The Book of Prayer - Travellers

Abu Jamrah said: I heard Ibn 'Abbas say that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to pray thirteen rak'ahs at night.

Zayd ibn Khalid al-Juhani said: I was determined to observe the Messenger of Allah's (ﷺ) prayer at night. He prayed two brief rak'ahs, then two very long rak'ahs. He then prayed two rak'ahs shorter than the preceding pair, followed by another pair shorter than those, another pair shorter still, and a fourth pair shorter than the pair before it. Then he prayed witr. That made thirteen rak'ahs in all.

Jabir ibn 'Abdullah reported: I was with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on a journey, and we reached a watering place. He said, “Jabir, will you go down to the water?” I said, “Yes.” The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) dismounted, and I went down. He went to relieve himself, and I set out water for his ablution. When he returned, he performed ablution, then stood to pray wearing one garment with its two ends crossed. I stood behind him, and he took hold of my ear and moved me to his right.

'A'ishah reported that when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) got up at night to pray, he began his prayer with two brief rak'ahs.

Abu Hurayrah reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said, “When one of you gets up at night, let him begin his prayer with two brief rak'ahs.”

Abu Salamah ibn 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf said: I asked 'A'ishah, Mother of the Believers, what words the Prophet of Allah (ﷺ) began his night prayer with. She said that when he rose at night, he began with: “O Allah, Lord of Jibril, Mika'il, and Israfil, Originator of the heavens and the earth, Knower of the unseen and the seen, You judge between Your servants concerning that over which they differ. By Your permission, guide me to the truth about which they differ. You guide whom You will to a straight path.”