Allah hears the one who praises Him.’ His next standing was about as long as his bowing; then he prostrated, and his prostration was about as long as that standing. In this way his entire prayer was proportionate: whenever he lengthened the recitation, he lengthened the bowing and the prostration as well. During the bowing he would say, Subḥāna Rabbī al-ʿAẓīm (Glory be to my Lord, the Majestic); in prostration he would say, Subḥāna Rabbī al-Aʿlā (Glory be to my Lord, the Most High). He would also add: Subḥānaka Allāhumma Rabbana wa bi-ḥamdik, Allāhumma ighfir lī (Glory be to You, O Allah, our Lord, and with Your praise. O Allah, forgive me), and at times he said: Subbūḥun Quddūs, Rabbu al-malāʾikati wa al-rūḥ (Most Glorified, Most Holy, Lord of the angels and the Spirit).

Prayer, then, is a garden among the gardens of worship, containing every delightful pair: Quranic recitation, remembrance, supplication, glorification, magnification, and seeking refuge. For that reason it is the finest of all bodily acts of worship—superior to fasting, to almsgiving, to pilgrimage, and to every act of devotion save one: tawḥīd, the testimony ‘I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.’ That testimony is the key to Islam.

Such is the Prophet’s manner of praying by night. Therefore, my Muslim brother, strive—may Allah help both you and me—to follow him outwardly and inwardly. May He cause us to die upon his way, gather us in his company, and admit us with him to the Gardens of Bliss.

1176 – Jābir (d. 78 AH) reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, was asked, ‘Which prayer is best?’ He replied, ‘The one with prolonged qunūt (standing).’ Narrated by Muslim.