their heads nodded. Then they would pray without performing ablution, while they were in the mosque waiting to pray ʿIshā’ behind the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace).”

In the two Sahīh collections, Ibn ʿUmar (may Allah be pleased with them both) reported:

“One night, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) was occupied and delayed ʿIshā’ until we fell asleep in the mosque, then woke up, then fell asleep again, then woke up. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) then came out to us and said, ‘No one else on earth tonight is waiting for the prayer except you.’”

Muslim also relates that he said:

“One night, we waited for the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) for the late-evening prayer, ʿIshā’. He came out to us when a third of the night, or some portion of it, had passed—we did not know what had occupied him, whether something concerning his family or something else. When he came out, he said, ‘You are indeed waiting for a prayer for which the followers of no other religion are waiting. Were it not burdensome for my community, I would lead them in this prayer at this hour.’ Then he instructed the caller to prayer, who pronounced the call to commence the prayer, and he prayed.”

Muslim also relates from ʿĀ’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that she said:

“One night, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) delayed ʿIshā’ until most of the night had passed and those in the mosque had fallen asleep. Then he came out and prayed, and said, ‘This is indeed its proper time, were it not that I would cause hardship for my community.’”

These authentic hadiths establish that they slept, and some versions state, “They