What was narrated concerning Praying one Rak’ah for Witr Sunan Ibn Majah 1175
Arabic hadith text
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ بْنِ أَبِي الشَّوَارِبِ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَاحِدِ بْنُ زِيَادٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَاصِمٌ، عَنْ أَبِي مِجْلَزٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " صَلاَةُ اللَّيْلِ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى وَالْوِتْرُ رَكْعَةٌ " قُلْتُ أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ غَلَبَتْنِي عَيْنِي أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ نِمْتُ قَالَ اجْعَلْ أَرَأَيْتَ عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ النَّجْمِ . فَرَفَعْتُ رَأْسِي فَإِذَا السِّمَاكُ ثُمَّ أَعَادَ فَقَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " صَلاَةُ اللَّيْلِ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى. وَالْوِتْرُ رَكْعَةٌ قَبْلَ الصُّبْحِ "
Translation
AbuMijlaz narrated that Ibn ‘Umar said
“The Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) said: ‘Night prayers are to be offered two by two, and Witrisone Rak’ah.’ I said: ‘What do you think if I become drowsyand I wantto sleep?’ He said: ‘Put “what do you think” upthere with that star?(i.e., don’t think about it at all).’ Iraised my head and saw As-Simak.* He repeated that the Messenger ofAllah (ﷺ) said, ‘Nightprayers are to be offered two by two, andWitr is one Rak’ah, beforedawn.’”* Here, As-Simak refers to a star or stars, either Arcturus (As-Simak Ar-Ramih) or Spica,also called Alpha Virginis (As-Simak Al-A'zal).