Witr Prayer

Ibn Umar reported that a man asked the Messenger of Allah about the night prayer. He replied, “The night prayer is two units at a time. When one of you fears dawn, let him pray one unit to make what he has prayed an odd number.”

Nafi reported that Abdullah ibn Umar would say the final salutation between the two units of the odd-numbered prayer, in order to attend to some need.

Ibn Abbas reported that he stayed overnight at the home of his maternal aunt, Maimuna. I lay across a cushion while the Messenger of Allah and his family lay along it. He slept until midnight or close to it, then woke and wiped sleep from his face. He recited ten verses from Aal Imran, then stood, went to a hanging water skin, and performed ablution thoroughly. He stood to pray, and I did the same and stood beside him. He placed his right hand on my head and gently pulled my ear. He prayed two units, then two, then two, then two, then two, then two, and then the odd-numbered prayer. He lay down until the caller came, then got up and prayed two units, went out, and prayed the dawn prayer.

Abdullah ibn Umar reported that the Prophet said, “The night prayer is two units at a time. When you wish to finish, pray one unit to make what you have prayed an odd number.” Al-Qasim said, “Since we came of age, we have seen people pray three units for the odd-numbered prayer. Either way is broad, and I hope there is no harm in any of it.”

Aisha reported that the Messenger of Allah used to pray eleven units at night. He would prostrate for as long as it would take one of you to recite fifty verses before raising his head. He prayed two units before the dawn prayer, then lay on his right side until the caller came to summon him to prayer.

Anas ibn Sirin said, “I asked Ibn Umar about the two units before the dawn prayer: should I lengthen the recitation in them?” He replied, “The Prophet used to pray at night two units at a time and finish with one unit. He would pray the two units before dawn as quickly as if the call to prayer were ringing in his ears.” Hammad explained that this meant quickly.

Aisha reported that the Messenger of Allah prayed the odd-numbered prayer at every point during the night, and his final odd-numbered prayer was near dawn.

Aisha reported that the Prophet used to pray while I lay across his bed. When he wished to pray the odd-numbered prayer, he would wake me, and I would pray it.

Ibn Umar reported that the Prophet said, “Make the last prayer of your night an odd-numbered prayer.”

Saeed ibn Yasar reported, “I was traveling with Abdullah ibn Umar on the road to Mecca. When I feared dawn, I dismounted and prayed the odd-numbered prayer, then caught up with him. Abdullah asked where I had been. I said I feared dawn, so I dismounted and prayed the odd-numbered prayer. He asked if the Messenger of Allah was not a good example for me. I replied in the affirmative. He said that the Messenger of Allah used to pray the odd-numbered prayer while riding a camel.”

Ibn Umar reported that while traveling, the Prophet used to pray on his mount facing whichever direction it turned, indicating the movements of the night prayer, but not the obligatory prayers. He also prayed the odd-numbered prayer while riding.

Anas was asked whether the Prophet performed the qunut supplication in the dawn prayer. He replied, “Yes.” He was asked whether it was before bowing, and he replied, “For a short time after bowing.”

Anas ibn Malik was asked about the qunut supplication. He said, “It was practiced.” I asked whether it was before or after bowing. He said, “Before it.” I said that someone had told me he said it was after bowing. He replied, “He is mistaken. The Messenger of Allah performed the qunut after bowing for a month—this is what I think—when he had sent about seventy men known as the reciters to a group of polytheists, apart from those people, with whom the Messenger of Allah had a treaty. The Messenger of Allah performed the qunut for a month, supplicating against them.”

Anas reported that the Prophet performed the qunut supplication for a month, supplicating against the tribes of Ri l and Dhakwan.

Anas reported that the qunut supplication was performed during the sunset and dawn prayers.