| Hadiths

Bukhari Hadiths 1356
Muslim Hadiths 558

Hadith

1514

Narrated Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him): I saw Allah's Messenger ﷺ mounting his ride at Thoo al-Hulayfah and then started saying, "Labbaik" when the Mount stood upright..

Commentary : The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) would diligently observe the actions of the Prophet ﷺ to learn his traditions and the rites of religion, including the rite of pilgrimage.
In this hadeeth, ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that he saw Allah’s Messenger ﷺ mounting his camel when he departed from Thool al-Hulayfah to perform his farewell hajj. The location of Thoo al-Hulayfah is about 13 kms from al-Madeenah and about 408 kms from Makkah and is known today as the Wells of ‘Alee (Arabic: Abaar ‘Alee). It is considered the Meeqaat of al-Madeenah (i.e., the place from which the people of al-Madeenah enter their state of Ihraam) and the farthest of all Meeqaats from Makkah.
He (may Allah be pleased with him) then mentioned that after Allah’s Messenger ﷺ mounted his camel and it stood upright, he ﷺ said the words of Talbiyah aloud. The words of Talbiyah are mentioned in the hadeeth in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim, which Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated. The words are: “Labbayk-Allaahumma labbayk, labbayka laa shareeka laka labbayk, inna al-ḥamda, wal ni`matah, laka wal Mulk, laa shareeka lak”, which means: “I am here at Your service, O Allah, I am here at Your service. I am here at Your service, You have no partner, I am here at Your service. Surely the praise, and blessings are Yours, and the dominion. You have no partner.
One of the benefits to learn from this hadeeth is that the Talbiyah should be recited aloud when one begins his Ihraam, and when the mount stands upright, if it was an animal, or when riding the vehicle to start the journey..

1517

Narrated Thumaamah ibn ‘Abdullah ibn Anas: Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) performed the Hajj on a packsaddle, and he was not a miser. Anas related, "Allah's Messenger ﷺ performed Hajj on a packsaddle and the same Mount was carrying his baggage too.".

Commentary : The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) would diligently observe the actions of the Prophet ﷺ to learn his traditions and the rites of religion, including the rite of pilgrimage.
In this hadeeth, Thumaamah ibn ‘Abdullah reports that his grandfather, Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) performed the Hajj on a packsaddle, and he was not a miser, to indicate that he only did that out of humility and to follow the practice of the Prophet ﷺ. This is because at that time, people used to travel in a howdah, which is a closed compartment put on the back of the camel. Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) explained that the Prophet ﷺ performed the Hajj on a packsaddle, which is a kind of a seat put on the camel for the rider and to which loads can be attached. The reason he (may Allah be pleased with him) mentioned that his mount carried his baggage too is that the practice of high-status people at that time was to put their baggage on a different camel. This manifested the humbleness and humility of the Prophet ﷺ who travelled on a packsaddle that carried his baggage too.
One of the benefits to learn from this hadeeth is that we should be humble and show humility before Allah, Most High, in our journey for Hajj and to avoid any form of extravagance in this journey.
This hadeeth shows the keen interest of Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) to follow the example of the Prophet ﷺ..

1520

Narrated ‘AAaishah, the Mother of the Believers, (may Allah be pleased with her): I said: "O Allah's Messenger ﷺ! We consider Jihaad as the best deed. Should we not fight in Allah's Cause?" He ﷺ said, "The best Jihaad (for women) is performing a Hajj-Mabroor..

Commentary : The kindness of Allah manifests in all forms, and one of which is offering people, both men and women, alternative good deeds that are suitable to their ability and within their capacity.
In this hadeeth, the Mother of the Believers, ‘Aaishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reports that she asked o the Prophet ﷺ to allow women fighting in the path of Allah along with men since it is one of the best deeds that a person can do to earn great reward. However, the Prophet ﷺ informed her that the best deed for women is Hajj. He ﷺ explained to her that fighting in the cause of Allah (i.e., Jihaad) is not prescribed for women, and that the best good deed for women and the type of Jihaad that is prescribed for women is performing a Hajj Mabroor i.e., that which has fulfilled all its rulings, is accepted by Allah, free of showing off and sins, and is covered by lawful money.
The reason Hajj is called Jihaad as it involves fighting the desires and endurance of physical and financial hardships.
One of the benefits to learn from this hadeeth is learning that Jihaad (i.e., fighting in the cause of Allah) is not dictated upon women.
It shows that Jihaad is one of the best deeds for women and that Hajj is one of the best deeds for women..

1521

Narrated Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him): The Prophet ﷺ said, "Whoever performs Hajj for Allah's pleasure and [during which] does not have sexual relations with his wife, and does not do evil or sins, then he will return (after Hajj free from all sins) as if he were born anew.".

Commentary : Performing Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam, which is an obligatory act of worship that requires departing our habits, desires, and routines to comply and submit to Allah’s Command. Allah has promised whoever fulfills the rights of this superior act of worship an immense reward.
In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ explains that a person will return from Hajj pure from all sins just like anew born if the following conditions are met. First, he should perform Hajj while hoping to attain Allah’s reward alone. Second, he should perform Hajj without intending by it flaunting or soliciting praise from others. Third, he “does not have sexual relations” from entering the state of Ihraam to the end of Hajj. The Arabic word used to describe this is rafath which refers intercourse and intimate actions that lead to it. It was said that rafath refers to words that are vice, abusive, and filthy. Fourth, he should not commit any sin, be it minor or major, or any act that makes him disobedient to Allah. The reason this condition is mentioned, although it is forbidden in all times, is to emphasize its prohibition particularly during Hajj and highlight its ugliness to show that Hajj and sins do not mix together. Whoever performs Hajj and fulfills all these requirements will have all his sins wiped out and return from it just like a newborn, pure and free of all sins.
This hadeeth highlights the high rank and virtue of Hajj and that fulfilling the conditions of Hajj, that are mentioned in this hadeeth, will expiate all sins, be they minor or major, except sins that involve rights of others..

1523

Narrated Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him): The people of Yemen used to come for Hajj and used not to bring enough provisions with them and used to say that they depend on Allah. On their arrival in Makkah, they used to beg the people. Thereafter, Allah, Most High, revealed, {And take a provision (with you) for the journey, but the best provision is the fear of Allah.} (Quran 2.197)..

Commentary : Islam teaches and orders the Muslim to rely upon Allah and to attach his heart to Him alone because everything that takes place on earth or in the heavens is subject to His will and decree. However, reliance upon Allah does not contradict taking the means to achieve the desired end. In fact, it is incumbent upon each and every Muslim to look for the means through which they can achieve their objective.
In this hadeeth, ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him) reports the reason behind the revelation of the ayah: {And take a provision (with you) for the journey, but the best provision is the fear of Allah.} – that is being: the people of Yemen used to travel to Makkah to perform Hajj without taking with them enough provisions and supplies, justifying that by saying they are fully relying upon Allah. However, after their arrival to Makkah, they would ask people for food and drink, which proves that they were not fully relying upon Allah rather relying on what people would offer them. This is because reliance upon Allah means detachment from all causes while taking the means leading to the desired end. Thereupon, Allah, Most High, revealed the ayah: {And take a provision (with you) for the journey, but the best provision is the fear of Allah.} i.e., take enough supplies from food and drink to help perform Hajj and know that the best thing you can rely upon in all your affairs is piety and fearing Him.
This hadeeth teaches us that refraining from asking people for help is from piety, and that reliance upon Allah cannot be true when a person asks others for help. This is because reliance upon Allah means to never ask help from anyone except Him.
It admonishes begging and asking people and encourages us to refrain from begging and asking others..

1524

Narrated Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him): I heard ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) saying: I heard the Prophet ﷺsaying in the valley of Al-`Aqeeq: "Tonight, a messenger came to me from my Lord and asked me to pray in this blessed valley and to assume Ihraam for Hajj and `Umrah together. ".

Commentary : The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) would follow the guidance of the Prophet ﷺ in all his affairs and conditions. They described all his actions while he was travelling and residing and clarified to the people the actions that are meant for others to follow and the actions that are just mere habits.
In this hadeeth, ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that he heard the Prophet ﷺ, during his journey to perform his farewell hajj, saying that a messenger came to him from Allah i.e., this revelation was either through the archangel Gabriel or a vision in his dream – since the dreams of all Prophets are true and a divine revelation – telling him to pray in this blessed valley, namely the valley of al-Aqeeq. This incident occurred in the valley of al-Aqeeq, which is located near al-Baqee’, which is about 20 km away from the Prophet’s Mosque. The meaning of the word al-‘Aqeeq is the land that water flows through it. It was said that the prayer referred to in the hadeeth is the two units of Ihraam.
The valley was described as blessed because the people of al-Madeenah rejoice whenever water pours out from it as it indicates a heavy rainfall.
The part “assume Ihraam for Hajj and `Umrah together” means assuming the ‘Umrah and Hajj in one go. It is possible that it was intended to mean assuming Ihraam for ‘Umrah be as a part of the Hajj. According to the latter, the Prophet ﷺ would enter the state of Ihraam for Hajj alone at first and assumed his Ihraam for ‘Umrah afterwards.
It was said that this true dream and the compliance of the Prophet ﷺ to the divine order that he ﷺ received- that is to assume Ihraam for ‘Umrah during the months of Hajj abrogated the customs of people that were practiced before Islam who did not allow people to perform ‘Umrah during the months of Hajj.
This hadeeth proves the virtue of the valley of ‘Aqeeq and that it is a blessed place and a source of benefit to people.
It shows that the dreams of Allah’s Messenger ﷺ are truthful and divine, and that it is permissible to couple Hajj with ‘Umrah..

1531

Narrated Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him): When these two towns were conquered, the people went to `Umar (may allah be pleased with him) and said, "O the Chief of the Believers! The Prophet ﷺ specified Qarn as the Meeqaat for the people of Najd, and it is beyond our way, and it is difficult for us to pass through it." He (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "Take as your Meeqaat a place situated opposite to Qarn on your usual way. So, he fixed Dhaat ‘Irq (as their Meeqaat).".

Commentary : The Messenger of Allah ﷺ set out known places to serve as it refers to the boundary from which pilgrims and those who wish to perform ‘Umrah must enter the state of Ihraam. These places are called in Arabic Meeqaat.
In this hadeeth, ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) explains that if there is no Meeqaat on a person’s route, then they should enter into ihraam when they come in line with the nearest Meeqaat to it. This clarification was offered by ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) after the conquest of al-Koofah and al-Basrah, which are two famous cities in Iraq. Some people from them visited ‘Umar and mentioned to him that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ specified Qarn, as a Meeqaat for the people of Najd but it was not within their route to Makkah and taking that route to pass by its Meeqaat would make them experience difficulty. The Qarn refers to Qarn al-Manaazil, alias, al-Sayl al-Kabeer, the closest Meeqaat to Makkah, which is situated about 78 kms away from Makkah. Upon hearing their complaint, ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) allowed them to take their usual route to Makkah and to enter into the state of Ihraam from a place that is in line with the closest Meeqaat to them, and to take that place as their Meeqaat. He (may Allah be pleased with him) specified Dhaat ‘Irq as their Meeqaat, which is a village that is approximately 100 kms far from Makkah.
This hadeeth shows that it is permissible to enter into the state of Ihraam from a point that is in line with the Meeqaat if it is difficult for one to take the route of the said Meeqaat..

1532

Narrated ‘Abdullah ibn 'Umar (Allah be pleased with them): Allah's Messenger ﷺ made his camel kneel down I.e., halt at the stony ground of Thool al-Hulayfah and prayed there. ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) used to do the same too..

Commentary : ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was known for his strong keenness on observing the actions of the Prophet ﷺ, to follow his example in all his affairs and conditions during his travelling and times of residence.
In this hadeeth, ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar reports that the Prophet ﷺ made his camel to kneel down to rest at a place in Thool al-Hulayfah, which is a water area that is known for its small pebbles that the people of al-Madeenah know it by the name of al-Mu’arris. Thool al-Hulayfah is a town located 10 km from al-Madeenah, in the spot where the Mosque of Thool al-Hulayfah was built, and it is the Meeqaat of the residents of al-Madeenah and those who pass through it on their way to perform ‘Umrah or Hajj.
This incident took place when the Prophet ﷺ was on his way back from Makkah to al-Madeenah, as he used to sleep over there. He stationed there and prayed in that place, and Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) imitated the Prophet ﷺ in this regard, every time he travelled between Makkah and al-Madeenah, out of his love and keen interest in following the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ.
Saheeh al-Bukhaaree contains many reports manifesting the keen interest of Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) in finding all the places on this route in which the Prophet ﷺ prayed so he could pray there too.
One of the benefits of this hadeeth is learning that the Prophet ﷺ used to pray in Thool al-Hulayfah.
This hadeeth highlights the keenness of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) on finding and following the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ..

1533

Narrated Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him): Allah's Messenger ﷺ used to go (for Hajj) via the Tree route and return via Mua’rras route. Whenever Allah's Messenger ﷺ went to Makkah, he used to offer the prayer in the Mosque of the Tree; and on his return, he used to offer the prayer at Thoo al-Hulayfah in the middle of the valley and pass the night there till morning..

Commentary : The Prophet ﷺ had travel habits, one of which were that he ﷺ would stop in a place near al-Madeenah waiting for other travelers so they could travel together in one group. From his other travel habits was that he ﷺ would spend a night in a place near al-Madeenah so he ﷺ could enter al-Madeenah in the morning. The Prophet ﷺ also used to pray in every place he stayed at during his journey.
In this hadeeth, ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the travel routes that the Prophet ﷺ used to take in his journey to perform ‘Umrah and Hajj were as follows: (i) he ﷺ would take the Tree path, which is located near Masjid Thoo al-Hulayfah, when he departs al-Madeenah On his way back, he ﷺ would take the Mu’rras route, which is a level land at Thoo al-Hulayfah. The Arabic word al-Mu’arras is derived from the word Ta’rees, which means arriving at a place towards the end of the night. From this meaning, the place was given this name because the Prophet ﷺ would arrive there at the last part of the night and stay there till morning. In this place, he ﷺ used to pray too. Thooal-Hulayfah is a town located about 10 kms from al-Madeenah and it is considered the Meeqaat of the residents of al-Madeenah and those who travel through it.
‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) continues to say that whenever the Prophet ﷺ would travel to Makkah for the purpose of performing ‘Umrah or Hajj, he would pray at the Tree Mosque at Thoo al-Hulayfah. And, on his way back, he ﷺ would come to the valley of Thoo al-Hulayfah towards the end of the night. He ﷺ would pray there and spend the night there and then head towards al-Madeenah in the morning so travelers do not surprise their families of their arrival at night.
There are a number of reports that are recorded in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree on the authority of Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that specify the places at which the Prophet ﷺ prayed during his travels. It was said that none of these places and mosques are known today except the Mosque of Thoo al-Hulayfah and the mosques in al-Rawhaa’.
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1535

Narrated Saalim ibn ‘Abdullah from his father (may Allah be pleased with him): "The Prophet ﷺ said that while resting in the bottom of the valley at Mu’arras in Thoo a-Hulayfah, he ﷺ had been addressed in a dream: 'You are verily in a blessed Bat-haa’.' "
Saalim made us to dismount from our camels at the place where `Abdullah used to dismount, aiming at the place where Allah's Messenger ﷺ had rested, and it was at the same place where the Mosque was built afterwards, in the bottom of the valley in between them (the residence) and the road..

Commentary : ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was so keen to know the places in which the Prophet ﷺ prayed during his travels. He (may Allah be pleased with him) would pray in these places out of his love for the Prophet ﷺ and hoping for the barakah (abundance and blessings) from these places which the Prophet ﷺ blessed by praying in them.
In this hadeeth, ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that in one occasion, the Prophet ﷺ had a true dream during his stay at Thoo al-Hulayfah. He ﷺ used to spend the night in the bottom of the valley at al-Mu’arras in Thoo al-Hulayfah where he would spend the night and pray. The Arabic word al-Mu’arras is derived from the word Ta’rees, which means arriving at a place towards the end of the night. From this meaning, the place was given this name because the Prophet ﷺ would arrive there at the last part of the night and stay there till morning. The place where he ﷺ used to stay, rest, and pray is near Masjid Thoo al-Hulayfah.
The angel described the land as blessed and Bat-haa’, which is a term used for every place that formed after a flood, leveled by a water stream, and containing pebbles or stones. The blessed land mentioned in the hadeeth refers to the valley of al-Aqeeq. This event took place during the journey of the Prophet ﷺ to Makkah to perform the Farewell Hajj, as mentioned in one hadeeth in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree. Thoo al-Hulayfah is a town that is about 10 KM from al-Madeenah, and it is considered the Meeqaat of the people of al-Madeenah and those who travel through it.
Then, Moosa ibn ‘Uqbah, one of the narrators of this hadeeth, stated that Saalim ibn ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar made him and the people with him dismount from their camels at the place where `Abdullah used to dismount, aiming at the place where Allah's Messenger ﷺ had rested and prayed. All this so he could follow the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ.
The Prophet ﷺ did not pray at the Mosque that was erected afterwards, but rather at the same place where the Mosque was built afterwards, as indicated by Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him).
Ibn ‘Umar followed the footsteps of the Prophet ﷺ, so, every time he travelled between Makkah and al-Madeenah, he would imitate the Prophet ﷺ and rest and pray in the same places where the Prophet ﷺ rested and prayed. There are many reports in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree showing how keen he was to find all the places wherein the Prophet ﷺ prayed on this route.
This hadeeth shows the virtue of the valley of al-‘Aqeeq and its abundant blessings..

1536

Narrated Safwaan ibn Ya’la: Ya'la said to 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), "Notify me so I can see the Prophet ﷺ when he receives revelation." While the Prophet ﷺ was at al-Ji'raanah (in the company of some of his Companions), a person came and asked, "O Allah's Messenger! What is your verdict regarding that person who assumes Ihraam for 'Umrah and is scented with perfume?" The Prophet ﷺ kept quiet for a while, and then he started to receive revelation. 'Umar beckoned Ya'la. So, he came and saw that Allah's Messenger ﷺ was shaded with a sheet. Ya'la put his head in and saw that the face of Allah's Messenger ﷺ was red, and he was breathing heavily. When the state of the Prophet ﷺ was over, he ﷺ asked, "Where is the person who asked about 'Umrah?" Then that person was brought, and the Prophet ﷺ said, "Wash the perfume off your body thrice and take off the cloak and do the same in 'Umrah as you do in Hajj."
I said to ‘Ataa’: Were the three times ordered because he ﷺ wanted to ensure it is cleaned well? He said: Yes..

Commentary : The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) were keen to know the different conditions of the Prophet ﷺ.
In this hadeeth, the Taabi’ee, Safwaan ibn Ya’la ibn Umayyah reports that his father Ya’la ibn Umayyah (may Allah be pleased with him) asked ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allah be pleased with him) to show him the Prophet ﷺ when he ﷺ receives revelation so that he can know what happens to the Prophet ﷺ.
One day, the Prophet ﷺ was in al-Ji’raanah, which is a place located between Makkah and al-Taa’if and considered the Meeqaat of the people of Makkah that is located about 20 km in the northeast of Makkah. While he ﷺ was there, a man asked him about the ruling of a man who has entered the state of ihram and then scented his body and clothes with perfume. The Prophet ﷺ kept quiet and did not answer him right away. Thereupon, ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) signaled with his hand to Ya’la (may Allah be pleased with him) to come to see how the revelation descends upon the Prophet ﷺ. When he arrived, he saw the Prophet ﷺ having a garment over his head to shade him from the sun. He (may Allah be pleased with him) put his head in and saw the face of the Prophet ﷺ was red and his breathes are heavy and audible. After the revelation ended, he ﷺ calmed down and the condition he experienced faded away gradually. Then, he ﷺ answered the man who asked the question that he should wash the perfume off his body three times. And he ﷺ ordered him to remove his cloak, which is a long loose outer garment with wide sleeves that is worn over clothes, because it is a sewn garment, and it is scented with perfume that should be washed off too. According to another version of the hadeeth in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree, it reads: “came to him a man wearing a cloak having a trace of yellowish perfume.” The Prophet ﷺ then ordered him to do the same in ‘Umrah and Hajj i.e., that which are not allowed in Hajj and Umrah are the same.
After narrating the hadeeth, ‘Abdul Malik ibn Jurayj asked his Shaykh ‘Attaa ibn Abee Rabaah if the Prophet ﷺ ordered washing the clothes thrice out of extra cleanliness. To which, ‘Ataa conformed it.
This hadeeth teaches us that it is not allowed to wear clothes that have traces of perfume, be it in colour or smell. As for perfuming the body before entering the state of ihram, then it is allowed as proven in the authentic hadeeth in Saheeh al-Bukahaaree and Saheeh Muslim: It is narrated on the authority of ‘Aaishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that she put some perfume on the body of the Prophet ﷺ before he has entered the state of Ihraam.”
This hadeeth shows that the person who enters the state of Ihraam should exert extra effort to ensure the perfume is removed.
It shows that the Sunnah is based on revelation just as the Quran is a revelation, and that the Sunnah may contain rulings that are not mentioned in the Quran.
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1537

Narrated Sa’eed ibn al-Jubayr that Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) used to put oil on his body..

Commentary : The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) and the Taab’ieen were so keen on following the Sunnah and learning the rites and acts of worship from the Prophet ﷺ.
In this hadeeth, Sa’eed ibn Jubayr, the known Taabi’ee, reports that ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) would put oil after entering the state of Ihraam for Hajj and ‘Umrah, and he would not wear perfume. According to a narration recorded in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree, Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him): “used to oil himself with a sort of oil that had no pleasant smell.” Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) explained himself by saying: “I do not like to enter upon the state of Ihram shaking off the perfume” according to the hadeeth recorded in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim. He (may Allah be pleased with him) used to do it because he thought that wearing any substance of obvious pleasant smell is not allowed before and during the state of Ihraam. All the while, it is established authentic that ‘Aaishah (may Allah be pleased with her) put musk on the Prophet ﷺ before entering the state of ihram although musk is known of being the most pleasant scent of all perfumes.
This hadeeth shows that it is permissible to oil one’s hair before entering the state of Ihraam..

1538

Narrated ‘Aaishah (may Allah be pleased with her): It is as if I still see the glistening of perfume where the hair was parted on Allah's Messenger's ﷺ head while being in the state of Ihraam..

Commentary : The Prophet ﷺ clarified all the rulings and etiquettes of Hajj and ‘Umrah in words and actions and the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) transmitted to us all what they heard and observed from him ﷺ.
The Prophet ﷺ loved pleasant scents and perfumes so much such that he ﷺ liked to wear so much perfume all the time. It was one of the few worldly pleasures that were made close to his heart.
In this hadeeth, ‘Aaishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reports how she envisioned the Prophet ﷺ and his actions so much such that it is as if she could see the traces and glistening of the perfume he had on the sides of his head when he was in state of Ihraam. It is reported in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim that the Prophet ﷺ would wear the best perfume he would have, which indicates that the Prophet ﷺ used to put as much perfume as possible only before wearing the clothes of ihram, entering the state of Ihraam, and reciting the talbiyah.
This hadeeth shows that it is permissible to wear perfume before entering the state of Ihraam..

1539

Narrated ‘Aaishah (may Allah be pleased with her) – the wife of the Prophet ﷺ: I used to scent Allah's Messenger ﷺ when he wanted to assume Ihraam and also on finishing Ihraam before the circumambulation around the Ka`bah..

Commentary : The Prophet ﷺ clarified all the rulings and etiquettes of Hajj and ‘Umrah in words and actions, and the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) transmitted to us all what they heard and observed from him ﷺ.
In this hadeeth, ‘Aaishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reports that she used to perfume Allah’s Messenger ﷺ with a pleasant scent before he ﷺ would enter the state of Ihraam for Hajj or ‘Umrah, and after the first stage of exiting Ihraam in Hajj, after stoning Jamrat al-‘Aqabah, and shaving the head and before the farewell tawaaf. This is because after the first stage of exiting Hajj, all that was not allowed during the state of Ihraam becomes allowed except intercourse. This is noted in the narration recorded in Sunan al-Nisaa’iee, which reads: “"I put perfume on the Messenger of Allah for his Ihram when he entered Ihram, and for his exiting Ihram when he had stoned Jamrat Al-‘Aqabah, before he circumambulated the House.'' There is nothing wrong with wearing perfume at that point of time since what is required is not to wear perfume during the state of Ihraam.
This hadeeth shows that it is permissible to wear perfume before assuming the state of Ihraam and after exiting Ihraam.
It shows how the wife looks after her husband and scents him.
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1540

Narrated Saalim from his father (may Allah be pleased with him): "I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ raising his voice in the Talbiyah with his hair matted.”.

Commentary : The Prophet ﷺ clarified all the rulings and etiquettes of Hajj and ‘Umrah in words and actions, and the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) transmitted to us all what they heard and observed from him ﷺ.
In this hadeeth, ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that he saw the Prophet ﷺ raising his voice in the words of Talbiyah, saying: “Labbayka Allahumma Labayk, Labbayaka Laa Shareeka Laka Labbayk, Inna al-Hamda wal Ni’mata Laka wal Mulk, Laa Shareeka Lak,” with his hair stuck together. The term used to describe the condition of Allah’s Messenger hair is talbeed, which means, braiding the hair then sticking the hair together with gum and the like, which holds the hair together and keeps it from getting dirty or dusty and keep it away from lice, which is needed while being in the state of Ihraam. The talbeed of hair takes place after taking the bath and before wearing the clothes of Ihraam.
This hadeeth highlights the importance of beauty and cleanliness in Islam.
.

715

Jābir reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) forbade that a man should come to his wife by night doubting her fidelity or trying to find her lapses. [In another version]: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) is reported to have disliked that a man should come to his wife by night; however, he did not mention doubting her fidelity or trying to find her lapses..

Commentary : The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) set the most remarkable example of good manners and kind treatment between a man and his wife. He taught husbands how to treat their wives and build their marital relationship upon mutual trust and avoidance of lethal jealousy or mistrust that ruins their life.
In this Hadīth, Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh (may Allah be pleased with him) says that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) forbade that a man returning from a journey should come to his wife by night. He then clarified the reason for the prohibition, saying: "doubting her fidelity or trying to find her lapses," i.e., thinking she is unfaithful or exposing her secret as to whether she has committed infidelity or not. So, it is disliked for a man who has been on a long journey to unexpectedly return to his wife by night. Yet, if he is on a short journey and his wife expects his return by night, there is nothing wrong with that.
In [the Two Sahīh Collections]: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would not come to his family by night. He used to come to them in the early morning or in the evening. He would not come to his family if he returned from travel by night. Rather, he would come to them in the early morning, which extends from the Fajr prayer to the sunrise, or in the evening, which extends from noon - the time of the Zhuhr prayer - to sunset. This is because when a man comes to his wife by night, he takes her by surprise and she may not be ready to receive her husband, who has been away from her for a period of time. So, it is appropriate for him not to come to her unexpectedly at night.
In the Hadīth: Forbidding that a man should spy on his wife or come to her unexpectedly by night after return from travel
And in it: Urging pursuit of the means that bring cordiality and love between the two spouses
And in it: Exhorting the avoidance of such things that entail mistrust of the Muslim.

717

‘Abdullāh ibn Shaqīq reported: I said to ‘Ā'ishah: "Did the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) use to perform the Duha (forenoon) prayer?" She said: "No, unless he came back from his absence.".

Commentary : Prayer is a tawqīfi (determined) act of worship that must be taken from the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). He taught the Ummah the obligatory prayers as well as the regular and non-regular supererogatory prayers. He also taught the Ummah various kinds of prayers at certain times. One of these is the Duha (forenoon) prayer.
In this Hadīth, the Tābi‘i ‘Abdullāh ibn Shaqīq says that he asked the Mother of the Believers, ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her): Was it a habit of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) to perform the Duha prayer? The Duha prayer, also called the Duha Subha, is to be performed after the sun rises and goes as high as the length of a spear - that is nearly 15 minutes after sunshine - and its time ends shortly before noon. In reply, she said that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) did not use to offer the Duha prayer, except when he came from his absence, i.e., from travel. This is because he forbade that a man should come to his wife by night after returning from travel. So, he would come in the early morning and go first to the mosque, where he would pray at the time of Duha (forenoon).
In a version by Muslim, ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to offer the Duha prayer as four Rak‘ahs and add as many Rak‘ahs as he willed. The negation is probably intended as the negation of her knowledge of the matter, and the affirmation is made for a reason, namely the return from travel. So, there is no contradiction between the two Hadīths.
The minimum of the Duha prayer is two Rak‘ahs. In the Two Sahīh Collections, Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: "My close friend (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) advised me to do three things: fast three days of every month, perform the two Rak‘ahs of Duha (forenoon), and perform the Witr prayer before I go to sleep." And he would add as many Rak‘ahs as he willed, as mentioned above..

719

Mu‘ādhah reported: that she asked ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her): "How many Rak‘ahs did the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) use to perform in the Duha prayer?" She said: "Four Rak‘ahs, and he would add as many Rak‘ahs as he willed. [In a version]: He would add as many Rak‘ahs as Allah willed..

Commentary : Prayer is a tawqīfi (determined) act of worship that must be taken from the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). He taught the Ummah the obligatory prayers as well as the regular and non-regular supererogatory prayers. He also taught the Ummah various kinds of prayers at certain times. One of these is the Duha prayer.
In this Hadīth, Mu‘ādhah bint ‘Abdullāh al-‘Adawiyyah relates that she asked the Mother of the Believers, ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her): "How many Rak‘ahs did the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) use to perform in the Duha prayer?" The Duha prayer, also called the Duha Subha, is one of the supererogatory prayers to be performed during daytime, and it is to be prayed after the sun rises and goes as high as the length of a spear - that is nearly 15 minutes after sunshine - and its time ends shortly before the noon. Answering her question, ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to perform the Duha prayer as four Rak‘ahs, i.e., he was persistent in offering it as four Rak‘ahs: in two Rak‘ahs, as it is well known with regard to the supererogatory prayers. "And he would add as many Rak‘ahs as Allah willed," i.e., without limit.
In another version by Muslim in his Sahīh Collection, ‘Ā’ishah reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) did not use to perform the Duha prayer, unless he came back from his absence, i.e., from travel. The negation is probably intended as the negation of her knowledge of the matter, and the affirmation is made for a reason, namely the return from travel. So, there is no contradiction between the two Hadīths.
The minimum of the Duha prayer is two Rak‘ahs. In the Two Sahīh Collections, Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "My close friend (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) advised me to do three things: to fast three days each month, perform the two Rak‘ahs of Duha, and perform the Witr prayer before I sleep.".

720

Abu Dharr reported: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Every morning charity is due for every joint bone in the body of every one of you. Every Tasbīh (glorification of Allah) is an act of charity; every Tahmīd (praise of Allah) is an act of charity; every Tahlīl (proclamation of Allah's oneness) is an act of charity; and every Takbīr is an act of charity; and enjoining Ma‘rūf (what is good) is an act of charity and forbidding Munkar (what is evil) is an act of charity; and two Rak‘ahs which one offers in the forenoon will suffice for all that.".

Commentary : Allah rendered all the types of goodness a person does to himself as an act of worship and to others of kindness - as part of the charities of the body and its good health and well-being.
In this Hadīth, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) says: "Every morning charity is due for every joint bone" i.e., for all the organs and joints of the body. Sulāma, in Arabic, originally refers to the bones of fingers, hands, and legs, and then it was later used to refer to all the body parts. So, every morning, a person is required to give charity for every organ of his body, in gratitude to Allah Almighty for His great favors. Indeed, the structure of bones and their joints is one of the great favors Allah has bestowed upon His servants. Hence, each bone requires a charity to be given by the person for it, as gratitude for this blessing. Charity here is intended as something recommended and encouraged, not obligatory or binding, for it is sufficient as gratitude for these favors to perform the obligations and shun the prohibitions. Then, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) guides to some acts of piety which a person may perform as charity for his joints. "Every Tasbīh" (glorification of Allah) - saying: Subhān Allah (glory be to Allah) - "is an act of charity"; "every Tahmīd" (praise of Allah) - saying: Al-Hamdulillāh (praise be to Allah) - "is an act of charity"; "every Tahlīl" (proclamation of Allah's oneness) - saying: Lā Ilāha illa Allah (there is no god but Allah) - "is an act of charity"; "and every Takbīr" - saying: Allāhu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest) - "is an act of charity"; "and enjoining Ma‘rūf (what is good) is an act of charity and forbidding Munkar (what is evil) is an act of charity." Likewise, all other forms of Dhikr and worship are charities for oneself. Ma‘rūf: It is a term that comprises all what is known to be a form of obedience to Allah Almighty and benevolence to people. Munkar: It refers to all offensive deeds and words that lead to disobedience to Allah Almighty; and it is a term that comprises all forms of evil. So, if anyone performs the mentioned acts of goodness and the like, it should be equal in number to the 360 joints.
Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informs that "two Rak‘ahs which one offers in the forenoon" are sufficient in place of all that, for prayer is an act that is done by all the body parts and it includes all the mentioned charities and others. This demonstrates the great merit of the Duha prayer. The time of the Duha prayer starts 15 minutes after sunrise and extends to also 15 minutes before soon. The minimum in the Duha prayer is two Rak‘ahs, and the maximum is eight Rak‘ahs, as related in a Hadīth in the Two Sahīh Collections, in which ’Umm Hāni’ (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: "that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) took a bath in her house on the day of the Conquest of Makkah and prayed eight Rak‘ahs." It is said: There is no limit to its maximum, as indicated by a Hadīth by Muslim, in which ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: "The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to offer the Duha prayer as four Rak‘ahs and pray as much more as he wished.".

724

‘Ā’ishah reported: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would not observe any of the supererogatory prayers more regularly than the two Rak‘ahs before Fajr..

Commentary : Islam encouraged and urged the performance of supererogatory prayers and made them greatly rewardable. One of these supererogatory prayers, whose performance was urged by the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), is the two-Rak‘ah Sunnah of the Fajr prayer.
In this Hadīth, the Mother of the Believers ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) says that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was not more persistent in observing any supererogatory prayer than he was in performing two Rak‘ahs before Fajr. In other words, he was not persistent and keen to perform any of the supererogatory prayers and regular Sunnah prayers as he was in offering two Rak‘ahs before the two Rak‘ahs of Fajr, which is the Sunnah before the Fajr prayer. They are counted among the regular supererogatory prayers associated with the obligatory prayers. The Prophet's keenness on them indicates the significance of their status and reward..

725

‘Ā’ishah reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The two Rak‘ahs of Fajr are better than the world and what is in it.".

Commentary : The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to teach his Ummah the virtuous deeds and demonstrate their rewards to encourage the people to perform them.
In this Hadīth, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) says: "The two Rak‘ahs of Fajr" - which refer to the Sunnah of Fajr, the two Rak‘ahs to be performed between the Adhan and the iqāmah - "are better than the world and what is in it," i.e., the reward to be obtained because of this prayer in the Hereafter is greater and better than all the blessings in this world. They are counted among the regular supererogatory prayers associated with the obligatory prayers, and the Prophet's keenness on them indicates the significance of their status and reward and urges Muslims to be keen on observing them.
The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to perform these two Rak‘ahs in a brief manner. In the Two Sahīh Collections, ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would perform the two Rak‘ahs of Fajr and make them brief to the extent that I would say: "Did he recite the Mother of the Qur'an in them?" In a Hadīth by Muslim, Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) recited Surat al-Kāfirūn and Surat al-Ikhlās in the two Rak‘ahs of Fajr.
In the Hadīth: The merit of the two Rak‘ahs of Fajr..

726

Abu Hurayrah reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) recited Surat al-Kāfirūn and Surat al-Ikhlās in the two Rak‘ahs of Fajr..

727

Ibn ‘Abbās reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to recite in the first of the two Rak‘ahs of Fajr: {Say [O believers]: "We believe in Allah and what has been sent down to us"} [Surat al-Baqarah: 136] the verse that is in Surat al-Baqarah, and in the second Rak‘ah: {We believe in Allah; so bear witness that we are Muslims.} [Surat Āl ‘Imrān: 52].

Commentary : The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to prolong the Qur'an's recitation in supererogatory prayers and would sometimes make it brief depending on circumstances and occasions.
In this Hadīth, ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) says that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would sometimes recite after Surat al-Fātihah in the first Rak‘ah of the regular two-Rak‘ah Sunnah of the Fajr prayer the verse that reads: {Say [O believers]: "We believe in Allah and what has been sent down to us; and what was sent down to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the descendants [of Jacob]; and what was given to Moses and Jesus; and what was given to the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we have submitted."} [Surat al-Baqarah: 136] The verse that occurs in Surat al-Baqarah, which means: Say, O the believers, to the advocates of this false call, the Jews and Christians: We believe in Allah and in the Qur'an that has been sent down to us, and we believe in what was sent down to Abraham (Ibrāhīm) and his children, and we believe in what was sent down to the prophets among the children of Jacob (Ya‘qūb), and we believe in the Torah that Allah gave to Moses (Mūsa) and the Gospel that Allah gave to Jesus (‘Īsa), and we believe in the scriptures that Allah gave to all the prophets; we make no distinction between any of them, by believing in some and denying others; rather, we believe in all of them, and we are submissive and obedient to Him alone.
And in the second Rak‘ah, after Surat al-Fātihah, the verse that reads: {When Jesus sensed disbelief from them, he said: "Who are my helpers in the cause of Allah?" The disciples said: "We are helpers of Allah. We believe in Allah; so, bear witness that we are Muslims."} [Surat Āl ‘Imrān: 52] And it means: When Jesus (peace be upon him) became aware of their persistence in disbelief, he addressed the Children of Israel, saying: Who will support me in the call to Allah? The best among his followers said: We are the supporters of the religion of Allah. We believe in Allah and follow you, and bear witness, O Jesus, that we submit to Allah by believing in His Oneness and obeying Him.
In light of the meanings in these two verses, it becomes clear that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to recite them for what they contain, of belief in Allah Almighty and submission to Him, and because they are two light verses that suited his brief performance of these two Rak‘ahs, as it was the Prophet's habit to lighten these two Rak‘ahs, as narrated in the Two Sahīh Collections.
In the Hadīth: The recitation in the Sunnah of the Fajr prayer after Surat al-Fātihah.

728

’Um Habībah reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) say: "Whoever prays twelve prostrations during a day on a voluntary basis, a house will be built for him in Paradise.".

Commentary : The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to teach his Ummah the virtuous deeds and clarify their rewards to encourage the people to perform them.
In this Hadīth, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) says: "Whoever prays twelve prostrations during a day on a voluntary basis," i.e., other than the obligatory prayers, or they are the regular supererogatory prayers, namely: four Rak‘ahs before the Zhuhr prayer and two Rak‘ahs after it, two Rak‘ahs after the Maghrib prayer, two Rak‘ahs after the ‘Ishā’ prayer, and two Rak‘ahs before the Fajr prayer, as related in Sunan At-Tirmidhi. Whoever does so persistently, his reward will be that Allah will build a house for him in Paradise.
In the Hadīth: Urging the performance of supererogatory prayers
And in it: Demonstrating the merit of the regular supererogatory prayers.

730

‘Abdullāh ibn Shaqīq reported: I asked ‘Ā’ishah about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), concerning his voluntary prayers, and she said: He used to offer four Rak‘ahs in my house before the Zhuhr prayer. Then, he would go out and lead the people in prayer. Then, he would come in and offer two Rak‘ahs. He would lead the people in the Maghrib prayer and then come in and offer two Rak‘ahs, and he would lead the people in the ‘Ishā’ prayer and enter my house and offer two Rak‘ahs. And he would offer nine Rak‘ahs during the night, including the Witr. And he would pray for a long night while standing and for a long night while sitting. When he recited while standing, he would bow and prostrate while standing, and when he recited while sitting, he would bow and prostrate while sitting. And when the dawn came, he would offer two Rak‘ahs..

Commentary : Our Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was the best among people in worshiping his Lord and standing before Him, Exalted be He. The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) were keen to learn from the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and take his Sunnah, act upon it, and convey it to those after them.
In this Hadīth, the Tābi‘i ‘Abdullāh ibn Shaqīq relates that he asked the Mother of the Believers, ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), about how the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to offer supererogatory prayers. She informed him that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to offer four Rak‘ahs as Sunnah before the Zhuhr prayer in his house. Then, he would go out to the mosque and lead the people in the Zhuhr prayer. Then, he would enter his house after finishing the Zhuhr prayer and offer two Rak‘ahs. She did not mention the ‘Asr prayer, probably because she was demonstrating the confirmed Sunnahs of the obligatory prayers, whether before or after them.
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to lead the people in the Maghrib prayer without offering a supererogatory prayer before it. Then, when he finished the Maghrib prayer, he would return to his house and offer two Rak‘ahs as Sunnah of the Maghrib prayer. And he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to perform the ‘Ishā’ prayer without offering a supererogatory prayer before it. Then, he would enter his house after finishing the ‘Ishā’ prayer and offer two Rak‘ahs as Sunnah of the ‘Ishā’ prayer.
He would offer Qiyām al-Layl (late-night voluntary prayer) with nine Rak‘ahs, including the Witr, which is the last prayer a Muslim performs after the voluntary prayer in the night prayer. It is authentically reported that he used to pray eleven Rak‘ahs, and it is also authentically reported that he used to pray thirteen Rak‘ahs.
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would sometimes offer his late-night prayer while standing and sometimes sitting. Her words "for a long night" mean: for a long time during the night.
Another trait of the Prophet's prayer is that if he commenced his prayer at night with recitation while standing, he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would bow and prostrate in the well-known manner: going down for rukū‘ and then returning to the standing position and going down for prostration and then returning to the standing position, and so on. And if he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) commenced his prayer at night with recitation while sitting, he would engage in rukū‘ and prostration without standing for them, neither before nor after observing them.
And when the time of the Fajr prayer came, he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would offer two Rak‘ahs as Sunnah of Fajr. In the version by Abu Dāwūd: "Then, he would go out and lead the people in the Fajr prayer."
In the Hadīth: Offering supererogatory prayers while sitting without an excuse
And in it: Offering the supererogatory prayers at home.

732

‘Ā’ishah reported: that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) did not die until most of his prayers were performed while sitting..

Commentary : The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was the best among people in worshiping his Lord and standing before Him, Exalted be He. The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) were keen to learn from the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), take his Sunnah, act upon it, and convey it to those who came after them.
In this Hadīth, the Mother of the Believers ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) informs that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) did not die until he performed many of his prayers while sitting. This refers to the supererogatory prayers, not the obligatory ones. That was one or two years before his death, as related in Sahīh Muslim Collection from Hafsah (may Allah be pleased with her), given that he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was too weak to stand for long. In a version by Muslim: "When the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) put on weight and became heavy" i.e., his body weakened due to his old age, "he would mostly pray while sitting."
The Hadīth mentions the performance of supererogatory prayers while sitting..

732

‘Abdullāh ibn Shaqīq reported: I said to ‘Ā’ishah: "Did the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) use to pray while sitting?" She said: "Yes, after the people wore him out.".

733

Hafsah reported: I did not see the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) offer his Subhah (supererogatory prayer) in a sitting position till one year before his death, as he used to offer his Subhah while sitting, and he would recite a Surah in a way that is so measured that it became longer than longer Surahs. In a version: One or two years before his death..

Commentary : The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was the best among people in worshiping his Lord and standing before Him, Exalted be He. The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) were keen to learn from the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), take his Sunnah, act upon it, and convey it to those who came after them.
In this Hadīth, the Mother of the Believers Hafsah (may Allah be pleased with her) informs that she did not see the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) offer his Subhah - i.e., his supererogatory prayer - while sitting, as he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to perform supererogatory prayers while standing. Then, one year before his death - and in another version: one or two years - he would pray while sitting, that is because he put on weight and his body weakened due to old age, according to a Hadīth narrated in the Two Sahīh Collections and reported by ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her).
She informed that he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to recite a Surah of the Qur'an during his prayer, and he would recite in a so measured and deliberate manner "that it became longer than longer Surahs" i.e., due to his measured way of reciting, the duration of reciting a Surah would become longer than the duration of reciting another bigger Surah in terms of the length and the number of verses.
The Hadīth mentions the recitation of the Qur'an in a measured and deliberate manner.
It also includes the performance of supererogatory prayers while sitting..

735

‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Amr reported: It was narrated to me that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The prayer of a man while sitting is half a prayer." He said: I came to him and found him praying while sitting. I placed my hand on his head. He said: "What is the matter with you, O ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Amr?" I said: "It was narrated to me - O Messenger of Allah - that you said: 'The prayer of a man while sitting is half a prayer'; and you pray while sitting." He said: "Yes, but I am not like any of you.".

Commentary : Prayer is the mainstay of religion, and its performance is obligatory for every Muslim. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) demonstrated the manner of performing prayer and taught it to the Ummah.
In this Hadīth, ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) relates that it was narrated to him that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) stated that the prayer of a man while sitting is "half a prayer" i.e., it brings half of the reward of someone who performs it while standing. So, this makes it valid and detracts from its reward. This Hadīth is taken to refer to performing a supererogatory prayer while sitting despite being able to stand. However, if a person performs a supererogatory prayer while sitting because he is unable to stand, his reward does not decrease; rather, his reward is like praying while standing. As for the obligatory prayer, it is invalid to perform it while sitting despite being able to stand. Yet, if a person is unable to stand, then his sitting is tantamount to his standing.
Then, ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) informed that he came to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) one day and found him praying while sitting. He placed his hand on the Prophet's head, wondering at his prayer while sitting and wanting the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) to look towards him. This was after he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) had finished the prayer, for it is not thought that ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) would put his hand before that. This behavior is not deemed impolite among some Arabs, as they tend to behave naturally. Moreover, this shows the Prophet's modesty and good character, and that he used to deal and associate with his close Companions like being one of them and not exalting himself above them. When the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) sensed the hand of ‘Abdullāh, he asked him: "What is the matter with you?" i.e., what is wrong with you?! So, he told him about the aforementioned Hadīth, by way of inquiry, not as an objection or disapproval. His words "and you pray while sitting" affirmed the point that was confusing and unclear to him, and how the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would be content with half a reward for himself. In response, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) confirmed the Hadīth he cited and then said: "but I am not like any of you" i.e., what you have mentioned that the prayer of a man while sitting is half of his prayer while standing is a ruling that applies to people other than me in this Ummah and it pertains to them; as for me, I am not subject to this ruling, and my Lord accepts from me my prayer while sitting for a reward like that of my prayer while standing. This is one of the peculiar merits of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), as his performance of a supererogatory prayer while sitting, though he was able to stand, was made equivalent to his performance of it while standing, as an honor for him.
The Hadīth urges the performance of prayer in its complete form for those who are able to. So, if a person is able to stand, he should pray while standing, in both obligatory and supererogatory prayers.
It points out how Allah Almighty favors His Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and distinguishes him from all the Ummah..

738

Abu Salamah reported: I asked ‘Ā’ishah about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), and she said: "He used to offer thirteen Rak‘ahs; he would perform eight Rak‘ahs and then observe the Witr and then perform two Rak‘ahs while sitting; when he wanted to bow, he would stand up and bow. Then, he would offer two Rak‘ahs between the Adhān and iqāmah of the Fajr prayer..

Commentary : The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to pray as much Qiyām al-Layl in his house as Allah willed him to pray. The Companions and the Tābi‘is after them were keen on knowing about his acts of worship in detail and ask about what they could not see of his worship at home.
In this Hadīth, the Tābi‘i Abu Salamah ibn ‘Abdur-Rahmān says that he asked the Mother of the Believers, ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), about the Qiyām al-Layl of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and the number of its Rak‘ahs and the manner of its performance. She informed him that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to perform thirteen Rak‘ahs; he would perform eight Rak‘ahs, two Rak‘ahs each, as narrated in the Two Sahīh Collections, and he would then pray the Witr, i.e., with the ninth Rak‘ah. As narrated in a version by Muslim: "Nine Rak‘ahs while standing and he would perform one of them as the Witr," i.e., he would make the last Rak‘ah among them the Witr of his prayer. In another version by Muslim: "He would observe five Rak‘ahs of which was the Witr, not sitting except at the last of them," i.e., he used to offer four Rak‘ahs, two Rak‘ahs each, and then perform the fifth Rak‘ah as the Witr, not sitting for tashahhud except in the last Rak‘ah. In another version by Muslim: "The prayer of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) in the night consisted of ten Rak‘ahs, and then he would observe the Witr with one Rak‘ah and offer the two Rak‘ahs of Fajr; those are thirteen Rak‘ahs." This denotes the diversity of the Prophet's Qiyām al-Layl in terms of duration and the number of Rak‘ahs, depending on his condition and energy.
Also, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to perform two Rak‘ahs while sitting. Apparently, these two Rak‘ahs were after the Witr and before the time of Fajr. When he wanted to perform rukū‘ while in this state of sitting, he would stand up and then bow down in the well-known manner. Then, when the time of Fajr came, he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would offer the two-Rak‘ah Sunnah of Fajr, after the Adhān and before the iqāmah of the Fajr prayer.
There are numerous other well-known Hadīths, in the Two Sahīh Collections and elsewhere, that enjoin making the last prayer in Qiyām al-Layl the Witr. An example is a Hadīth in which ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Make the last of your prayer at night the Witr." As for these two Rak‘ahs which the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) offered after the Witr and before Fajr, this is to demonstrate the permissibility of praying after the Witr, and they were not performed on a persistent basis, for what the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) did persistently was to conclude with the Witr, as mentioned above.
In the Hadīth: Praying at night while sitting.

Book of Hadith