Anas b. Malik reported:(The people) stood up for the night prayer and a man stood up and spoke forth: Messenger of Allah, I have to say something to you. He (the Prophet) entered into secret conversation with him, till the people or some of the people dozed off, ad then he led them in prayer. He (Thabit al-Bunani) did not mention ablution.
حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، وَدَاوُدُ بْنُ شَبِيبٍ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ ثَابِتٍ الْبُنَانِيِّ، أَنَّ أَنَسَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ أُقِيمَتْ صَلاَةُ الْعِشَاءِ فَقَامَ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ لِي حَاجَةً . فَقَامَ يُنَاجِيهِ حَتَّى نَعَسَ الْقَوْمُ أَوْ بَعْضُ الْقَوْمِ ثُمَّ صَلَّى بِهِمْ وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ وُضُوءًا .
AbuDaud
Purification (Kitab Al-Taharah) • Hadith 201