكِلُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ " لاَ اعْمَلُوا فَكُلٌّ مُيَسَّرٌ " ثُمَّ قَرَأَ {فَأَمَّا مَنْ أَعْطَى وَاتَّقَى} الآيَةَ.
While we were sitting with the Prophet (ﷺ) who had a stick with which he was scraping the earth, he lowered his head and said, "There is none of you but has his place assigned either in the Fire or in Paradise." Thereupon a man from the people said, "Shall we not depend upon this, O Allah's Apostle?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "No, but carry on and do your deeds, for everybody finds it easy to do such deeds (as will lead him to his place)." The Prophet (ﷺ) then recited the Verse: 'As for him who gives (in charity) and keeps his duty to Allah..' (92.5)
حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا غُنْدَرٌ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، وَالأَعْمَشِ، سَمِعَا سَعْدَ بْنَ عُبَيْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ عَلِيٍّ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُ كَانَ فِي جِنَازَةٍ فَأَخَذَ عُودًا فَجَعَلَ يَنْكُتُ فِي الأَرْضِ فَقَالَ " مَا مِنْكُمْ مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلاَّ كُتِبَ مَقْعَدُهُ مِنَ النَّارِ أَوْ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ ". قَالُوا أَلاَ نَتَّكِلُ. قَالَ " اعْمَلُوا فَكُلٌّ مُيَسَّرٌ {فَأَمَّا مَنْ أَعْطَى وَاتَّقَى} ". الآيَةَ.
While the Prophet (ﷺ) was in a funeral procession, he took a stick and started scraping the earth with it and said, "There is none of you but has his place assigned either in Hell or in Paradise." They (the people) said, "Shall we not depend upon that (and give up doing any deeds)?' He said, " Carry on doing (good deeds) for everybody will find it easy to do such deeds as will lead him to his destined place for which he has been created ." (And then the Prophet (ﷺ) recited the Verse):-- 'As for him who gives (in charity) and keeps his duty to Allah...' (92.5)
وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَأَبُو كُرَيْبٍ - وَاللَّفْظُ لأَبِي بَكْرٍ - قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ، قَالَ قَدِمْنَا الشَّامَ فَأَتَانَا أَبُو الدَّرْدَاءِ فَقَالَ أَفِيكُمْ أَحَدٌ يَقْرَأُ عَلَى قِرَاءَةِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ فَقُلْتُ نَعَمْ أَنَا . قَالَ فَكَيْفَ سَمِعْتَ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ يَقْرَأُ هَذِهِ الآيَةَ { وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَى} قَالَ سَمِعْتُهُ يَقْرَأُ { وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَى * وَالذَّكَرِ وَالأُنْثَى} . قَالَ وَأَنَا وَاللَّهِ هَكَذَا سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقْرَؤُهَا وَلَكِنْ هَؤُلاَءِ يُرِيدُونَ أَنْ أَقْرَأَ وَمَا خَلَقَ . فَلاَ أُتَابِعُهُمْ .
Is there anyone among you who recites according to the recitation of Abdullah? I said: Yes, it is I. He again said: How did you hear 'Abdullah reciting this verse: (wa'l-lail-i-idha yaghsha = when the night covers)? He ('Alqama) said: I heard him reciting it (like this) (wa'l-lail-i-idha yaghsha) wa-dhakar wal untha = when the night covers and the males and the females). Upon this he said: By Allah, I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) reciting in this way, but they (the Muslims of Syria) desire us to recite: (wa ma khalaqa), but I do not yield to their desire.
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ زُرَارَةَ، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ هِشَامٍ، أَنَّهُ لَقِيَ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ فَسَأَلَهُ عَنِ الْوَتْرِ، فَقَالَ أَلاَ أُنَبِّئُكَ بِأَعْلَمِ أَهْلِ الأَرْضِ بِوِتْرِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ نَعَمْ . قَالَ عَائِشَةُ ائْتِهَا فَسَلْهَا ثُمَّ ارْجِعْ إِلَىَّ فَأَخْبِرْنِي بِرَدِّهَا عَلَيْكَ فَأَتَيْتُ عَلَى حَكِيمِ بْنِ أَفْلَحَ فَاسْتَلْحَقْتُهُ إِلَيْهَا فَقَالَ مَا أَنَا بِقَارِبِهَا إِنِّي نَهَيْتُهَا أَنْ تَقُولَ فِي هَاتَيْنِ الشِّيعَتَيْنِ شَيْئًا فَأَبَتْ فِيهَا إِلاَّ مُضِيًّا . فَأَقْسَمْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَجَاءَ مَعِي فَدَخَلَ عَلَيْهَا فَقَالَتْ لِحَكِيمٍ مَنْ هَذَا مَعَكَ قُلْتُ سَعْدُ بْنُ هِشَامٍ . قَالَتْ مَنْ هِشَامٌ قُلْتُ ابْنُ عَامِرٍ . فَتَرَحَّمَتْ عَلَيْهِ وَقَالَتْ نِعْمَ الْمَرْءُ كَانَ عَامِرًا . قَالَ يَا أُمَّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَنْبِئِينِي عَنْ خُلُقِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم . قَالَتْ أَلَيْسَ تَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ قَالَ قُلْتُ بَلَى . قَالَتْ فَإِنَّ خُلُقَ نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم الْقُرْآنُ . فَهَمَمْتُ أَنْ أَقُومَ فَبَدَا لِي قِيَامُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ يَا أُمَّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَنْبِئِينِي عَنْ قِيَامِ نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم . قَالَتْ أَلَيْسَ تَقْرَأُ هَذِهِ السُّورَةَ { يَا أَيُّهَا الْمُزَّمِّلُ } قُلْتُ بَلَى . قَالَتْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ افْتَرَضَ قِيَامَ اللَّيْلِ فِي أَوَّلِ هَذِهِ السُّورَةِ فَقَامَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَصْحَابُهُ حَوْلاً حَتَّى انْتَفَخَتْ أَقْدَامُهُمْ وَأَمْسَكَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ خَاتِمَتَهَا اثْنَىْ عَشَرَ شَهْرًا ثُمَّ أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ التَّخْفِيفَ فِي آخِرِ هَذِهِ السُّورَةِ فَصَارَ قِيَامُ اللَّيْلِ تَطَوُّعًا بَعْدَ أَنْ كَانَ فَرِيضَةً فَهَمَمْتُ أَنْ أَقُومَ فَبَدَا لِي وِتْرُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقُلْتُ يَا أُمَّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَنْبِئِينِي عَنْ وِتْرِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم . قَالَتْ كُنَّا نُعِدُّ لَهُ سِوَاكَهُ وَطَهُورَهُ فَيَبْعَثُهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لِمَا شَاءَ أَنْ يَبْعَثَهُ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَيَتَسَوَّكُ وَيَتَوَضَّأُ وَيُصَلِّي ثَمَانِيَ رَكَعَاتٍ لاَ يَجْلِسُ فِيهِنَّ إِلاَّ عِنْدَ الثَّامِنَةِ يَجْلِسُ فَيَذْكُرُ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَيَدْعُو ثُمَّ يُسَلِّمُ تَسْلِيمًا يُسْمِعُنَا ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ بَعْدَ مَا يُسَلِّمُ ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي رَكْعَةً فَتِلْكَ إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً يَا بُنَىَّ فَلَمَّا أَسَنَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَخَذَ اللَّحْمَ أَوْتَرَ بِسَبْعٍ وَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ بَعْدَ مَا سَلَّمَ فَتِلْكَ تِسْعُ رَكَعَاتٍ يَا بُنَىَّ وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا صَلَّى صَلاَةً أَحَبَّ أَنْ يَدُومَ عَلَيْهَا وَكَانَ إِذَا شَغَلَهُ عَنْ قِيَامِ اللَّيْلِ نَوْمٌ أَوْ مَرَضٌ أَوْ وَجَعٌ صَلَّى مِنَ النَّهَارِ اثْنَتَىْ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً وَلاَ أَعْلَمُ أَنَّ نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَرَأَ الْقُرْآنَ كُلَّهُ فِي لَيْلَةٍ وَلاَ قَامَ لَيْلَةً كَامِلَةً حَتَّى الصَّبَاحِ وَلاَ صَامَ شَهْرًا كَامِلاً غَيْرَ رَمَضَانَ فَأَتَيْتُ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ فَحَدَّثْتُهُ بِحَدِيثِهَا فَقَالَ صَدَقَتْ أَمَا أَنِّي لَوْ كُنْتُ أَدْخُلُ عَلَيْهَا لأَتَيْتُهَا حَتَّى تُشَافِهَنِي مُشَافَهَةً . قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ كَذَا وَقَعَ فِي كِتَابِي وَلاَ أَدْرِي مِمَّنِ الْخَطَأُ فِي مَوْضِعِ وِتْرِهِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ .
He met Ibn 'Abbas and asked him about Witr. He said: "Shall I not lead you to one who knows best among the people of the world about the witr of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)?" He said: "Yes." (Ibn Abbas) said: "It is 'Aishah. So go to her and ask her (about witr) and then come back to me and tell me the answer that she gives you." So I went to Hakim bin Aflah and asked him to go accompany me to her. He said: "I shall not go to her, for I told her not to say anything about these two (conflicting) groups, but she refused (to accept my advice) and went on (to participate in the conflict)." I swore an oath, beseeching him (to take me to her). So he came with me and went unto her. She said to Hakim: "Who is this with you?" He said: "He is Sa'd bin Hisham." She said: "Which Hisham?" He said: "Ibn Amir." She supplicated for mercy for him and said: "What a good man Amir was." He said: "O Mother of the Believers, tell me about the character of the Messenger of Allah." She said: "Don't you read the Qur'an?" I said: "Yes." She said "The character of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was the Qur'an." He said: "I wanted to get up (and leave), then I thought of the Qiyam (night prayer) of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said: "Tell me about the Qiyam of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)." She said: "Do you not recite this surah: "O you wrapped in garments?" I said: "Yes." She said: "Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, made Qiyam Al-Lail obligatory at the beginning of this surah, so the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and his companions prayed Qiyam Al-Lail for one year. Allah (SWT) withheld the latter part of this surah for twelve months, then he revealed the lessening (of this duty) at the end of this surah, so Qiyam Al-Lail became voluntary after it had been obligatory." I felt inclined to stand up (and not ask anything further), then I thought of the witr of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). I said: "O Mother of the Believers, tell me about the witr of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)." She said: "We used to prepare his siwak and water for his ablution, and Allah (SWT) would wake him when He wished during the night. He would use the siwak, perform ablution, and then pray eight rak'ahs in which he would not sit until he reached the eighth one. Then he would sit and remember Allah (SWT) and supplicate, then he would say the taslim that we could hear. Then he would pray two rak'as sitting after uttering the taslim, then he would pray one rak'ah, and that made eleven rak'ahs, O my son! When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) grew older and put on weight, he prayed witr with seven rak'ahs, then he prayed two rak'ahs sitting down after saying the taslim, and that made nine rak'ahs. O my son, when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)offered a prayer, he liked to continue to offer it, and when sleep, sickness, or pain distracted him from praying Qiyam Al-Lail, he would pray twelve rak'ahs during the day. I am not aware of the Prophet of Allah (ﷺ) having recited the whole Qur'an during a single night, or praying through the whole night until morning, or fasting a complete month, except Ramadan." I went to Ibn 'Abbas and told him what she had said, and he said: "She has spoken the truth. If I could go to her (and meet her face to face) I would so that she could tell me all of that verbally."
حَدَّثَنَا آدَمُ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ سَعْدَ بْنَ عُبَيْدَةَ يُحَدِّثُ، عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ السُّلَمِيِّ، عَنْ عَلِيٍّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي جَنَازَةٍ، فَأَخَذَ شَيْئًا فَجَعَلَ يَنْكُتُ بِهِ فِي الأَرْضِ، فَقَالَ: مَا مِنْكُمْ مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلاَّ قَدْ كُتِبَ مَقْعَدُهُ مِنَ النَّارِ، وَمَقْعَدُهُ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ، قَالُوا: يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ، أَفَلاَ نَتَّكِلُ عَلَى كِتَابِنَا، وَنَدَعُ الْعَمَلَ؟ قَالَ: اعْمَلُوا، فَكُلٌّ مُيَسَّرٌ لِمَا خُلِقَ لَهُ، قَالَ: أَمَّا مَنْ كَانَ مِنْ أَهْلِ السَّعَادَةِ فَسَيُيَسَّرُ لِعَمَلِ السَّعَادَةِ، وَأَمَّا مَنْ كَانَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الشَّقَاوَةِ فَسَيُيَسَّرُ لِعَمَلِ الشَّقَاوَةِ، ثُمَّ قَرَأَ: {فَأَمَّا مَنْ أَعْطَى وَاتَّقَى وَصَدَّقَ بِالْحُسْنَى}.
'Ali said, "The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was in a funeral procession an he picked up something and began to scratch the ground with it. He said, 'There is none of you who does not have his seat written either in the Fire or in the Garden.' They said, 'Messenger of Allah, then should we not rely on what is written for us and abandon action?' 'Act.' he said. 'Every thing is easy if you were created for it.' He added, 'As for someone who is one of the people of happiness, it is easy for him to perform the actions of happiness. As for someone who is one of the people of wretchedness, it is easy for him to perform the actions of wretchedness.' Then he recited, 'As for him who gives out and has taqwa and confirms the Good' (92:5-10)