Yahya ibn Yahya narrated to us, saying: I recited to Malik from Makhramah ibn Sulayman, from Kurayb, the freed slave of Ibn Abbas, that Ibn Abbas informed him that he spent a night at the home of Maymunah, the Mother of the Believers — and she was his maternal aunt. He said: I lay down across the pillow, while the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and his family lay along its length. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, slept until midnight, or a little before it, or a little after it. Then the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, woke up and began to wipe the sleep from his face with his hand. Then he recited the ten concluding verses of Surah Al Imran. Then he stood up to a water skin that was hanging, performed ablution from it, and did his ablution well. Then he stood and prayed.

Ibn Abbas said: So I stood up and did the same as the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, had done. Then I went and stood beside him. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, placed his right hand on my head and took hold of my right ear, twisting it. Then he prayed two rak'ahs, then two rak'ahs, then two rak'ahs, then two rak'ahs, then two rak'ahs, then two rak'ahs, then he prayed the Witr. Then he lay down until the caller to prayer came, whereupon he stood and prayed two light rak'ahs, then went out and prayed the morning prayer.