The Prophet's Night Worship and Devotional Life

Throughout his life in Medina, the Prophet maintained an extraordinary devotional routine. He would stand in voluntary night prayer (tahajjud) for so long that his feet would swell. Aisha once asked him: 'Why do you exhaust yourself when Allah has forgiven your past and future sins?' He replied: 'Should I not be a grateful servant?' He would pray until the last third of the night, reciting at length, weeping in his prostration, and supplicating for his community. He would fast every Monday and Thursday, three days of each month, the Day of Ashura, and much of Sha'ban. He would spend the last ten nights of Ramadan in i'tikaf (spiritual retreat) in the mosque, seeking Laylat al-Qadr. Aisha described his character as 'the Quran walking on earth.' He was the most generous of people, and his generosity would increase in Ramadan when Jibreel would review the Quran with him. Despite being the leader of a growing state and commander of armies, he never neglected his personal worship.