The Prophet's Prayer From The beginning To The End As Though ...

5- 'Ishaa' prayer
He (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) would recite the medium mufassal surahs in the first two
rak'ahs 237 , hence "he used to recite "By the Sun and his splendour" (Shams 91:15) and surahs like
it." 238
Or "he would recite "When the Sky is rent asunder" (Inshiqaaq 84:25) and make sajdah during it." 239
Also, "he once recited "By the Fig and the Olive" (Teen 95:8) [in the first rak'ah] while on a
journey." 240
He forbade prolonging of recitation in 'Ishaa', and that was when:
Mu'aadh ibn Jabal led his people in 'Ishaa' prayer, and made it very long for them, so one of the
Ansaar left and prayed (alone). When Mu'aadh was informed about this, he said: "He is surely a
hypocrite". When the man heard of this, he went to the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa
sallam) and told him what Mu'aadh had said, so the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said to
him: "Do you want to be on who causes a lot of trouble, Mu'aadh! When you lead the people, recite
"By the Sun and his splendour" (Shams 91:15) or "Glorify the Name of your Lord Most High" (A'laa
77:19) or "Read in the Name of your Lord" ('Alaq 96:19) or "By the Night as it conceals" (Layl 92:21)
[because the old, the weak and those who have a need to fulfil pray behind you]." 241
6- Night prayer (Tahajjud)
He (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) would sometimes recite loudly in it and sometimes quietly, 242 He
(sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) would shorten his recitation in this sometimes and lengthen it
sometimes, occasionally making it so exceedingly long that 'Abdullaah ibn Mas'ood (radi Allaahu
'anhu) once said: "I prayed with the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) one night, and he carried
on standing for so long that I was struck by a wrong idea." He was asked, "What was this idea" He
said: "I thought I would sit down and leave the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam)!" 243
Also Hudhaifah ibn al-Yamaan said:
"I prayed with the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) that night when he started soorah al-
Baqarah (2:286). So I said (to myself), "He will make rukoo' after one hundred aayaat". But he carried
on after that, so I thought, "He will finish it (the soorah) in two rak'ahs". But he carried on, so I
thought, "He will make rukoo' when he has finished it." Then he started soorah an-Nisaa' (4:176) and
recited it all, then he started soorah aal-'Imraan (3:200) 244 and recited it all. He was reciting slowly;
when he came to an aayah in which there was glorification of Allaah, he glorified Allaah; at an aayah
which had something to be asked for, he asked for it; at mention of seeking refuge, he sought refuge
(with Allaah). Then he made rukoo' ... " to the end of the hadeeth. 245
Also, "one night when he was ill he recited the Seven Long surahs." 246
Also, "he would (sometimes) recite one of these surahs in each rak'ah." 247
"It was [totally] unknown for him to recite the whole Qur'aan in one night." 248 In fact, he did not
recommend it for 'Abdullaah ibn 'Amr (may Allaah be pleased with him) when he said to him:
Recite the whole Qur'aan in each month. I said: "I have the power (to do more than that)." He said:
Recite it in twenty nights. I said: "I have the power to do more". He said: Then recite it in seven days
and do not go beyond that. 249 Then "he allowed him to recite it in five days." 250 Then "he allowed him
to recite it in three days." 251 Further, he forbade him from reciting it in less time than that 252 , and he
gave a reason for that by saying to him: Whoever recites the Qur'aan in less than three days does not
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