Virtue and context
Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhu) saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ praying at night. The Prophet ﷺ magnified Allah three times and praised Him as Possessor of sovereignty, might, grandeur and greatness. He recited Surah al-Baqarah, bowed for about as long as he had stood and repeatedly glorified his Magnificent Lord. After rising, he stood for about as long as the bowing and praised his Lord.
The Prophet ﷺ then prostrated for about as long as he had stood and glorified his Most High Lord. Between the two prostrations he sat for about as long as the prostration and twice asked his Lord to forgive him. He prayed four units, reciting al-Baqarah, Ali Imran, al-Nisa and either al-Maʾidah or al-Anʿam; the narrator Shuʿbah was uncertain about the final surah.
