19/5. Chapter:
The Prophet's (pbuh) exhorting to Tahajjud and Nawafil without making them compulsory
وَطَرَقَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَاطِمَةَ وَعَلِيًّا- عليهما السلام- لَيْلَةً لِلصَّلاَةِ.The Prophet ﷺ went to ‘Ali and Fatima رضي الله عنهما at night and knocked their door to exhort them to perform Salat (i.e. night prayers).
Sahih Bukhari : 1128
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 1128
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ قَالَتْ إِنْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لَيَدَعُ الْعَمَلَ وَهْوَ يُحِبُّ أَنْ يَعْمَلَ بِهِ خَشْيَةَ أَنْ يَعْمَلَ بِهِ النَّاسُ فَيُفْرَضَ عَلَيْهِمْ، وَمَا سَبَّحَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم سُبْحَةَ الضُّحَى قَطُّ، وَإِنِّي لأُسَبِّحُهَا.
Narrated `Aisha: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to give up a good deed, although he loved to do it, for fear that people might act on it and it might be made compulsory for them. The Prophet (ﷺ) never prayed the Duha prayer, but I offer it.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 1128In-book reference : Book 19, Hadith 8USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 2, Book 21, Hadith 228
