Chapter on the Manner of Prayer, Its Description and What is Obligatory and Recommended

Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Mahbub from Al-Abbas ibn Ma'ruf from Abdullah ibn Al-Mughira from Mu'awiyah ibn Wahb who said: I heard Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, say, and He عليه السلام mentioned the prayer of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family. Imam عليه السلام said: " A vessel of water for purification would be brought and placed covered near His صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم head, and His صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم siwak (tooth-stick) would be placed under His صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم bed. Then He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم would sleep as long as Allah سبحانه وتعالى willed. When He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم awoke, He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم would sit and turn his gaze toward the sky, then recite the verses from (Surah Ale Imran) 'Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of night and day' (Surah Al ‘Imran 3:190). Then He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم would use the siwak and perform purification, then stand and go to the mosque and pray four rak'ahs, with his bowing and prostration proportionate to his recitation. He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم would bow so long that it would be said, 'When will He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم raise his head?' And He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم would prostrate so long that it would be said, 'When will he raise his head?' Then He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم would return to his bed and sleep as long as Allah سبحانه وتعالى willed. Then He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم would awaken, sit, recite the verses from (Surah Ale Imran), turn His صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم gaze toward the sky, use the siwak, purify himself, and stand and go to the mosque and pray four rak'ahs as He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم had prayed before. Then He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم would return to His صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم bed and sleep as long as Allah سبحانه وتعالى willed. Then He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم would awaken, sit, recite the verses from (Surah Ale Imran), turn His صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم gaze toward the sky, use the siwak, purify himself, and stand and go to the mosque to pray the witr and the two rak'ahs, then go out to the (obligatory) prayer."