The Demeanour of the Holy Prophet
SallAllahu alaihi wasalam
The Holy Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasalam would retire to sleep early and rise just after midnight. He would clean his teeth with miswak, perform ablution and offer prayers to the extent destined by Allah. In this way his body and his potentialities were given rest and ease.
He neither slept nor kept awake more than necessary. When he needed sleep he would rest inclined on his right side, remembering Allah until sleep flowed over him. He ate very little at the time of sleeping. He never slept on the ground or on thick soft bedding. He used a piece of leather filled with the bark of date palms. He would rest his head on a pillow and occasionally place his right hand under his cheek. It is best to sleep on the right side. (Zad-ul Ma’ad).
The Holy Prophet was moderate in his sleep and his wakefulness. It was customary for the Holy Prophet to sleep and then wake and pray, then again sleep. He would do this several times each night. In this way he was seen sleeping and he was seen awake. (Zad-ul-Ma’ad; Madarij-un-Nubawah).
His Bedding
It has been recorded by Hazrat Imam Baqir Rahmatullah alaihi that on being asked about the bedding of the Holy Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasalam, Hazrat Aisha RaziAllahu Anha said: It consisted of a piece of leather filled with the bark of date palms." On being asked the same question Hazrat Hafsa RaziAllahu Anha replied, "It consisted of a piece of cloth folded in two then spread for the Holy Prophet to sleep upon. Once I thought to fold it in four to make it more comfortable. I did so. Next morning the Holy Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasalam asked me, “What was it you spread for my bed last night?” I replied that it was the usual piece of cloth folded in four to make it softer. The Holy Prophet said, "Let it be as before. Its softness prevented me from saying my Tahajjud prayer last night." (Shamail-il-Tirmizi)
It is related in various traditions that sometimes his bedding was a piece of cloth and sometimes it was a mat of palm leaves.
It has also been related in the traditions that whenever the Noble Companions of the Holy Prophet requested him to have a soft bed he used to say, “What have I to do with worldly ease and comfort? I am like a wayfarer who treading his path sits in the shade of a tree for a little rest and after a short while sets out again.” (Khasail-e-Nabawi)
Hazrat Aisha RaziAllahu Anha related: “Once a woman of the Ansar saw that the Holy Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasalam had spread his mantle for bedding. She made a bedding filled with wool and sent it to me for the Holy Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasalam. When the Holy Prophet came he noticed it and asked what it was. I told him it was sent by a certain woman of the Ansar. He directed it to be returned to her at once. As I liked it I was not willing to return it but the Holy Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasalam insisted and said, ‘If I so desire Allah Subhana wa Ta’ala can move mountains of gold and silver for me.’ So I returned the bed.”
Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud RaziAllahu Anhu reported: “Once I came to the Holy Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasalam when he was resting on a mat of palm leaves. Marks of the leaves were noticeable on his noble body. Seeing this I began to weep. The Holy Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasalam asked me what it was that made me cry. I said, ‘O Rasulullah! The Caesar and the Kisra rest on beds of velvet and silk and yourself on this mat!’ The Prophet said, ‘There is nothing to lament. For them is the comfort of this world and for us that of the hereafter.’” (Khasa’il-e-Nabawi)
It has been related by Hazrat Aisha that the Holy Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasalam used to say his prayers on a mat of palm leaves. (Ibn Sa’d)
Manner of Rest
Hazrat Bara RaziAllahu Anhu has related that whilst resting the Holy Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasalam used to place his right hand under his right cheek and recite the following supplication:
“O Lord! Save me from Thy Punishment on the Day of Resurrection.” (Shamail-il Tirmizi)
Hazrat Huzaifa RaziAllahu Anhu has related that the Holy Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasalam used to recite the following supplication on going to bed:
“O Allah! with Thy Name I die and live.” (Shamail-il-Tirmizi)
When he woke he used to recite:
“All praise is to Him Who after giving us death has given us life and unto Him is the return.” (Khasa’il-e-Nabawi)
Hazrat Aisha, the Truthful RaziAllahu Anha has related: When the Holy Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasalam went to bed at night he used to raise his hands as in Du’a and recite Suratu’l-Ikhlas, Suratu’l-Falaq and Suratu’n-Nas (Chapters 112,113,114. The last two are called “The Seekers of Refuge”) and then he would blow into his hands which he then passed over his body lightly touching each and every part within reach - first the head, then the face and the front part of the body and then the rest of it. This he did thrice. (Shama’il-e-Tirmizi)
It is authentically reported that the Holy Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasalam used to recite other invocations also before going to sleep. He recited other Surahs from Qur’an Sharif.
According to another tradition the Holy Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasalam is reported to have said that whoever goes to sleep while reciting any Surahs of Qur’an Sharif, Allah sends an angel to guard him from all harm till he wakes up.
Recitation of Surahs 112, 113, 114 is explicitly established by the Prophet’s own practice. He would also recite Musabbiha, i.e. the Surahs beginning with Sabbaha, Yusabbihu. Regular recitation of Surah 32 is also mentioned and Surah 77. Recitation of Ayat al-Kursi and the last two verses of Surah 2 are also recorded. (Fathul Bari; Khasa’il-Nabawi)
A Companion of the Holy Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasalam has narrated that the Holy Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasalam directed him to recite Surah 109 before going to sleep. (Fathul Bari: Khasa’il-Nabawi)
Hazrat Anas RaziAllahu Anhu has related that the Holy Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasalam used to recite the following prayer before going to bed:
“All praise to Him Who has given us food, met all our needs and favoured us with a shelter, for are many who have none to fulfill their requirements and give them a refuge.”
Other Occupations
The Holy Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasalam used to sleep on a piece of leather stuffed with the bark of date palms, or on an ordinary mat or piece of cloth or sometimes on a bedstead plaited with rush strings. At home he sometimes sat resting on a pillow. (Zad-ul-Ma’ad)
The Holy Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasalam liked the cloth on which he rested to be folded only once. During sleep the sound of his breathing was noticeable.
He used to rest on his back with one leg lying over the other being sure of modesty. If however modesty cannot be preserved he forbade rest in such a manner. (Zad-ul Ma’ad)
The Holy Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasalam never slept before the 'Isha prayer.
He never slept in a house in which a lamp had not been lit. (Zad-ul-Ma’ad)
If the Holy Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasalam intended to take rest whilst in a condition requiring a full ablution he would wash those parts requiring immediate cleaning and then perform ablution. (Zad-ul Ma’ad)
It was usual for the Holy Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasalam to make ablution before going to bed.
If he happened to wake during the night he would wash his hands before going to sleep again. (Zad-ul-Ma’ad)
Before retiring he would remove his turban, put off his shirt and hang it, then dust the bed with a piece of cloth. ((Zad-ul-Ma’ad)
At night a wooden vessel was placed under the bedstead for the call of nature during the night.
An antimony container was always placed at the head of the bed. He used to apply antimony at the time of sleep. The container was usually black. He would apply the antimony with a needle, thrice to each eye, sometimes only twice and then one measure to both eyes. (Ibn Sa’d)
At bedtime the Holy Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasalam used to discuss various matters with his family members, sometimes about household affairs and sometimes about Muslims in general. (Nashrut Tayab)
(Taken from book “Uswa-e-Rasool SallAllahu alaihi wassalam” by Dr. Abdul Hai)
The bolded part - Is it possible that the softness of a bed prevented the Prophet(pbuh) from reading the midnight prayers? Does it mean that he (pbuh) missed his midnight prayers because the bed was soft. Definitely I know he is human too but I just thought kay ko Allah ka Rasool hai or asay mumkin nahin hai 
Any thoughts on this?
The red part - I never knew that. 
all lights are off at our home. But in Pakistan we have little lamps on at night. Tou yeh sunnah hai?
The blue part - Is that surma or what?
