I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: Were it not that it would be too difficult for my ummah, I would have commanded them to use the siwak every time of prayer, and I would have delayed Isha` until the first third of the night had passed, because when the first third of the night has passed. Allah may he be exalted descends to the first heaven and stays there until dawn comes, and says: Is there any asking so that he might be given? Is there anyone praying so that he might be answered? Is there any sick person asking for healing so that he might be healed? Is there any sinner asking for forgiveness, so that he might be forgiven?
A hadeeth like that of Abu Hurairah was narrated from `Ali bin Abi Talib (رضي الله عنه) from the Prophet (ﷺ) Abi Talib.
Narrated It was narrated that Shuraih bin Hani’ said:
I asked `A’ishah about wiping over the khuffain (leather slippers) and she said: Ask `Ali bin Abi Talib (رضي الله عنه), for he used to travel with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). So I asked him and he said: For the traveller (the khuffain in may be wiped over) for three days and nights and for the one who is not travelling one day and night. Yahya said: He - meaning Shu`bah - used to attribute it to the Prophet (ﷺ), then he stopped doing that.
Narrated It was narrated that ‘Ali (رضي الله عنه) was asked about Witr and whether it was obligatory. He said:
It is not like the obligatory prayer, but it is a Sunnah that was done by the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and his Companions, and they continued doing it until the end of their lives.
Narrated It was narrated that ‘Abdur-Rahman bin Abi Laila said:
When `Ali bin Abi Talib (رضي الله عنه) heard the mu`addhin giving the adhan, he used to repeat after him. When he said, I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), `Ali (رضي الله عنه) would say: I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and that those who deny Muhammad are the liars.
