On The Night Prayer

Narrated 'Aishah:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to pray ten rak'ahs during the night, and would observe the witr with one rak'ah, he then prayed two rak'ahs of the dawn prayer. Thus he prayed thirteen rak'ahs in all.

حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عَدِيٍّ، عَنْ حَنْظَلَةَ، عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ : كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ عَشْرَ رَكَعَاتٍ، وَيُوتِرُ بِسَجْدَةٍ، وَيَسْجُدُ سَجْدَتَىِ الْفَجْرِ، فَذَلِكَ ثَلاَثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً .

Narrated 'Aishah, wife of Prophet ﷺ:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to pray eleven rak'ahs (at night, observing the witr with one rak'ahs). When he finished it (the prayer), he would lie down on his right side.

حَدَّثَنَا الْقَعْنَبِيُّ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، زَوْجِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ : أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَانَ يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً، يُوتِرُ مِنْهَا بِوَاحِدَةٍ، فَإِذَا فَرَغَ مِنْهَا اضْطَجَعَ عَلَى شِقِّهِ الأَيْمَنِ .

Narrated 'Aishah:
Between the time when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ finished the night prayer till the dawn broke, he used to pray eleven rak'ahs, uttering the salutation at the end of every two and observing the witr with a single one, and during that he would make a prostration about as long a one of you would take to recite fifty verses before raising his head. When the mu'adhdhin finished making the call for the dawn prayer, he stood up and prayed two short rak'ahs, then he lay down on his right side till the mu'adhdhin came to him

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَنَصْرُ بْنُ عَاصِمٍ، - وَهَذَا لَفْظُهُ - قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا الْوَلِيدُ، حَدَّثَنَا الأَوْزَاعِيُّ، - وَقَالَ نَصْرٌ : عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي ذِئْبٍ، وَالأَوْزَاعِيِّ، - عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، - رضى الله عنها - قَالَتْ : كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُصَلِّي فِيمَا بَيْنَ أَنْ يَفْرُغَ مِنْ صَلاَةِ الْعِشَاءِ إِلَى أَنْ يَنْصَدِعَ الْفَجْرُ إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً، يُسَلِّمُ مِنْ كُلِّ ثِنْتَيْنِ وَيُوتِرُ بِوَاحِدَةٍ، وَيَمْكُثُ فِي سُجُودِهِ قَدْرَ مَا يَقْرَأُ أَحَدُكُمْ خَمْسِينَ آيَةً قَبْلَ أَنْ يَرْفَعَ رَأْسَهُ، فَإِذَا سَكَتَ الْمُؤَذِّنُ بِالأُولَى مِنْ صَلاَةِ الْفَجْرِ قَامَ فَرَكَعَ رَكْعَتَيْنِ خَفِيفَتَيْنِ، ثُمَّ اضْطَجَعَ عَلَى شِقِّهِ الأَيْمَنِ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَهُ الْمُؤَذِّنُ .

This tradition has been transmitted by Ibn Shihab through a different chain of narrators to the same effect. This version adds:

He would observe witr with a single rak'ah and make a prostration as long as you would take to recite fifty verses before raising his head. When the mu'adhdhin finished his call for the dawn prayer and the dawn became clear to him.... Then the narrator transmitted the rest of the tradition to the same effect.

Some narrators added something more in their version.

حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ دَاوُدَ الْمَهْرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي ابْنُ أَبِي ذِئْبٍ، وَعَمْرُو بْنُ الْحَارِثِ، وَيُونُسُ بْنُ يَزِيدَ، أَنَّ ابْنَ شِهَابٍ، أَخْبَرَهُمْ بِإِسْنَادِهِ، وَمَعْنَاهُ،، قَالَ : وَيُوتِرُ بِوَاحِدَةٍ، وَيَسْجُدُ سَجْدَةً قَدْرَ مَا يَقْرَأُ أَحَدُكُمْ خَمْسِينَ آيَةً قَبْلَ أَنْ يَرْفَعَ رَأْسَهُ، فَإِذَا سَكَتَ الْمُؤَذِّنُ مِنْ صَلاَةِ الْفَجْرِ وَتَبَيَّنَ لَهُ الْفَجْرُ . وَسَاقَ مَعْنَاهُ . قَالَ : وَبَعْضُهُمْ يَزِيدُ عَلَى بَعْضٍ .

Narrated 'Aishah:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to pray thirteen rak'ahs during the night, observing a witr out of that with five, he did not sit during the five except the last and then gave the salutation.

Abu Dawud said: Ibn Numair reported it from Hisham recently.

حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، حَدَّثَنَا وُهَيْبٌ، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ : كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ ثَلاَثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً يُوتِرُ مِنْهَا بِخَمْسٍ، لاَ يَجْلِسُ فِي شَىْءٍ مِنَ الْخَمْسِ حَتَّى يَجْلِسَ فِي الآخِرَةِ فَيُسَلِّمَ . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ : رَوَاهُ ابْنُ نُمَيْرٍ عَنْ هِشَامٍ، نَحْوَهُ .

Narrated 'Aishah:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to pray thirteen rak'ahs during the night ; he then offered two light rak'ahs of prayer when he heard the call to the dawn prayer.

حَدَّثَنَا الْقَعْنَبِيُّ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ : كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُصَلِّي بِاللَّيْلِ ثَلاَثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً، ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي إِذَا سَمِعَ النِّدَاءَ بِالصُّبْحِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ خَفِيفَتَيْنِ .

Narrated 'Aishah:
The Prophet ﷺ used to pray thirteen rak'ahs during the night. He would offer eight rak'ahs observing the witr with one rak'ah. Then he prayed (the narrator Muslim said) two rak'ahs after witr prayer in sitting position. When he wished to bow, he stood up and bowed. He used to pray two rak'ahs between the call to the dawn prayer and the iqamah.

حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، وَمُسْلِمُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبَانُ، عَنْ يَحْيَى، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، : أَنَّ نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَانَ يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ ثَلاَثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً، وَكَانَ يُصَلِّي ثَمَانِيَ رَكَعَاتٍ، وَيُوتِرُ بِرَكْعَةٍ، ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي - قَالَ مُسْلِمٌ : بَعْدَ الْوِتْرِ، ثُمَّ اتَّفَقَا - رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ قَاعِدٌ، فَإِذَا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَرْكَعَ قَامَ فَرَكَعَ، وَيُصَلِّي بَيْنَ أَذَانِ الْفَجْرِ وَالإِقَامَةِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ .

Abu Salamah b. 'Abd al-Rahman asked 'Aishah, the wife of the Prophet ﷺ:
How did the Messenger of Allah ﷺ pray during Ramadhan ? She said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not pray more than eleven rak'ahs during Ramadhan and other than Ramadhan. He would pray four rak'ahs. Do not ask about their elegance and length. He then would pray for rak'ahs. Do not ask about their alegance and length. Then he would pray three rak'ahs. 'Aishah said: I asked: Messenger of Allah, do you sleep before observing witr ? He replied: 'Aishah, my eyes sleep, but my heart does not sleep.

حَدَّثَنَا الْقَعْنَبِيُّ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْمَقْبُرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، أَنَّهُ أَخْبَرَهُ : أَنَّهُ، سَأَلَ عَائِشَةَ زَوْجَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ كَيْفَ كَانَتْ صَلاَةُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي رَمَضَانَ فَقَالَتْ : مَا كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَزِيدُ فِي رَمَضَانَ وَلاَ فِي غَيْرِهِ عَلَى إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً : يُصَلِّي أَرْبَعًا فَلاَ تَسْأَلْ عَنْ حُسْنِهِنَّ وَطُولِهِنَّ، ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي أَرْبَعًا فَلاَ تَسْأَلْ عَنْ حُسْنِهِنَّ وَطُولِهِنَّ، ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي ثَلاَثًا، قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ - رضى الله عنها - فَقُلْتُ : يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَتَنَامُ قَبْلَ أَنْ تُوتِرَ قَالَ : " يَا عَائِشَةُ إِنَّ عَيْنَىَّ تَنَامَانِ وَلاَ يَنَامُ قَلْبِي " .

Narrated Sa'd bin Hisham:

I divorced my wife. I then came to Medina to sell my land that was there so that I could buy arms and fight in battle. I met a group of the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ. They said: Six persons of us intended to do so (i.e. divorce their wives and purchase weapons), but the Prophet ﷺ prohibited them. He said: For you in the Messenger of Allah there is an excellent model. I then came to Ibn 'Abbas and asked him about the witr observed by the Prophet ﷺ. He said: I point to you a person who is most familiar with the witr observed by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Go to 'Aishah. While going to her I asked Hakim b. Aflah to accompany me. He refused, but I adjured him. He, therefore, went along with me. We sought permission to enter upon 'Aishah. She said: Who is this ? He said: Hakim b. Aflah. She asked: Who is with you ? He replied: Sa'd b. Hisham. She said: Hisham son of 'Amir who was killed in the Battle of Uhud. I said: Yes. She said: What a good man 'Amir was! I said: Mother of faithful, tell me about the character of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. She asked: Do you not recite the Quran ? The character of Messenger of Allah ﷺ was the Qur'an. I asked: Tell me about his vigil and prayer at night. She replied: Do you not recite: "O thou folded in garments" (73:1). I said: Why not ?

When the opening of this Surah was revealed, the Companions stood praying (most of the night) until their fett swelled, and the concluding verses were not revealed for twelve months from heaven. At last the concluding verses were revealed and the prayer at night became voluntary after it was obligatory. I said: Tell me about the witr of the Prophet ﷺ. She replied: He used to pray eight rak'ahs, sitting only during the eighth of them. Then he would stand up and pray another rak'ahs. He would sit only after the eighth and the ninth rak'ahs. He would utter salutation only after the ninth rak'ah. He would then pray two rak'ahs sitting and that made eleven rak'ahs, O my son. But when he grew old and became fleshy he observed a witr of seven, sitting only in sixth and seventh rak'ahs, and would utter salutation only after the seventh rak'ah. He would then pray two rak'ahs sitting, and that made nine rak'ahs, O my son. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would not pray through a whole night, or recite the whole Qur'an in a night or fast a complete month except in Ramadan. When he offered prayer, he would do that regularly. When he was overtaken by sleep at night, he would pray twelve rak'ahs.

The narrator said: I came to Ibn 'Abbas and narrated all this to him. By Allah, this is really a tradition. Has I been on speaking terms with her, I would have come to her and heard it from her mouth. I said: If I knew that you were not on speaking terms with her, I would have never narrated it to you.

حَدَّثَنَا حَفْصُ بْنُ عُمَرَ، حَدَّثَنَا هَمَّامٌ، حَدَّثَنَا قَتَادَةُ، عَنْ زُرَارَةَ بْنِ أَوْفَى، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ هِشَامٍ، قَالَ : طَلَّقْتُ امْرَأَتِي فَأَتَيْتُ الْمَدِينَةَ لأَبِيعَ عَقَارًا كَانَ لِي بِهَا، فَأَشْتَرِيَ بِهِ السِّلاَحَ وَأَغْزُوَ، فَلَقِيتُ نَفَرًا مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَقَالُوا : قَدْ أَرَادَ نَفَرٌ مِنَّا سِتَّةٌ أَنْ يَفْعَلُوا ذَلِكَ فَنَهَاهُمُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ وَقَالَ : " لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ " . فَأَتَيْتُ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ فَسَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ وِتْرِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَقَالَ : أَدُلُّكَ عَلَى أَعْلَمِ النَّاسِ بِوِتْرِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَأْتِ عَائِشَةَ رضى الله عنها . فَأَتَيْتُهَا فَاسْتَتْبَعْتُ حَكِيمَ بْنَ أَفْلَحَ فَأَبَى فَنَاشَدْتُهُ فَانْطَلَقَ مَعِي، فَاسْتَأْذَنَّا عَلَى عَائِشَةَ، فَقَالَتْ : مَنْ هَذَا قَالَ : حَكِيمُ بْنُ أَفْلَحَ . قَالَتْ : وَمَنْ مَعَكَ قَالَ : سَعْدُ بْنُ هِشَامٍ . قَالَتْ : هِشَامُ بْنُ عَامِرٍ الَّذِي قُتِلَ يَوْمَ أُحُدٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ : نَعَمْ . قَالَتْ : نِعْمَ الْمَرْءُ كَانَ عَامِرًا . قَالَ قُلْتُ : يَا أُمَّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ حَدِّثِينِي عَنْ خُلُقِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ . قَالَتْ : أَلَسْتَ تَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ فَإِنَّ خُلُقَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَانَ الْقُرْآنَ . قَالَ قُلْتُ : حَدِّثِينِي عَنْ قِيَامِ اللَّيْلِ قَالَتْ : أَلَسْتَ تَقْرَأُ { يَا أَيُّهَا الْمُزَّمِّلُ } قَالَ قُلْتُ : بَلَى . قَالَتْ : فَإِنَّ أَوَّلَ هَذِهِ السُّورَةِ نَزَلَتْ، فَقَامَ أَصْحَابُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ حَتَّى انْتَفَخَتْ أَقْدَامُهُمْ، وَحُبِسَ خَاتِمَتُهَا فِي السَّمَاءِ اثْنَىْ عَشَرَ شَهْرًا، ثُمَّ نَزَلَ آخِرُهَا فَصَارَ قِيَامُ اللَّيْلِ تَطَوُّعًا بَعْدَ فَرِيضَةٍ . قَالَ قُلْتُ : حَدِّثِينِي عَنْ وِتْرِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ . قَالَتْ : كَانَ يُوتِرُ بِثَمَانِ رَكَعَاتٍ لاَ يَجْلِسُ إِلاَّ فِي الثَّامِنَةِ، ثُمَّ يَقُومُ فَيُصَلِّي رَكْعَةً أُخْرَى، لاَ يَجْلِسُ إِلاَّ فِي الثَّامِنَةِ وَالتَّاسِعَةِ، وَلاَ يُسَلِّمُ إِلاَّ فِي التَّاسِعَةِ، ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ فَتِلْكَ إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً يَا بُنَىَّ، فَلَمَّا أَسَنَّ وَأَخَذَ اللَّحْمَ أَوْتَرَ بِسَبْعِ رَكَعَاتٍ لَمْ يَجْلِسْ إِلاَّ فِي السَّادِسَةِ وَالسَّابِعَةِ، وَلَمْ يُسَلِّمْ إِلاَّ فِي السَّابِعَةِ، ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ، فَتِلْكَ هِيَ تِسْعُ رَكَعَاتٍ يَا بُنَىَّ، وَلَمْ يَقُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لَيْلَةً يُتِمُّهَا إِلَى الصَّبَاحِ، وَلَمْ يَقْرَإِ الْقُرْآنَ فِي لَيْلَةٍ قَطُّ، وَلَمْ يَصُمْ شَهْرًا يُتِمُّهُ غَيْرَ رَمَضَانَ، وَكَانَ إِذَا صَلَّى صَلاَةً دَاوَمَ عَلَيْهَا، وَكَانَ إِذَا غَلَبَتْهُ عَيْنَاهُ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ بِنَوْمٍ صَلَّى مِنَ النَّهَارِ ثِنْتَىْ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً . قَالَ : فَأَتَيْتُ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ فَحَدَّثْتُهُ . فَقَالَ : هَذَا وَاللَّهِ هُوَ الْحَدِيثُ، وَلَوْ كُنْتُ أُكَلِّمُهَا لأَتَيْتُهَا حَتَّى أُشَافِهَهَا بِهِ مُشَافَهَةً . قَالَ قُلْتُ : لَوْ عَلِمْتُ أَنَّكَ لاَ تُكَلِّمُهَا مَا حَدَّثْتُكَ .

The above mentioned tradition has also been narrated by Qatadah through a different chain of narrators. This version adds:
He (the Prophet( used to pray eight rak'ahs during which he did not sit except the eight rak'ahs. He would sit, make mention of Allah, supplicate Him and then utter the salutation so loudly that we could hear it. He would then pray two rak'ahs sitting after he had uttered the salutation. Then he would pray one rak'ah, and that made eleven rak'ahs, O my son. When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ grew old and became fleshy, he offered seven rak'ahs of witr, and then he would pray two rak'ahs sitting after he had uttered the salutation. The narrator narrated the tradition to the same effect till the end.

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، بِإِسْنَادِهِ نَحْوَهُ قَالَ : يُصَلِّي ثَمَانِ رَكَعَاتٍ لاَ يَجْلِسُ فِيهِنَّ إِلاَّ عِنْدَ الثَّامِنَةِ، فَيَجْلِسُ فَيَذْكُرُ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ، ثُمَّ يَدْعُو، ثُمَّ يُسَلِّمُ تَسْلِيمًا يُسْمِعُنَا، ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ بَعْدَ مَا يُسَلِّمُ، ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي رَكْعَةً، فَتِلْكَ إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً يَا بُنَىَّ، فَلَمَّا أَسَنَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَأَخَذَ اللَّحْمَ أَوْتَرَ بِسَبْعٍ، وَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ بَعْدَ مَا يُسَلِّمُ، بِمَعْنَاهُ إِلَى مُشَافَهَةً .

The above tradition has also been transmitted by Yahya b. Sa'id to the same effect. The version adds the words:
"He uttered the salutation so loudly that we could hear it."

حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بِشْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدٌ، بِهَذَا الْحَدِيثِ قَالَ : يُسَلِّمُ تَسْلِيمًا يُسْمِعُنَا كَمَا قَالَ يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ .

This tradition has also been transmitted by Sa'id through a different chain of narrators to the same effect. Ibn Bashshar narrated the tradition like that of Yahya b. Sa'id. His version has:
He uttered the salutation in a way that we could hear it.

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عَدِيٍّ، عَنْ سَعِيدٍ، بِهَذَا الْحَدِيثِ قَالَ ابْنُ بَشَّارٍ بِنَحْوِ حَدِيثِ يَحْيَى بْنِ سَعِيدٍ إِلاَّ أَنَّهُ قَالَ : وَيُسَلِّمُ تَسْلِيمَةً يُسْمِعُنَا .

Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin:

Zurarah ibn Awfa said that Aisha was asked about the midnight prayer of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

She said: He used to offer his night prayer in congregation and then return to his family (in his house) and pray four rak'ahs. Then he would go to his bed and sleep, but the water for his ablution was placed covered near his head and his tooth-stick was also kept there until Allah awakened him at night.

He then used the tooth-stick, performed ablution perfectly then came to the place of prayer and would pray eight rak'ahs, in which he would recite Surah al-Fatihah, and a surah from the Qur'an as Allah willed. He would not sit during any of them but sit after the eighth rak'ah, and would not utter the salutation, but recite (the Qur'an) during the ninth rak'ah. Then he would sit and supplicate as long as Allah willed, and beg Him and devote his attention to Him; He would utter the salutation once in such a loud voice that the inmates of the house were almost awakened by his loud salutation. He would then recite Surah al-Fatihah while sitting, bow while sitting, and then recite the Qur'an during the second rak'ah, and would bow and prostrate while sitting. He would supplicate Allah as long as He willed, then utter the salutation and turn away.

This amount of prayer of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ continued till he put a weight. During that period he retrenched two rak'ahs from nine and began to pray six and seven rak'ahs standing and two rak'ahs sitting. This continued till he died.

حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ حُسَيْنٍ الدِّرْهَمِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عَدِيٍّ، عَنْ بَهْزِ بْنِ حَكِيمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا زُرَارَةُ بْنُ أَوْفَى، : أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ، - رضى الله عنها - سُئِلَتْ عَنْ صَلاَةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي جَوْفِ اللَّيْلِ، فَقَالَتْ : كَانَ يُصَلِّي صَلاَةَ الْعِشَاءِ فِي جَمَاعَةٍ، ثُمَّ يَرْجِعُ إِلَى أَهْلِهِ فَيَرْكَعُ أَرْبَعَ رَكَعَاتٍ، ثُمَّ يَأْوِي إِلَى فِرَاشِهِ وَيَنَامُ وَطَهُورُهُ مُغَطًّى عِنْدَ رَأْسِهِ، وَسِوَاكُهُ مَوْضُوعٌ حَتَّى يَبْعَثَهُ اللَّهُ سَاعَتَهُ الَّتِي يَبْعَثُهُ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ، فَيَتَسَوَّكُ وَيُسْبِغُ الْوُضُوءَ، ثُمَّ يَقُومُ إِلَى مُصَلاَّهُ فَيُصَلِّي ثَمَانِ رَكَعَاتٍ يَقْرَأُ فِيهِنَّ بِأُمِّ الْكِتَابِ وَسُورَةٍ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ وَمَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ، وَلاَ يَقْعُدُ فِي شَىْءٍ مِنْهَا حَتَّى يَقْعُدَ فِي الثَّامِنَةِ، وَلاَ يُسَلِّمُ، وَيَقْرَأُ فِي التَّاسِعَةِ، ثُمَّ يَقْعُدُ فَيَدْعُو بِمَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ أَنْ يَدْعُوَهُ، وَيَسْأَلُهُ وَيَرْغَبُ إِلَيْهِ وَيُسَلِّمُ تَسْلِيمَةً وَاحِدَةً شَدِيدَةً، يَكَادُ يُوقِظُ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ مِنْ شِدَّةِ تَسْلِيمِهِ، ثُمَّ يَقْرَأُ وَهُوَ قَاعِدٌ بِأُمِّ الْكِتَابِ، وَيَرْكَعُ وَهُوَ قَاعِدٌ، ثُمَّ يَقْرَأُ الثَّانِيَةَ فَيَرْكَعُ وَيَسْجُدُ وَهُوَ قَاعِدٌ، ثُمَّ يَدْعُو مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ أَنْ يَدْعُوَ، ثُمَّ يُسَلِّمُ وَيَنْصَرِفُ، فَلَمْ تَزَلْ تِلْكَ صَلاَةَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ حَتَّى بَدَّنَ فَنَقَصَ مِنَ التِّسْعِ ثِنْتَيْنِ، فَجَعَلَهَا إِلَى السِّتِّ وَالسَّبْعِ وَرَكْعَتَيْهِ وَهُوَ قَاعِدٌ حَتَّى قُبِضَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ ﷺ .

The above-mentioned tradition has also been narrated by Banu al-Hakim through a different chain of narrators. This version adds:
He (the Prophet) would offer the night prayer and go to his bed. In this version there is no mention of praying four rak'ahs. The narrator then transmitted the rest of the tradition. This version further says: He would pray eight rak'ahs during which his recitation of the Qur'an, bowing and prostration were all equal. He would sit only after the eight rak'ah, and then stand up without uttering the salutation, and pray one rak'ah observing witr prayer and then give the salutation raising his voice so much so that we were about to awake. The narrator then transmitted the tradition to the same effect.

حَدَّثَنَا هَارُونُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ هَارُونَ، أَخْبَرَنَا بَهْزُ بْنُ حَكِيمٍ، فَذَكَرَ هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ بِإِسْنَادِهِ قَالَ : يُصَلِّي الْعِشَاءَ ثُمَّ يَأْوِي إِلَى فِرَاشِهِ، لَمْ يَذْكُرِ الأَرْبَعَ رَكَعَاتٍ، وَسَاقَ الْحَدِيثَ قَالَ فِيهِ : فَيُصَلِّي ثَمَانِيَ رَكَعَاتٍ يُسَوِّي بَيْنَهُنَّ فِي الْقِرَاءَةِ وَالرُّكُوعِ وَالسُّجُودِ، وَلاَ يَجْلِسُ فِي شَىْءٍ مِنْهُنَّ إِلاَّ فِي الثَّامِنَةِ، فَإِنَّهُ كَانَ يَجْلِسُ ثُمَّ يَقُومُ وَلاَ يُسَلِّمُ، فَيُصَلِّي رَكْعَةً يُوتِرُ بِهَا، ثُمَّ يُسَلِّمُ تَسْلِيمَةً يَرْفَعُ بِهَا صَوْتَهُ حَتَّى يُوقِظَنَا، ثُمَّ سَاقَ مَعْنَاهُ .

Zurarah b. Awfa said that 'Aishah was asked about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. She said:
He used to lead the people in the 'Isha prayer and return to his family and pray four rak'ahs and go to his bed. The narrator then transmitted the tradition in full. This version does not mention the words: "During them (the rak'ahs) he equated all the recitation of the Qur'an, bowing and recitation." This also does not mention the words about the salutation: "Till he almost awakened us."

حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ عُثْمَانَ، حَدَّثَنَا مَرْوَانُ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ مُعَاوِيَةَ - عَنْ بَهْزٍ، حَدَّثَنَا زُرَارَةُ بْنُ أَوْفَى، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ أُمِّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، : أَنَّهَا سُئِلَتْ عَنْ صَلاَةِ، رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَتْ : كَانَ يُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ الْعِشَاءَ، ثُمَّ يَرْجِعُ إِلَى أَهْلِهِ فَيُصَلِّي أَرْبَعًا، ثُمَّ يَأْوِي إِلَى فِرَاشِهِ، ثُمَّ سَاقَ الْحَدِيثَ بِطُولِهِ وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ : يُسَوِّي بَيْنَهُنَّ فِي الْقِرَاءَةِ وَالرُّكُوعِ وَالسُّجُودِ . وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ فِي التَّسْلِيمِ : حَتَّى يُوقِظَنَا .

This tradition has also been transmitted by 'Aishah through a different chain of narrators. But the tradition narrated by Hammad b. Salamah is not equal to the tradition narrated by others.

حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادٌ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ سَلَمَةَ - عَنْ بَهْزِ بْنِ حَكِيمٍ، عَنْ زُرَارَةَ بْنِ أَوْفَى، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ هِشَامٍ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، - رضى الله عنها - بِهَذَا الْحَدِيثِ وَلَيْسَ فِي تَمَامِ حَدِيثِهِمْ .

Narrated 'Aishah:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to pray thirteen rak'ahs during the night, observing the witr prayer with nine (or as she said). He used to pray two rak'ahs while sitting and pray two rak'ahs of the dawn prayer between the adhan and the iqamah.

حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ إِسْمَاعِيلَ - حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادٌ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ سَلَمَةَ - عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، رضى الله عنها : أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَانَ يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ ثَلاَثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً يُوتِرُ بِسَبْعٍ أَوْ كَمَا قَالَتْ، وَيُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ، وَرَكْعَتَىِ الْفَجْرِ بَيْنَ الأَذَانِ وَالإِقَامَةِ .

Narrated 'Aishah:

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to observe the witr prayer with nine rak'ahs. Then he used to pray seven rak'ahs (of witr prayer). He would pray two rak'ahs sitting after the witr in which he would recite the Qur'an (sitting). When he wished to bow, he stood up and bowed and prostrated.

Abu Dawud said: These two traditions have been transmitted by Khalid b. 'Abd Allah al-Wasiti. In his version he said: 'Alqamah b. Waqqas said: O mother, how did he pray the two rak'ahs ? He narrated the rest of the tradition to the same effect.

حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادٌ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ بْنِ وَقَّاصٍ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، رضى الله عنها : أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَانَ يُوتِرُ بِتِسْعِ رَكَعَاتٍ، ثُمَّ أَوْتَرَ بِسَبْعِ رَكَعَاتٍ، وَرَكَعَ رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ بَعْدَ الْوِتْرِ يَقْرَأُ فِيهِمَا، فَإِذَا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَرْكَعَ قَامَ فَرَكَعَ ثُمَّ سَجَدَ، قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ : رَوَى هَذَيْنِ الْحَدِيثَيْنِ خَالِدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْوَاسِطِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو مِثْلَهُ، قَالَ فِيهِ قَالَ عَلْقَمَةُ بْنُ وَقَّاصٍ : يَا أُمَّتَاهُ كَيْفَ كَانَ يُصَلِّي الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ فَذَكَرَ مَعْنَاهُ . حَدَّثَنَا وَهْبُ بْنُ بَقِيَّةَ عَنْ خَالِدٍ .

Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin:

Sa'd ibn Hisham said: I came to Medina and called upon Aisha, and said to her: Tell me about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

She said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to lead the people in the night prayer, and then go to his bed and sleep. When midnight came he got up, went to answer the call of nature and to perform ablution with water. Having performed ablution, he entered the mosque and prayed eight rak'ahs.

To my mind he performed the recitation of the Qur'an, bowing and prostrating equally. He then observed witr with one rak'ah and prayed two rak'ahs sitting. Then he lay down on the ground. Sometimes Bilal came to him and called him for prayer. He then dozed, and sometimes I doubted whether he dozed or not, till he (Bilal) called him for prayer.

This is the prayer he offered till he grew old or put on weight. She then mentioned how he put on weight as Allah wished.

حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الأَعْلَى، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ، عَنِ الْحَسَنِ، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ هِشَامٍ، قَالَ : قَدِمْتُ الْمَدِينَةَ فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَى عَائِشَةَ فَقُلْتُ : أَخْبِرِينِي عَنْ صَلاَةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ . قَالَتْ : إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَانَ يُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ صَلاَةَ الْعِشَاءِ، ثُمَّ يَأْوِي إِلَى فِرَاشِهِ فَيَنَامُ، فَإِذَا كَانَ جَوْفُ اللَّيْلِ قَامَ إِلَى حَاجَتِهِ وَإِلَى طَهُورِهِ فَتَوَضَّأَ، ثُمَّ دَخَلَ الْمَسْجِدَ فَصَلَّى ثَمَانِ رَكَعَاتٍ يُخَيَّلُ إِلَىَّ أَنَّهُ يُسَوِّي بَيْنَهُنَّ فِي الْقِرَاءَةِ وَالرُّكُوعِ وَالسُّجُودِ، ثُمَّ يُوتِرُ بِرَكْعَةٍ، ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ، ثُمَّ يَضَعُ جَنْبَهُ، فَرُبَّمَا جَاءَ بِلاَلٌ فَآذَنَهُ بِالصَّلاَةِ، ثُمَّ يُغْفِي، وَرُبَّمَا شَكَكْتُ أَغَفَى أَوْ لاَ، حَتَّى يُؤْذِنَهُ بِالصَّلاَةِ، فَكَانَتْ تِلْكَ صَلاَتَهُ حَتَّى أَسَنَّ وَلَحُمَ، فَذَكَرَتْ مِنْ لَحْمِهِ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ، وَسَاقَ الْحَدِيثَ .

'Abd Allah b. 'Abbas said that he slept with the Prophet ﷺ. He saw that he (the Prophet) awoke, used tooth-stick, performed ablution, and recited:
"In the creation of the heavens and earth" [3:190] to the end of the surah. Then he stood up and prayed two rak'ahs in which he prolonged the standing, bowing, and prostrations. He then uttered turned away and slept till he bagan to snore. This he did three times. This made six rak'ahs in all. He would use tooth-stick, then perform ablution, and recite those verses. He then observed the witr prayer. The version of 'Uthman has: with three rak'ahs. The mu'adhdhin then came to him and he went out for prayer. The version of Ibn 'Isa adds: He then observed witr prayer ; then Bilal came to him and called him for prayer when the dawn broke. He then prayed the two rak'ahs of the dawn prayer. He then went out for prayer. Then both the narrators were agreed: He beagan to supplicate saying: O Allah, place light in my heart, light in my tongue, light in my hearing, light in my eyesight, light on my right hand, light on my left hand, light in front of me, light behing me, light below me, O Allah, give me abundant light.

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عِيسَى، حَدَّثَنَا هُشَيْمٌ، أَخْبَرَنَا حُصَيْنٌ، عَنْ حَبِيبِ بْنِ أَبِي ثَابِتٍ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ فُضَيْلٍ، عَنْ حُصَيْنٍ، عَنْ حَبِيبِ بْنِ أَبِي ثَابِتٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، : أَنَّهُ رَقَدَ عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَرَآهُ اسْتَيْقَظَ فَتَسَوَّكَ وَتَوَضَّأَ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ : { إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ } حَتَّى خَتَمَ السُّورَةَ، ثُمَّ قَامَ فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ أَطَالَ فِيهِمَا الْقِيَامَ وَالرُّكُوعَ وَالسُّجُودَ، ثُمَّ إِنَّهُ انْصَرَفَ فَنَامَ حَتَّى نَفَخَ، ثُمَّ فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ بِسِتِّ رَكَعَاتٍ، كُلُّ ذَلِكَ يَسْتَاكُ ثُمَّ يَتَوَضَّأُ وَيَقْرَأُ هَؤُلاَءِ الآيَاتِ، ثُمَّ أَوْتَرَ - قَالَ عُثْمَانُ : بِثَلاَثِ رَكَعَاتٍ، فَأَتَاهُ الْمُؤَذِّنُ فَخَرَجَ إِلَى الصَّلاَةِ - وَقَالَ ابْنُ عِيسَى : ثُمَّ أَوْتَرَ فَأَتَاهُ بِلاَلٌ فَآذَنَهُ بِالصَّلاَةِ حِينَ طَلَعَ الْفَجْرُ، فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَىِ الْفَجْرِ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ إِلَى الصَّلاَةِ - ثُمَّ اتَّفَقَا - وَهُوَ يَقُولُ : " اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْ فِي قَلْبِي نُورًا، وَاجْعَلْ فِي لِسَانِي نُورًا، وَاجْعَلْ فِي سَمْعِي نُورًا، وَاجْعَلْ فِي بَصَرِي نُورًا، وَاجْعَلْ خَلْفِي نُورًا، وَأَمَامِي نُورًا، وَاجْعَلْ مِنْ فَوْقِي نُورًا، وَمِنْ تَحْتِي نُورًا، اللَّهُمَّ وَأَعْظِمْ لِي نُورًا " .

The above tradition has also been transmitted by Husain through a different chain of narrators in like manner. This version has the words:

"And give me abundant light."

Abu Dawud said: This tradition has been transmitted by Abu Khalid al-Dalani from Habib and Salamah b. Kuhail from Abu Rishdin from Ibn 'Abbas in a similar manner.

حَدَّثَنَا وَهْبُ بْنُ بَقِيَّةَ، عَنْ خَالِدٍ، عَنْ حُصَيْنٍ، نَحْوَهُ قَالَ : " وَأَعْظِمْ لِي نُورًا " . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ : وَكَذَلِكَ قَالَ أَبُو خَالِدٍ الدَّالاَنِيُّ عَنْ حَبِيبٍ فِي هَذَا، وَكَذَلِكَ قَالَ فِي هَذَا الْحَدِيثِ وَقَالَ سَلَمَةُ بْنُ كُهَيْلٍ عَنْ أَبِي رِشْدِينَ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ .

Narrated Fadl b. 'Abbas:

I spent a night with the Prophet ﷺ to see how he prayed. He got up, performed ablution and prayed two rak'ahs. His standing was like his bowing (i.e. equal in duration), and his bowing was like his prostration (equal in length). Then he slept. Afterwards he awoke, performed ablution, and used tooth-stick. He then recited five verses from Surah Al-'Imran : "In the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of night and day". He went on doing so till he prayed ten rak'ahs. He then stood up and prayed one rak'ah observing witr with it. In the meantime the mu'adhdhin called to prayer. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ stood up after the mu'adhdhin had kept silent. He prayed two light rak'ahs and remained sitting till he offered the dawn prayer.

Abu Dawud said: A part of the tradition transmitted by Ibn Bashshar remained hidden from me.

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَاصِمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ شَرِيكِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي نَمِرٍ، عَنْ كُرَيْبٍ، عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ : بِتُّ لَيْلَةً عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ لأَنْظُرَ كَيْفَ يُصَلِّي فَقَامَ فَتَوَضَّأَ ثُمَّ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ قِيَامُهُ مِثْلُ رُكُوعِهِ، وَرُكُوعُهُ مِثْلُ سُجُودِهِ، ثُمَّ نَامَ، ثُمَّ اسْتَيْقَظَ فَتَوَضَّأَ وَاسْتَنَّ ثُمَّ قَرَأَ بِخَمْسِ آيَاتٍ مِنْ آلِ عِمْرَانَ { إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلاَفِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ } فَلَمْ يَزَلْ يَفْعَلُ هَذَا حَتَّى صَلَّى عَشْرَ رَكَعَاتٍ، ثُمَّ قَامَ فَصَلَّى سَجْدَةً وَاحِدَةً فَأَوْتَرَ بِهَا، وَنَادَى الْمُنَادِي عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ، فَقَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بَعْدَ مَا سَكَتَ الْمُؤَذِّنُ فَصَلَّى سَجْدَتَيْنِ خَفِيفَتَيْنِ، ثُمَّ جَلَسَ حَتَّى صَلَّى الصُّبْحَ . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ : خَفِيَ عَلَىَّ مِنِ ابْنِ بَشَّارٍ بَعْضُهُ .

Narrated Ibn 'Abbas:
I spent a night with my maternal aunt Maimunah. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ came after the evening has come. He asked: Did the boy pray ? She said: Yes. Then he lay down till a part of night had passed as much as Allah willed; he got up, performed ablution and prayed seven or five rak'ahs, observing witr with them. He uttered the salutation only in the last of them.

حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ قَيْسٍ الأَسَدِيُّ، عَنِ الْحَكَمِ بْنِ عُتَيْبَةَ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ : بِتُّ عِنْدَ خَالَتِي مَيْمُونَةَ فَجَاءَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بَعْدَ مَا أَمْسَى فَقَالَ : " أَصَلَّى الْغُلاَمُ " . قَالُوا : نَعَمْ . فَاضْطَجَعَ حَتَّى إِذَا مَضَى مِنَ اللَّيْلِ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ قَامَ فَتَوَضَّأَ، ثُمَّ صَلَّى سَبْعًا أَوْ خَمْسًا أَوْتَرَ بِهِنَّ لَمْ يُسَلِّمْ إِلاَّ فِي آخِرِهِنَّ .

Narrated Ibn 'Abbas:
I spent a night in the house of my maternal aunt Maimunah, daughter of al-Harith. The Prophet ﷺ offered the night prayer. He then came and prayed four rak'ahs and slept. He then stood up and prayed. I stood at his left side. He made me go round and made me stand at his right side. He then prayed five rak'ahs and slept, and I heard his snoring. He then got up and prayed two rak'ahs. Afterwards he came out and offered the dawn prayer.

حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عَدِيٍّ، عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، عَنِ الْحَكَمِ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ : بِتُّ فِي بَيْتِ خَالَتِي مَيْمُونَةَ بِنْتِ الْحَارِثِ فَصَلَّى النَّبِيُّ ﷺ الْعِشَاءَ، ثُمَّ جَاءَ فَصَلَّى أَرْبَعًا، ثُمَّ نَامَ، ثُمَّ قَامَ يُصَلِّي، فَقُمْتُ عَنْ يَسَارِهِ فَأَدَارَنِي فَأَقَامَنِي عَنْ يَمِينِهِ فَصَلَّى خَمْسًا ثُمَّ نَامَ حَتَّى سَمِعْتُ غَطِيطَهُ - أَوْ خَطِيطَهُ - ثُمَّ قَامَ فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ، ثُمَّ خَرَجَ فَصَلَّى الْغَدَاةَ .

Sa'id b. Jubair said that Ibn 'Abbas told him:
He (the Prophet) got up and prayed eight rak'ahs in pairs, and then observed witr with five rak'ahs and he did not sit between them.

حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْمَجِيدِ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ عَبَّادٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، أَنَّ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ، حَدَّثَهُ فِي، هَذِهِ الْقِصَّةِ قَالَ : فَقَامَ فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ، حَتَّى صَلَّى ثَمَانِيَ رَكَعَاتٍ، ثُمَّ أَوْتَرَ بِخَمْسٍ لَمْ يَجْلِسْ بَيْنَهُنَّ .

Narrated 'Aishah:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to pray thirteen rak'ahs, observing six rak'ahs in pairs including the two rak'ahs of dawn prayer. He would observe witr and five rak'ahs. He sat only in the last of them.

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ يَحْيَى الْحَرَّانِيُّ، حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ : كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُصَلِّي ثَلاَثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً بِرَكْعَتَيْهِ قَبْلَ الصُّبْحِ : يُصَلِّي سِتًّا مَثْنَى مَثْنَى، وَيُوتِرُ بِخَمْسٍ لاَ يَقْعُدُ بَيْنَهُنَّ إِلاَّ فِي آخِرِهِنَّ .

Narrated 'Aishah:
The Prophet ﷺ used to pray thirteen rak'ahs during the night including the two rak'ahs of the dawn prayer.

حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ أَبِي حَبِيبٍ، عَنْ عِرَاكِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، أَنَّهَا أَخْبَرَتْهُ : أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ كَانَ يُصَلِّي بِاللَّيْلِ ثَلاَثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً بِرَكْعَتَىِ الْفَجْرِ .

Narrated 'Aishah:

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ offered the night prayer and then prayed eight rak'ahs standing, and two rak'ahs between the two adhans (i.e. the adhan for the dawn prayer and the iqamah). He never left them.

Jaf'ar b. Musafir said in his version: (He prayed) the two rak'ahs sitting between the two adhans. He added the word "sitting".

حَدَّثَنَا نَصْرُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، وَجَعْفَرُ بْنُ مُسَافِرٍ، أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ يَزِيدَ الْمُقْرِئَ، أَخْبَرَهُمَا عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ، عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ رَبِيعَةَ، عَنْ عِرَاكِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، : أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ صَلَّى الْعِشَاءَ، ثُمَّ صَلَّى ثَمَانِيَ رَكَعَاتٍ قَائِمًا، وَرَكْعَتَيْنِ بَيْنَ الأَذَانَيْنِ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ يَدَعُهُمَا . قَالَ جَعْفَرُ بْنُ مُسَافِرٍ فِي حَدِيثِهِ : وَرَكْعَتَيْنِ جَالِسًا بَيْنَ الأَذَانَيْنِ، زَادَ : جَالِسًا .

'Abd Allah b. Abi Qais said that he asked 'Aishah:

How many rak'ahs would the Messenger of Allah ﷺ pray observing the witr ? She said: He used to observe the witr with four and three, six and three, eight and three, and ten and three rak'ahs never observing less than seven or more than thirteen.

The narrator Ahmad added in his version: He would not observe the witr with two rak'ahs before the dawn. I asked: With what would he observe the witr ? She said: He would never leave it. The version of Ahmad does not mention the words "six and three (rak'ahs)".

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ صَالِحٍ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ الْمُرَادِيُّ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ صَالِحٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي قَيْسٍ، قَالَ قُلْتُ لِعَائِشَةَ رضى الله عنها : بِكَمْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُوتِرُ قَالَتْ : كَانَ يُوتِرُ بِأَرْبَعٍ وَثَلاَثٍ، وَسِتٍّ وَثَلاَثٍ، وَثَمَانٍ وَثَلاَثٍ، وَعَشْرٍ وَثَلاَثٍ، وَلَمْ يَكُنْ يُوتِرُ بِأَنْقَصَ مِنْ سَبْعٍ، وَلاَ بِأَكْثَرَ مِنْ ثَلاَثَ عَشْرَةَ . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ زَادَ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ صَالِحٍ : وَلَمْ يَكُنْ يُوتِرُ بِرَكْعَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ الْفَجْرِ . قُلْتُ : مَا يُوتِرُ قَالَتْ : لَمْ يَكُنْ يَدَعُ ذَلِكَ . وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ أَحْمَدُ : وَسِتٍّ وَثَلاَثٍ .

Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin:

Al-Aswad ibn Yazid said that he entered upon Aisha and asked her about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ during the night. She said: He used to pray thirteen rak'ahs during the night. Then he began to pray eleven rak'ahs and left two rak'ahs. When he died, he would pray nine rak'ahs during the night. His last prayer during the night was witr.

حَدَّثَنَا مُؤَمَّلُ بْنُ هِشَامٍ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ مَنْصُورِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ الْهَمْدَانِيِّ، عَنِ الأَسْوَدِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ، : أَنَّهُ دَخَلَ عَلَى عَائِشَةَ فَسَأَلَهَا عَنْ صَلاَةِ، رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِاللَّيْلِ . فَقَالَتْ : كَانَ يُصَلِّي ثَلاَثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً مِنَ اللَّيْلِ، ثُمَّ إِنَّهُ صَلَّى إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً، وَتَرَكَ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ قُبِضَ ﷺ حِينَ قُبِضَ وَهُوَ يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ تِسْعَ رَكَعَاتٍ، وَكَانَ آخِرُ صَلاَتِهِ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ الْوِتْرَ .