Hadith 1577

Kuraib, the freed slave of Ibn Abbas, reported: "I asked Ibn Abbas: 'How was the night prayer of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)?' He said: 'I spent a night with him while he was at Maymunah’s house. He slept until a third or half of the night had passed, then he woke up and went to a water skin, performed ablution, and I performed ablution with him. Then he stood up, and I stood to his left. He moved me to his right, placed his hand on my head as if he were touching my ear to wake me, and prayed two brief rak'ahs, reciting Surah Al-Fatihah in each rak'ah. Then he said the Salam. After that, he prayed until he had prayed eleven rak'ahs, including Witr. Then he slept until Bilal came and said: 'The prayer, O Messenger of Allah!' He stood and prayed two rak'ahs, then led the people in prayer.'"