A man asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)about prayers at night, and he said: "Two by two, then if one of you fears that dawn will come, let him pray witr with one."
The Book of Qiyam Al-Lail (The Night Prayer) and Voluntary Prayers During the Day - Sunan an-Nasa'i
Hadith Reference: Sunan an-Nasa'i 1670
Textual Analysis
The noble hadith establishes the fundamental pattern for night prayers: they are performed in units of two rak'ahs each. This demonstrates the sunnah method of performing nawafil prayers in pairs, maintaining the prophetic tradition established for voluntary worship.
Legal Ruling (Hukm)
The scholars have unanimously agreed that night prayers should be offered in sets of two rak'ahs, based on this explicit textual evidence. This applies to all supererogatory night prayers except for the witr prayer, which has its own distinct ruling.
Witr Prayer Exception
The Prophet ﷺ specified that when fearing the approach of dawn, one may conclude with a single rak'ah of witr. This demonstrates the flexibility within Islamic law and the wisdom of making worship accessible even under time constraints. The witr prayer serves as the seal for night prayers.
Spiritual Significance
This teaching reflects the balance between maintaining the ideal form of worship and accommodating human circumstances. The two-by-two pattern creates rhythm in devotion, while the witr concession ensures the night prayer can be completed even when time is limited, thus encouraging consistency in this blessed practice.