Moreover, what is authentically established from the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—is that “he used to perform approximately forty rakʿahs over the course of each day and night.” Yet Ali—may Allah be pleased with him—knew his Sunnah too well and followed his guidance too closely (1) to oppose him (2) in such a manner, even if doing so had been possible. But how could that be, when performing one thousand rakʿahs in a day and night while fulfilling all his other duties is impossible? He necessarily had (3) to eat, sleep, fulfill the rights of his family (4), discharge the rights of his subjects, and attend to other matters that would occupy (5) half his time, or less or more. Nor can a single hour accommodate eighty (6) rakʿahs, or anything close to that, unless the prayer were no more than pecking like a crow. Ali was far too noble (7) to perform the prayer of the hypocrites, as it is authentically established in the two Sahih collections that the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said:

“That is the prayer! That is the prayer! That is the prayer of the hypocrite (8): he watches (9) the sun until, when it lies between Satan’s two horns, he rises and pecks out four rakʿahs, remembering Allah in them only a little.” (10)

And indeed,