The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to observe thirteen rak'ahs of the night prayer. Five out of them consisted of Witr, and he did not sit, but at the end (for salutation).
Hadith Text
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to observe thirteen rak'ahs of the night prayer. Five out of them consisted of Witr, and he did not sit, but at the end (for salutation).
Source Reference
Sahih Muslim 737 a - The Book of Prayer - Travellers
Scholarly Commentary
This noble hadith from the Sahih of Imam Muslim elucidates the night prayer practice of the Prophet (ﷺ), which consisted of thirteen rak'ahs in total. The five rak'ahs mentioned as Witr were performed consecutively without the tashahhud (sitting position) except at the final rak'ah for the salutation.
The scholars have explained that this demonstrates the flexibility in performing Witr prayer. One may pray it as a single unit, or in sets of three, five, seven, or nine rak'ahs. The Prophet's practice of praying five rak'ahs without sitting except at the end indicates the permissibility of combining multiple rak'ahs with one tashahhud and tasleem.
This narration also clarifies that the night prayer (Tahajjud) is not fixed to a specific number of rak'ahs, but rather the Prophet's regular practice was thirteen, including the Witr. The wisdom behind not sitting except at the end is to maintain the continuity and spiritual concentration in worship, making the prayer more comprehensive and spiritually uplifting.
Legal Rulings Derived
Witr prayer can be performed as five consecutive rak'ahs with one tashahhud at the end.
The night prayer of the Prophet (ﷺ) typically consisted of thirteen rak'ahs including Witr.
It is permissible to combine multiple rak'ahs in night prayers without intermediate sitting positions.
The minimum Witr is one rak'ah, while there is flexibility in performing odd-numbered rak'ahs up to eleven.