Hadith 1159
Sa'd bin Abu Waqqas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
عن سعد بن أبي وقاص، رضي الله عنه، قال: خرجنا مع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم من مكة نريد المدينة، فلما كنا قريبًا من عزوراء نزل ثم رفع يديه، فدعا الله ساعة، ثم خر ساجدًا، فمكث طويلا، ثم قام فرفع يديه ساعة، ثم خر ساجدًا- فعله- ثلاثًا- وقال: "إني سألت ربي، وشفعت لأمتي، فأعطاني ثلث أمتي، فخررت ساجدًا لربي شكرًا، ثم رفعت رأسي، فسألت ربي لأمتي، فأعطاني ثلث أمتي، فخررت ساجدًا لربي شكرًا، ثم رفعت رأسي، فسألت ربي لأمتي، فأعطاني الثلث الآخر، فخررت ساجدًا لربي" ((رواه أبو داود)).
We left Makkah with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) for Al-Madinah, and when we were near 'Azwara,' he (ﷺ) alighted (from his riding-camel) raised his hands in supplication to Allah for a while and prostrated himself. He remained for a long time in prostration. Then he stood up and raised his hands for a while, after which he prostrated himself (again), and remained for a long time in prostration. Then he stood up and raised his hands for a while, after which he prostrated himself for the third time. Then he (ﷺ) said, "I supplicated my Rubb and made intercession for my Ummah, and He granted me one-third of them. So I again prostrated myself in gratitude to my Rubb. Then I raised my head and supplicated my Rubb for my Ummah, and He granted me another third of them. Again I raised my head and supplicated my Rubb for my Ummah and He granted me the last third of them. So I fell into prostration out of gratitude before my Rubb." [Abu Dawud].
In plain words
On a journey the Prophet prostrated three times in gratitude, each time after his Lord granted part of what he asked for his community. It shows that great blessings can be met at once with thankful prostration, turning joy into worship.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1159 In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 169