That night, he was listening to his mom who had turned towards Qibla at a corner of the room. He carefully watched her mom bowing down, prostrating, standing, and sitting in prayers the entire night, which was a Thursday night. Although he was a child, he followed the actions of his mother to see what she would ask Allah (SWT) for herself after praying for all Muslim men and women, and asking Allah (SWT) to grant them blessings, bounty, salvation, and mercy.
Imam Hassan (PBUH) did not sleep that night at all, watching what his mother, Lady Fatimah (PBUH), was doing. He was waiting to see how his mother would pray, and what she would ask for herself from Allah (SWT).
The entire night was spent in worship and praying for others, and Imam Hassan (PBUH) did not hear her mother praying for herself.
At morning, he asked her mother,” O mother! Why did you pray for others and did not ask Allah (SWT) anything for yourself?”
The kind mother replied,” O my dear son! Neighbors first, then ourselves!”(1)
(The above is a selection taken from “Anecdotes of Pious Men”, by Martyr MurtadaMutahhari)
Footnote
1. Ilal al-Shara’ye, vol. 1, p. 182; Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 10, p. 25)