The Book of Prayer

Another narration of both (al-Bukhari and Muslim) has:

'two Rak'at after Jumu'ah prayer in his house.'

وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ لَهُمَا : { وَرَكْعَتَيْنِ بَعْدَ اَلْجُمْعَةِ فِي بَيْتِهِ } .‏ [1]‏

Muslim has:

'He never prayed after the break of dawn except two light Rak'at.'

وَلِمُسْلِمٍ : { كَانَ إِذَا طَلَعَ اَلْفَجْرُ لَا يُصَلِّي إِلَّا رَكْعَتَيْنِ خَفِيفَتَيْنِ } [1]‏

Narrated 'Aishah (RA):

The Prophet (ﷺ) never left four Rak'at before the Zuhr prayer, and two Rak'at before the Fajr prayer. [Reported by al-Bukhari].

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ ‏-رَضِيَ اَللَّهُ عَنْهَا‏- : أَنَّ اَلنَّبِيَّ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-{ كَانَ لَا يَدَعُ أَرْبَعًا قَبْلَ اَلظُّهْرِ وَرَكْعَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ اَلْغَدَاةِ } رَوَاهُ اَلْبُخَارِيُّ .‏ [1]‏

Narrated ['Aishah (RA)]:

The Prophet (ﷺ) was more particular about offering the two (optional) Rak'at at dawn than he was about offering any of the other optional prayers. [Agreed upon].

وَعَنْهَا قَالَتْ : { لَمْ يَكُنْ اَلنَّبِيُّ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-عَلَى شَيْءٍ مِنْ اَلنَّوَافِلِ أَشَدَّ تَعَاهُدًا مِنْهُ عَلَى رَكْعَتَيْ اَلْفَجْرِ } مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ .‏ [1]‏

Muslim has:

"The two Rak'at at dawn are better than this world and what it contains."

وَلِمُسْلِمٍ : { رَكْعَتَا اَلْفَجْرِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ اَلدُّنْيَا وَمَا فِيهَا } [1]‏

Narrated Umm Habibah (RA) the Mother of the Believers:

She heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) say, "Whoever prays twelve (voluntary) Rak'at in a day and a night, a house will be built for him in Paradise due to them (the Rak'at)." [Reported by Muslim]. In another narration, it is mentioned: "Voluntarily".

وَعَنْ أُمِّ حَبِيبَةَ أُمِّ اَلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ‏-رَضِيَ اَللَّهُ عَنْهَا‏- قَالَتْ : سَمِعْتَ اَلنَّبِيَّ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-يَقُولُ : { مَنْ صَلَّى اِثْنَتَا عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً فِي يَوْمٍ وَلَيْلَةٍ بُنِيَ لَهُ بِهِنَّ بَيْتٌ فِي اَلْجَنَّةِ } رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ .‏ وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ

تَطَوُّعًا

.‏ [1]‏

at-Tirmidhi reported it similarly and added:

"four Rak'at before Zuhr and two Rak'at after it and two Ra'kat after Maghrib and two after 'Isha' and two Rak'at before the Fajr prayer."

وَلِلتِّرْمِذِيِّ نَحْوُهُ , وَزَادَ : { أَرْبَعًا قَبْلَ اَلظُّهْرِ وَرَكْعَتَيْنِ بَعْدَهَا , وَرَكْعَتَيْنِ بَعْدَ اَلْمَغْرِبِ , وَرَكْعَتَيْنِ بَعْدَ اَلْعِشَاءِ , وَرَكْعَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ صَلَاةِ اَلْفَجْرِ } [1]‏

And in the narration of al-Khamsah, by her [Umm Habibah (RA)]:

"Whoever prays regularly four Rak'at before and four Rak'at after the Zuhr prayer, Allah will forbid for him (from entering) the Hellfire."

وَلِلْخَمْسَةِ عَنْهَا : { مَنْ حَافَظَ عَلَى أَرْبَعٍ قَبْلَ اَلظُّهْرِ وَأَرْبَعٍ بَعْدَهَا حَرَّمَهُ اَللَّهُ عَلَى اَلنَّارِ } [1]‏

Narrated Ibn 'Umar (RA):

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: "May Allah mercy on a person who prays four Rak'at before the 'Asr prayer. " [Reported by Ahmad, Abu Da'ud and at-Tirmidhi and the latter graded it Hasan (good). Also reported by Ibn Khuzaimah who graded it Sahih (authentic)].

وَعَنْ اِبْنِ عُمَرَ ‏-رَضِيَ اَللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا‏- قَالَ : قَالَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-{ رَحِمَ اَللَّهُ اِمْرَأً صَلَّى أَرْبَعًا قَبْلَ اَلْعَصْرِ } رَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ , وَأَبُو دَاوُدَ وَاَلتِّرْمِذِيُّ وَحَسَّنَهُ , وَابْنُ خُزَيْمَةَ وَصَحَّحَهُ .‏ [1]‏

Narrated 'Abdullah bin Mughaffal al-Muzani (RA):

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Pray before Maghrib, pray before Maghrib" then he said at the third time, "Whoever wishes (to)". He said so, because he did not like the people to take it as a Sunnah. [Reported by al-Bukhari].

وَعَنْ عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ بْنِ مُغَفَّلٍ الْمُزَنِيِّ ‏- رضى الله عنه ‏- عَنْ اَلنَّبِيِّ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-قَالَ : { صَلُّوا قَبْلَ اَلْمَغْرِبِ , صَلُّوا قَبْلَ اَلْمَغْرِبِ " ثُمَّ قَالَ فِي اَلثَّالِثَةِ : " لِمَنْ شَاءَ " كَرَاهِيَةَ أَنْ يَتَّخِذَهَا اَلنَّاسُ سُنَّةً } رَوَاهُ اَلْبُخَارِيُّ .‏ [1]‏

And in the narration of Ibn Hibban:

"The Prophet (ﷺ) prayed two Rak'at before the Maghrib (prayer)."

وَفِي رِوَايَةِ اِبْنِ حِبَّانَ : { أَنَّ اَلنَّبِيَّ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-صَلَّى قَبْلَ اَلْمَغْرِبِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ } [1]‏

Muslim has reported from Anas (RA) that he said, "We used to pray two Rak'at after sunset and the Prophet (ﷺ) used to see us, but he neither commanded nor forbade us."

وَلِمُسْلِمٍ عَنْ أَنَسٍ] قَالَ [ : { كُنَّا نُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ بَعْدَ غُرُوبِ اَلشَّمْسِ , فَكَانَ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-يَرَانَا , فَلَمْ يَأْمُرْنَا وَلَمْ يَنْهَانَا } [1]‏

Narrated 'Aishah (RA):

The Prophet (ﷺ) used to make the two (voluntary) Rak'at before the Fajr prayer so short that I would wonder whether he recited al-Fatiha (or not). [Agreed upon].

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ ‏-رَضِيَ اَللَّهُ عَنْهَا‏- قَالَتْ : { كَانَ اَلنَّبِيُّ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-يُخَفِّفُ اَلرَّكْعَتَيْنِ اَللَّتَيْنِ قَبْلَ صَلَاةِ اَلصُّبْحِ , حَتَّى إِنِّي أَقُولُ : أَقَرَأَ بِأُمِّ اَلْكِتَابِ? } مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ .‏ [1]‏

Narrated Abu Hurairah (RA):

The Prophet (ﷺ) recited Surat al-Kafirun, and Surat al-Ikhlas in the two (voluntary) Rak'at of the Fajr (prayer). [Reported by Muslim].

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ‏-رَضِيَ اَللَّهُ عَنْهُ‏- : { أَنَّ اَلنَّبِيَّ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-قَرَأَ فِي رَكْعَتَيْ اَلْفَجْرِ : ( قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا اَلْكَافِرُونَ )‏ و : ( قُلْ هُوَ اَللَّهُ أَحَدٌ )‏ } رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ .‏ [1]‏

Narrated 'Aishah (RA):

The Prophet (ﷺ) used to lie down on his right side, after praying the two (voluntary) Rak'at of the Fajr (prayer). [Reported by al-Bukhari].

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ ‏-رَضِيَ اَللَّهُ عَنْهَا‏- قَالَتْ : { كَانَ اَلنَّبِيُّ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-إِذَا صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْ اَلْفَجْرِ اِضْطَجَعَ عَلَى شِقِّهِ اَلْأَيْمَنِ } رَوَاهُ اَلْبُخَارِيُّ .‏ [1]‏

Narrated Abu Hurairah (RA):

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: "If any of you prays the two Rak'at before the dawn prayer, he should lie on his right side." [Reported by Ahmad, Abu Dawud and at-Tirmidhi, the latter graded it Sahih (authentic)].

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ‏- رضى الله عنه ‏- قَالَ : قَالَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-{ إِذَا صَلَّى أَحَدُكُمْ اَلرَّكْعَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ صَلَاةِ اَلصُّبْحِ , فَلْيَضْطَجِعْ عَلَى جَنْبِهِ اَلْأَيْمَنِ } رَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ , وَأَبُو دَاوُدَ , وَاَلتِّرْمِذِيُّ وَصَحَّحَهُ .‏ [1]‏

Narrated Ibn 'Umar (RA):

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: "The (voluntary) night prayers are two Rak'at, two Rak'at (in pairs), and if one fears that the dawn prayer is due, he should then offer one Rak'at which will make what he has prayed an odd number." [Agreed upon).

وَعَنْ اِبْنِ عُمَرَ ‏-رَضِيَ اَللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا‏- قَالَ : قَالَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-{ صَلَاةُ اَللَّيْلِ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى , فَإِذَا خَشِيَ أَحَدُكُمْ اَلصُّبْحِ صَلَّى رَكْعَةً وَاحِدَةً , تُوتِرُ لَهُ مَا قَدْ صَلَّى } مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ .‏ [1]‏

The Khamsah reported it - graded Sahib (authentic) by Ibn Hibban - with the wording:

"the (voluntary) day and night prayers are two Rak'at, two Rak'at (in pairs)." an-Nasa'i said, "This is a mistake."

وَلِلْخَمْسَةِ ‏- وَصَحَّحَهُ اِبْنِ حِبَّانَ ‏- : { صَلَاةُ اَللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى" } وَقَالَ النَّسَائِيُّ : "هَذَا خَطَأٌ" .‏ [1]‏

Narrated Abu Hurairah (RA):

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: "The most excellent prayer after that which is obligatory is the (voluntary) late night prayer." [Reported by Muslim].

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ‏- رضى الله عنه ‏- قَالَ : قَالَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-{ أَفْضَلُ اَلصَّلَاةِ بَعْدَ اَلْفَرِيضَةِ صَلَاةُ اَللَّيْلِ } أَخْرَجَهُ مُسْلِمٌ .‏ [1]‏

Narrated Abu Ayub al-Ansari (RA):

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: "al-Witr prayer is a duty upon every Muslim, so whoever likes to offer it with five Rak'at let him do so and whoever likes to offer it with three let him do so, and whoever likes to offer it with one let him do so." [Reported by al-Arba'ah except at-Tirmidhi. And Ibn Hibban graded it Sahib (authentic) and an-Nasa'i held that the stronger view is that it is Mawquf (saying of a companion)].

وَعَنْ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ اَلْأَنْصَارِيِّ ‏- رضى الله عنه ‏- أَنَّ رَسُولَ اَللَّهِ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-قَالَ : { اَلْوِتْرُ حَقٌّ عَلَى كُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ , مَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يُوتِرَ بِخَمْسٍ فَلْيَفْعَلْ , وَمَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يُوتِرَ بِثَلَاثٍ فَلْيَفْعَلْ , وَمَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يُوتِرَ بِوَاحِدَةٍ فَلْيَفْعَلْ } رَوَاهُ اَلْأَرْبَعَةُ إِلَّا اَلتِّرْمِذِيَّ , وَصَحَّحَهُ اِبْنُ حِبَّانَ , وَرَجَّحَ النَّسَائِيُّ وَقْفَهُ .‏ [1]‏

Narrated 'Ali bin Abu Talib (RA):

The Witr prayer is not obligatory as the prescribed prayer is [i.e. the five daily prayers], but it is a Sunnah which was established by the practice of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). [at-Tirmidhi and an-Nasa'i reported it, who graded it Hasan (good). al-Hakim graded it Sahih (authentic)].

وَعَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ ‏- رضى الله عنه ‏- قَالَ : { لَيْسَ اَلْوِتْرُ بِحَتْمٍ كَهَيْئَةِ اَلْمَكْتُوبَةِ , وَلَكِنْ سُنَّةٌ سَنَّهَا رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-} رَوَاهُ النَّسَائِيُّ وَاَلتِّرْمِذِيُّ وَحَسَّنَهُ وَالْحَاكِمُ وَصَحَّحَهُ .‏ [1]‏

Narrated Jabir (RA):

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) prayed during the month of Ramadan. Then they (the Sahabah) waited for him on the following night, but he did not come out and he said, "I feared that the Witr (prayer) might be prescribed for you." [Reported by Ibn Hibban].

وَعَنْ جَابِرٍ { أَنَّ رَسُولَ اَللَّهِ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-قَامَ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ, ثُمَّ اِنْتَظَرُوهُ مِنْ اَلْقَابِلَةِ فَلَمَّا يَخْرُجْ , وَقَالَ : " إِنِّي خَشِيتُ أَنْ يُكْتَبَ عَلَيْكُمْ اَلْوِتْرُ } رَوَاهُ اِبْنُ حِبَّانَ .‏ [1]‏

Narrated Kharijah bin Hudhaifah (RA):

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: "Allah the Exalted has given you an extra prayer which is better for you than the red camels (high breed camels)." We asked, "What is it O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) ." He said, "The Witr between the 'Isha' prayer and up till the break of dawn." [Reported by al-Khamsah except an-Nasa'i and al-Hakim graded it Sahih (authentic)].

وَعَنْ خَارِجَةَ بْنِ حُذَافَةَ ‏- رضى الله عنه ‏- قَالَ : قَالَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-{ إِنَّ اَللَّهَ أَمَدَّكُمْ بِصَلَاةٍ هِيَ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ مِنْ حُمُرِ اَلنَّعَمِ

قُلْنَا : وَمَا هِيَ يَا رَسُولَ اَللَّهِ ? قَالَ :

اَلْوِتْرُ , مَا بَيْنَ صَلَاةِ اَلْعِشَاءِ إِلَى طُلُوعِ اَلْفَجْرِ } رَوَاهُ اَلْخَمْسَةُ إِلَّا النَّسَائِيَّ وَصَحَّحَهُ اَلْحَاكِمُ .‏ [1]‏

Ahmad reported something similar to the above Hadith from 'Amr bin Shu'aib on the authority of his father who reported it on the authority of 'Amr's grandfather.

وَرَوَى أَحْمَدُ : عَنْ عَمْرِوِ بْنِ شُعَيْبٍ , عَنْ أَبِيهِ , عَنْ جَدِّهِ نَحْوَهُ .‏ [1]‏

Narrated 'Abdullah bin Buraidah (RA) from his father:

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: "The Witr is a duty, so he who does not offer it, is not one of us." [Reported by Abu Dawud with a Laiyin (weak) chain of narrators and Al-Hakim graded it Sahih (authentic)].

وَعَنْ عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ بْنِ بُرَيْدَةَ , عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ : قَالَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-{ اَلْوِتْرُ حَقٌّ, فَمَنْ لَمْ يُوتِرْ فَلَيْسَ مِنَّا } أَخْرَجَهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ بِسَنَد لَيِّنٍ, وَصَحَّحَهُ اَلْحَاكِمُ .‏ [1]‏ .‏