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Everything our beloved Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, did was an act of worship, and the following are but a few of the numerous examples.
Although he was absolutely sinless and promised the highest rank in Paradise, a rank in which no other prophet has attained, it did not prevent him from offering a magnitude of voluntary prayers, which is an indication of our own need to increase and maintain the number of voluntary prayers we offer. The importance for us to offer voluntary prayer was often stressed by the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him.
Our beloved Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, would offer such long prayers that his legs became swollen. One of his Companions asked him why he offered such lengthy prayers when Allah had forgiven him all his sins. The Prophet replied: "Should I not be a grateful worshipper?"
It was his practice to sleep after the Isha prayer for the first portion of the night, then awake to offer his voluntary prayers until the time one would take breakfast before fasting. At that time he would offer the last prayer of the night, which is the Witr prayer. Then, he would return to his apartment and sleep until the call for the Dawn prayer was made, when he would make either the major or minor ablution in readiness for the prayer.
The voluntary night prayers of the Prophet would commence with two short units of prayer followed by very long units of prayer that varied in number. Sometimes he would offer ten units of prayer followed by the Witr making a total of thirteen -- this number was never exceeded -- then other times he would offer eight units of prayer followed by the Witr prayer. Whenever he was unable to offer his prayer during the night, Lady Ayesha, may Allah be pleased with her, said that he would offer twelve units of prayer before mid-day. She also commented that he offered his prayers in the most perfect manner. There was a time when she asked him: "O Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, do you sleep before you offer Witr?" He replied: "O Ayesha, my eyes sleep, but my heart remains awake." This blessed state is a special gift bestowed upon the prophets.
During Ramadan he would offer many of the Taraweeh prayers in the Mosque, and told his companions that those who stand with sincere faith and hope in prayer during the Night of Al Kadr will have their sins forgiven. When he did not offer his Taraweeh prayer with the congregation he would offer them at home.
When he was ill, the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, would offer his prayer sitting down until between thirty and forty verses remained when he would stand and recite them, then he would bow and prostrate, he did the same in the second unit of prayer.
Omar reports him as having offered two units of prayer before and after the mid-day prayer, and two units of prayer after the evening prayer and two units of prayer after the night prayer with the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him.
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