A Day in the Life of Prophet Muhammad(SAW)

After Sunset

When Maghrib prayer was called, the Prophet stayed only a

short while before he came out. He would find his companions

close to the pillars of the mosque, praying its voluntary prayer of

two rak 'ahs, as he encouraged them to do. He used to tell them:

"Pray two rak 'ahs before the Maghrib prayer." He repeated this

three times, but added after the third time, "if you wish". These are

two short rak 'ahs, becau se the time between the adhan and the start

of the congregational prayer at Maghrib was very short.

When the Prophet came into the mosque the prayer was called

and he immediately started. He used to pray Maghrib at the

beginning of its time range and finished it before the fall of

darkness. It is said that when a person left the mosque after

Maghrib, the light was still abundant. If he threw an arrow, he could

see where it landed.

His recitation of the Qur'an in Maghrib and his prayer was

mostly short. He might read a long passage, but this was rare. He

once read in Maghrib Surah 7, "The Heights", and on another

occasion he recited Surah 52, "Mount Sinai". Maghrib was the last

prayer he led before he passed away. On that occasion, he recited

Surah 77, "Sent Forth".

The Prophet did not sit to talk to his companions after

Maghrib as he talked to them after other prayers in the day. This

was due to the fact that people needed to go home for their dinner

and to rest. When he finished the obligatory prayer, he returned

home and offered a prayer of two rak 'ahs which is the regular

recommended prayer. He would then have his dinner, as this was

their regular dinner time. They might dine before offering Maghrib

prayer, if they were fasting. Hence, the Prophet said: "If dinner is

brought forth, start with it before you offer Maghrib. Do not place

it ahead of your dinner."  He often told his companions to take with them some poor

people to dine with them. He said: "Whoever has food enough for

two people should take a third, and whoever has food for four

people should take a fifth or a sixth. "

He himself might take home ten people to share his dinner, if

he had plenty of food. Yet he might go home and find nothing to

eat other than some dates and water. Days on end might pass and

there is nothing in his home to be eaten by anyone. One day a man

who looked exhau sted and hungry came to him. Signs of starvation

and extreme exhaustion were clearly apparent on his face. He said

by looks and words: "Messenger of God, I am in a desperate