My father would not sleep [at night] until he had read half of the Qur.aan, and when he finished his recitation, he would wrap himself in his cloak then take a short nap.
Category: Prayer
Never once saw him praying a voluntary prayer
I accompanied Muhammad ibn Aslam for more than 20 years, and never once saw him praying a voluntary prayer except on the day of Jumu’ah; [I understood why, when] I once heard him saying: ‘If I was able to pray a voluntary prayer such that my two angels could not see me, I would have done so – out of fear of showing off’.
If anyone did speak to him, he would respond to them
al-Awzaa’ee would not speak to anyone after the fajr prayer until [after] he had engaged himself in the remembrance of Allaah; And if anyone did speak to him, he would respond to them.
Did not rise until the adhaan for ‘ishaa
I saw ath-Thowree in the Haram after [the] maghrib [prayer]; He prayed, then descended into prostration and did not rise until the call (adhaan) for the ‘ishaa prayer [was made].
Sufyaan ath-Thowree’s prostration
I saw ath-Thowree in the Haram (al-Masjid al-Haraam, Makkah) after maghrib; He prayed [the maghrib prayer] and then went into prostration, and did not rise [from the prostration] until the call for the ‘ishaa prayer was made.
Made istikhaarah for three years
Abu Ja’far at-Tabaree said: I made istikhaarah to Allaah for three years and asked him for assistance for that which I had made the intention to compile the tafseer before I began, and so he assisted me.
Relentless weeping
I was unable to listen to the recitation of ath-Thowree due to his relentless weeping.
Standing the night in prayer
I never raised my head at night (i.e. woke up) except that I saw Moosaa ibn Abee ‘Aa.ishah standing in prayer.
Except the day when my mother passed away
I remained for forty years, and never [once] missed the initial takbeer [upon beginning the congregational prayer], except the day when my mother passed away.
My health has forsaken me
My health has forsaken me, and I have become weak, and my bones are bruised, [yet] today I [still] stand for prayer, but am only able to recite [soorahs] al-Baqarah and Aal-‘Imraan.