Arabic (Original)
حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ عَنْ قَابُوسَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ أَرْسَلَ أَبِي امْرَأَةً إِلَى عَائِشَةَ يَسْأَلُهَا أَيُّ الصَّلَاةِ كَانَتْ أَحَبَّ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنْ يُوَاظِبَ عَلَيْهَا قَالَتْ كَانَ يُصَلِّي قَبْلَ الظُّهْرِ أَرْبَعًا يُطِيلُ فِيهِنَّ الْقِيَامَ وَيُحْسِنُ فِيهِنَّ الرُّكُوعَ وَالسُّجُودَ فَأَمَّا مَا لَمْ يَكُنْ يَدَعُ صَحِيحًا وَلَا مَرِيضًا وَلَا غَائِبًا وَلَا شَاهِدًا فَرَكْعَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ الْفَجْرِ.
English Translation
Aisha was asked which prayer the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) most loved to maintain regularly. She said: "He used to pray four rak'ahs before Dhuhr, lengthening the standing and perfecting the bowing and prostration. As for what he never abandoned, whether healthy or ill, present or traveling, it was two rak'ahs before Fajr."