How did the Prophet ( PBUH ) pray "Qiyam Prayer"?

Sources

• ✓ Sunan Abu Dawud 5:106

  Sunni Daif (per Al-Albani)

  Sunan Abu Dawud · Book 5, Hadith 106 · Narrated by Al-Fadl ibn Abbas

  I spent a night at the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) place to observe his manner of prayer. He stood up, performed ablution, then prayed two units, each with his standing being like his bowing, and his bowing like his prostration. Then he lay down to sleep, and after waking up, he performed ablution and used the siwak. Next, he recited five verses from Surah Al 'Imran beginning with “Indeed in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of night and day...” and he repeated this until he had prayed ten units. Then he stood again and prayed one prostration as witr. At that moment, the caller to prayer called. After the mu'azzin finished, the Prophet stood up and prayed two light prostrations, then sat down until the dawn prayer. [Abu Dawud notes:] Some parts of this narration are unclear from Ibn Bishar.

• ✓ Sunan an-Nasa'i 20:54

  Sunni Sahih (per Al-Albani)

  Sunan an-Nasa'i · Book 20, Hadith 54 · Narrated by Aisha

  When I was asked by Sa’d ibn Hisham ibn Amir about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah, I said: The Messenger of Allah used to perform the night prayer after Isha, then go to his bed and sleep. In the middle of the night he would wake to relieve himself and purify himself, then perform ablution and go to the mosque to pray eight rak’ahs. It seemed to me that he equalized between between recitation, bowing, and prostration in these rak’ahs. Then he would offer one rak’ah of witr, followed by two rak’ahs sitting, then lie on his side. Sometimes Bilal would come and call the prayer before he dozed off, and sometimes he would fall asleep and sometimes I wasn’t sure if he did or not until Bilal called the prayer. This continued as the prayer of the Messenger of Allah until his flesh grew thin, then I remembered how light he had become. She said: The Prophet used to lead the people in the Isha prayer, then go to bed. Then in the middle of the night, he would get up for purification and his needs, then perform ablution and enter the mosque to pray six rak’ahs. It seemed to me that he equalized between recitation, bowing, and prostration. After that he would offer one rak’ah of witr, then pray two rak’ahs sitting, then lie on his side. Sometimes Bilal would come and call the prayer before he fell asleep; sometimes he did fall asleep; sometimes I was uncertain whether or not until Bilal called the prayer. This was the practice of the Messenger of Allah.

• ✓ Sunan Ibn Majah 6:561

  Sunni Sahih (per Al-Albani)

  Sunan Ibn Majah · Book 6, Hadith 561 · Narrated by Ibn Abbas

  I slept at the house of Maymunah, the wife of the Prophet (peace be upon him), who was also his maternal aunt. I lay across the pillow while the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his family lay lengthwise. He slept until about midnight or a little before or after. Then he woke and wiped sleep from his face with his hand, then recited the last ten verses of Surah Al-Imran. He then went to a suspended water-skin, performed ablution beautifully, and stood to pray. I got up and did as he did, then approached him. The Prophet (peace be upon him) placed his right hand on my head, twisted my right ear, and prayed two Rak'ahs, then two more, then two more, then two more, followed by two more, then two more, concluding with Witr. He then lay down until the Mu'adhdhin came, and prayed two light Rak'ahs before heading out for the obligatory prayer.