The Book of Qiyam Al-Lail (The Night Prayer) and Voluntary Prayers During the Day

كتاب قيام الليل وتطوع النهار

Chapter 28: Encouragement to pray witr before sleeping

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said

"My dearest friend advised me (to do) three things: 'To sleep after praying Witr, to fast three days each month, and to pray two rak'ahs of Fajr.'"

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said

"My closest friend advised me to do three things: 'To pray witr at the beginning of the night, to pray two rak'ahs of Fajr and to fast three days of each month.'"

Chapter 29: The Prophet's (SAW) prohibition of praying witr twice in one night

It was narrated that Qais bin Talq said

"My father, Talq bin 'Ali visited me one day in Ramadan and stayed with us until the evening. He led us in praying Qiyam that night and prayed witr with us. Then he went down to a masjid and led his companions in prayer until only witr was left. Then he told a man to go forward and said to him: 'Lead them in praying witr, for I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: There should not be two witrs in one night."

Chapter 30: The time for witr

It was narrated that Al-Aswad bin Yazid said

"I asked 'Aishah about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). She said: 'He used to sleep during the first part of the night, then get up during the time before dawn and pray witr. Then he would go to his bed and if he needed to be intimate he would go to his wife. Then when he heard the Adhan he would get up, and if he was junub he would pour water over himself, otherwise he would perform wudu, then he would go out to the prayer.'"

It was narrated that Aishah said

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prayed witr at the beginning (of the night) and at the end, and in the middle. And toward the end of his life, he settled on performing witr at the end of the night."

It was narrated that Ibn 'Umar said

"Whoever prays during the night, let him make the last of his prayers at night witr, because the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to enjoin that."

Chapter 31: The command to pray witr before dawn

Abu Nadrah Al-'Awaqi narrated that he heard Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri say

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was asked about witr and he said: 'Pray witr before dawn (Subh).'"

It was narrated from Au Sa'eed that

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Pray witr before dawn(fajr)."

Chapter 32: Witr after the adhan

It was narrated from Ibrahim bin Muhammad Al-Muntashir, from his father, that

He was in the masjid of 'Amr bin Shurahbil and the iqamah for prayer was said, and they were waiting. He came and said: "I was praying witr." Abdullah was asked: "Is there any witr after the adhan?" He said: "Yes, and after the Iqamah." And he narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) once slept and missed the prayer until the sun had risen, then he prayed.

Chapter 33: Witr on one's mount

It was narrated from Ibn Umar that

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to pray witr on his mount.

It was narrated from Nafi' that

Ibn Umar used to pray witr on his camel and he mentioned that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to do that.

It was narrated that Sa'eed bin Yasir said

"Ibn Umar said to me that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to pray witr on a camel."

Chapter 34: How many (rak'ahs) is witr?

It was narrated fom Ibn Umar that

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Witr is one rak'ah at the end of the night."

It was narrated from Ibn Umar that

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Witr is one rak'ah at the end of the night."

It was narrated from Ibn 'Umar that

A man from among the people of the desert asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) about prayer at night. He said:"(It is) two by two, and Witr is one rak'ah at the end of the night."

Chapter 35: How to pray witr with one (rak'ah)

It was narrated from 'Abdullah bin 'Umar that

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Prayer at night is two by two, then when you want to finish, pray one rak'h which will make the total number that you prayed odd."

It was narrated that Ibn Umar said

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'Prayer at night is two by two, and witr is one rak'ah.'"

It was narrated from Abdullah bin 'Umar that

A man asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) about prayer at night and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Prayer at night is two by two, then if one of you fears that dawn will break, pray one rak'ah to make the total number that he prayed odd."

It was narrated from Ibn 'Umar that

He heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: "Prayer at night is two rak'ahs by two rak'ahs, then when you fear tat dawn will break, pray witr with one rak'ah."

It was narrated from 'Aishah that

The Prophet (ﷺ) used to pray eleven rak'ahs at night, ending them with one rak'ah of witr, then he would lie down on his right side.