He would sometimes interrupt his regular night prayers and sometimes perform them without interruption, which was more usual. He would interrupt them (1) in the manner described by Ibn ‘Abbās in his account of spending the night with him: the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, awoke, cleaned his teeth with a tooth-stick, and performed ablution while reciting:
“Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are signs for those of understanding.”
He recited these verses through to the end of the surah [Āl ‘Imrān: 190–200]. Then he rose and prayed two rak‘ahs, prolonging the standing, bowing, and prostration. He then finished and slept until he snored. He did this three times, praying six rak‘ahs in all, each time cleaning his teeth with a tooth-stick, performing ablution, and reciting these verses. Then he prayed three rak‘ahs of witr. The caller to prayer then gave the call, and he went out to the prayer, saying:
“O Allah, place light in my heart and light on my tongue; place light in my hearing and light in my sight; place light behind me and before me, above me and beneath me. O Allah, grant me light.” Reported by Muslim (2).
Ibn ‘Abbās did not mention that he began with two brief rak‘ahs, as ‘Ā’ishah did. Either he followed one practice on some occasions and the other on others, or ‘Ā’ishah retained what Ibn ‘Abbās had not retained (3). The latter is more likely, because of her constant companionship (4) with him and her careful observation of this (5), and because she (6) knew more than anyone else about his night prayers. Ibn ‘Abbās only observed him on the night he stayed with his maternal aunt.