but only on the condition that he not forfeit the required composure, for if that composure is lost the prayer itself becomes invalid. After completing the two Sunnah rakʿahs of Fajr, he would lie down on his right side until the muʾadhdhin informed him that the time for the iqāmah had arrived; then he would come out and lead the prayer.

This ḥadīth yields a number of lessons. One: it is among Allah’s favors that He allowed us—through the Prophet’s wives—to know what the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to do privately at night. This is one of the wisdoms behind his many marriages, for he passed away leaving nine wives. Another benefit is that each of those noble women conveyed a Sunnah that only she had observed.

We also learn that the Prophet prayed eleven rakʿahs during the night and that he prolonged his standing therein. He would usually rise when half the night had passed, though at times he rose later depending on his energy. If he began at midnight, he would sleep during the last part of the night, as ʿĀʾishah reported in another narration; otherwise, if he started later, he would continue praying until dawn. When the dawn appeared he would pray two rakʿahs and then recline on his right side.

The report further demonstrates that it is recommended to keep the two rakʿahs of Fajr brief, as the Prophet did, and that it is better for the imam not to arrive