The Book of Prayer

The above mentioned Hadith has a Shahid (supporting narration) which is weak, reported by Ahmad from Abu Hurairah (RA).

وَلَهُ شَاهِدٌ ضَعِيفٌ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ عِنْدَ أَحْمَدَ .‏ [1]‏ .‏

Narrated 'Aishah (RA):

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) did not offer more than eleven (voluntary) Rak'at during Ramadan nor during other than Ramadan. He offered four Rak'at - Do not ask about their beauty and length! (It is beyond description or imitation]. Again he would pray four Rak'at - Do not ask about their beauty and length! [It is beyond description or imitation]. Then he would pray three (Rak'at of Witr). 'Aishah (RA) said: "I said, O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) will you sleep before you pray Witr?" He said, "O 'Aishah my eyes sleep, but my heart does not sleep." [Agreed upon].

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اَللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ: { ]مَا] كَانَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-يَزِيدُ فِي رَمَضَانَ وَلَا فِي غَيْرِهِ عَلَى إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً, يُصَلِّي أَرْبَعًا, فَلَا تَسْأَلْ عَنْ حُسْنِهِنَّ وَطُولِهِنَّ, ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي أَرْبَعًا, فَلَا تَسْأَلْ عَنْ حُسْنِهِنَّ وَطُولِهِنَّ, ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي ثَلَاثًا.‏ قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ, فَقُلْتُ: يَا رَسُولَ اَللَّهِ, أَتَنَامُ قَبْلَ أَنْ تُوتِرَ? قَالَ:

يَا عَائِشَةُ, إِنَّ عَيْنَيَّ تَنَامَانِ وَلَا يَنَامُ قَلْبِي

.‏ } مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ .‏ [1]‏ .‏

And in another narration of al-Bukhari and Muslim, ['Aishah (RA)] narrated:

"He used to pray ten Rak'at (of prayer), and making it Witr by one Rak'at, and he used to pray the two (Sunnah) Rak'at of Fajr, so that it became thirteen Rak'at."

وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ لَهُمَا عَنْهَا: { كَانَ يُصَلِّي مِنْ اَللَّيْلِ عَشْرَ رَكَعَاتٍ, وَيُوتِرُ بِسَجْدَةٍ, وَيَرْكَعُ رَكْعَتَيْ اَلْفَجْرِ, فَتِلْكَ ثَلَاثُ عَشْرَةَ } [1]‏ .‏

Narrated ['Aishah (RA)]:

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to pray thirteen Rak'at during the night, offering a Witr out of that with five and sitting only during the last of them. [Agreed upon].

وَعَنْهَا قَالَتْ: { كَانَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-يُصَلِّي مِنْ اَللَّيْلِ ثَلَاثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً, يُوتِرُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ بِخَمْسٍ, لَا يَجْلِسُ فِي شَيْءٍ إِلَّا فِي آخِرِهَا.‏ } [1]‏ .‏

Narrated ['Aishah (RA)]:

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) offered Witr prayer (on different nights) at various hours, extending (from the 'Isha' prayer) up to the last hour of the night. [Agreed upon].

وَعَنْهَا قَالَتْ: { مِنْ كُلِّ اَللَّيْلِ قَدْ أَوْتَرَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-فَانْتَهَى وِتْرُهُ إِلَى اَلسَّحَرِ } مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِمَا .‏ [1]‏ .‏

Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Amr bin al-'Aas (RA):

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) told me, "O 'Abdullah! Do not be like so-and-so who used to be awake in the night for prayer and then gave it up." [Agreed upon].

وَعَنْ عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ اَلْعَاصِ ‏-رَضِيَ اَللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا‏- قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-{ يَا عَبْدَ اَللَّهِ! لَا تَكُنْ مِثْلَ فُلَانٍ, كَانَ يَقُومُ مِنْ اَللَّيْلِ, فَتَرَكَ قِيَامَ اَلنَّهَارِ } مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ .‏ [1]‏ .‏

Narrated 'Ali bin Abi Talib (RA):

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: "O people of the Qur'an! Offer Witr (prayer), because Allah is Witr (One) and loves Witr." [Reported by al-Khamsah and Ibn Khuzaimah graded it Sahih (authentic)].

وَعَنْ عَلِيٍّ ‏- رضى الله عنه ‏- قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-{ أَوْتِرُوا يَا أَهْلُ اَلْقُرْآنَ, فَإِنَّ اَللَّهَ وِتْرٌ يُحِبُّ اَلْوِتْرَ } رَوَاهُ اَلْخَمْسَةُ, وَصَحَّحَهُ اِبْنُ خُزَيْمَةَ .‏ [1]‏ .‏

Narrated Ibn 'Umar (RA):

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Make the last of your prayer at night Witr (an odd number)." [Agreed upon].

وَعَنْ اِبْنِ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اَللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا; عَنْ اَلنَّبِيِّ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-قَالَ: { اِجْعَلُوا آخِرَ صَلَاتِكُمْ بِاللَّيْلِ وِتْرًا } مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ .‏ [1]‏ .‏

Narrated Talq bin 'Ali (RA):

I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saying, "There are no two Witr (prayers) during one night." [Reported by Ahmad and ath-Thalathah and Ibn Hibban graded it Sahih (authentic)].

وَعَنْ طَلْقٍ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ ‏- رضى الله عنه ‏- قَالَ: سَمِعْتَ رَسُولَ اَللَّهِ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-يَقُولُ: { لَا وِتْرَانِ فِي لَيْلَةٍ } رَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ, وَالثَّلَاثَةُ, وَصَحَّحَهُ اِبْنُ حِبَّانَ .‏ [1]‏ .‏

Narrated Ubai bin Ka'b (RA):

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) recited in Witr prayer Surat al-A'la (in the first Rak'at), Surat al-Kafirun (in the second Rak'at) and Surat al-Ikhlas (in the third Rak'at). [Reported by Ahmad, Abu Dawud and an-Nasa'i]. The latter added, "And he did not say the Taslim (salutation) except in the last (Rak'at) of them."

وَعَنْ أُبَيِّ بْنِ كَعْبٍ ‏- رضى الله عنه ‏- قَالَ: { كَانَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-يُوتِرُ بِـ "سَبِّحِ اِسْمَ رَبِّكَ اَلْأَعْلَى", و: "قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا اَلْكَافِرُونَ", و: "قُلْ هُوَ اَللَّهُ أَحَدٌ" } رَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ, وَأَبُو دَاوُدَ, وَالنَّسَائِيُّ.‏ وَزَادَ: { وَلَا يُسَلِّمُ إِلَّا فِي آخِرِهِنَّ } [1]‏ .‏

Abu Dawud and at-Tirmidhi report something similar from 'Aishah (RA) that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to recite a Surat in every Rak'at and in the last (third) Rak'at he would recite Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad (Surat al-Ikhlas) and al-Mu'awwidhatain.

وَلِأَبِي دَاوُدَ, وَاَلتِّرْمِذِيِّ نَحْوُهُ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ وَفِيهِ: { كُلَّ سُورَةٍ فِي رَكْعَةٍ, وَفِي اَلْأَخِيرَةِ:

قُلْ هُوَ اَللَّهُ أَحَدٌ

, وَالْمُعَوِّذَتَيْنِ } [1]‏ .‏

Narrated Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (RA):

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Offer Witr prayer before it is morning." [Reported by Muslim].

وَعَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ اَلْخُدْرِيِّ ‏- رضى الله عنه ‏- أَنَّ اَلنَّبِيَّ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-قَالَ: { أَوْتِرُوا قَبْلَ أَنْ تُصْبِحُوا } رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ .‏ [1]‏ .‏

Ibn Hibban has:

'Whosoever reaches the dawn, and he did not offer Witr, then there is no Witr for him.'

وَلِابْنِ حِبَّانَ: { مَنْ أَدْرَكَ اَلصُّبْحَ وَلَمْ يُوتِرْ فَلَا وِتْرَ لَهُ } [1]‏ .‏

Narrated [Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (RA)]:

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: "Whoever oversleeps and misses the Witr, or forgets it, should pray (when he awakens) in the moming or when he remembers." [Reported by al-Khamsah except an-Nasa'i].

وَعَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-{ مَنْ نَامَ عَنْ اَلْوِتْرِ أَوْ نَسِيَهُ فَلْيُصَلِّ إِذَا أَصْبَحَ أَوْ ذَكَرَ } رَوَاهُ اَلْخَمْسَةُ إِلَّا النَّسَائِيَّ .‏ [1]‏ .‏

Narrated Jabir (RA):

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: "If anyone is afraid that he may not get up in the latter part of the night, he should offer Witr in the first part of it; and if anyone expects to get up in the last part of it, he should offer Witr at the end of the night, for prayer at the end of the night is witnessed (by the angels) and that is preferable." [Reported by Muslim].

وَعَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-{ مَنْ خَافَ أَنْ لَا يَقُومَ مِنْ آخِرِ اَللَّيْلِ فَلْيُوتِرْ أَوَّلَهُ, وَمَنْ طَمِعَ أَنْ يَقُومَ آخِرَهُ فَلْيُوتِرْ آخِرَ اَللَّيْلِ, فَإِنَّ صَلَاةَ آخِرِ اَللَّيْلِ مَشْهُودَةٌ, وَذَلِكَ أَفْضَلُ } رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ .‏ [1]‏ .‏

Narrated Ibn 'Umar (RA):

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "When the dawn breaks, then the time of all night prayers including the Witr is over, so observe the Witr before dawn." [Reported by at-Tirmidhi].

وَعَنْ اِبْنِ عُمَرَ ‏-رَضِيَ اَللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا‏-, عَنْ اَلنَّبِيِّ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-قَالَ: { إِذَا طَلَعَ اَلْفَجْرُ فَقَدْ ذَهَبَ كُلُّ صَلَاةِ اَللَّيْلِ وَالْوَتْرُ، فَأَوْتِرُوا قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ اَلْفَجْرِ } رَوَاهُ اَلتِّرْمِذِيُّ .‏ [1]‏ .‏

Narrated 'Aishah (RA):

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to pray four Rak'at in Duha prayer and increase (the number of Rak'at) as much as Allah willed." [Reported by Muslim].

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ ‏-رَضِيَ اَللَّهُ عَنْهَا‏- قَالَتْ: { كَانَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-يُصَلِّي اَلضُّحَى أَرْبَعًا, وَيَزِيدُ مَا شَاءَ اَللَّهُ } رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ .‏ [1]‏ .‏

In another narration of Muslim from her:

['Aishah (RA)] was asked, "Did Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) use to offer the Duha prayer?" She replied, "No, unless he came back from a journey."

وَلَهُ عَنْهَا: { أَنَّهَا سُئِلَتْ: هَلْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-يُصَلِّي اَلضُّحَى? قَالَتْ: لَا, إِلَّا أَنْ يَجِيءَ مِنْ مَغِيبِهِ.‏ } [1]‏ .‏

In yet another narration of Muslim from her:

['Aishah (RA)] said, "I have never seen Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) offering Duha prayer, yet I offer it."

وَلَهُ عَنْهَا: { مَا رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اَللَّهِ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-يُصَلِّي سُبْحَةَ اَلضُّحَى قَطُّ, وَإِنِّي لَأُسَبِّحُهَا } [1]‏ .‏

Narrated Zaid bin Arqam (RA):

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: "The prayer of those who are penitent is offered when the young weaned camels feel the heat of the sand." [Reported by at-Tirmidhi].

وَعَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَرْقَمَ; أَنَّ رَسُولَ اَللَّهِ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-قَالَ: { صَلَاةُ اَلْأَوَّابِينَ حِينَ تَرْمَضُ اَلْفِصَالُ } رَوَاهُ اَلتِّرْمِذِيُّ .‏ [1]‏ .‏

Narrated Anas (RA):

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: "Whoever prays twelve Rak'at of Duha, Allah will build a castle for him in Paradise." [Reported by at-Tirmidhi who graded it Gharib (reported by a single narrator)].

وَعَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-{ مَنْ صَلَّى اَلضُّحَى ثِنْتَيْ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً بَنَى اَللَّهُ لَهُ قَصْرًا فِي اَلْجَنَّةِ } رَوَاهُ اَلتِّرْمِذِيُّ وَاسْتَغْرَبَهُ .‏ [1]‏ .‏

Narrated 'Aishah (RA):

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) entered my house and prayed eight Rak'at of Duha prayer. [Reported by Ibn Hibban in his Sahih].

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ ‏-رَضِيَ اَللَّهُ عَنْهَا‏- قَالَتْ: { دَخَلَ اَلنَّبِيُّ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-بَيْتِي, فَصَلَّى اَلضُّحَى ثَمَانِيَ رَكَعَاتٍ } رَوَاهُ اِبْنُ حِبَّانَ فِي

صَحِيحِهِ

.‏ [1]‏ .‏

Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Umar (RA):

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: "The prayer offered in congregation is twenty-seven degrees more rewardable than a prayer offered by a single person." [Agreed upon].

عَنْ عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ ‏-رَضِيَ اَللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا‏-; أَنَّ رَسُولَ اَللَّهِ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-قَالَ: { صَلَاةُ اَلْجَمَاعَةِ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ صَلَاةِ اَلْفَذِّ بِسَبْعٍ وَعِشْرِينَ دَرَجَةً } مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ .‏ [1]‏ .‏

Both al-Bukhari and Muslim have also reported through Abu Hurairah (RA):

"Twenty-five degrees (more)."

وَلَهُمَا عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ: { بِخَمْسٍ وَعِشْرِينَ جُزْءًا } [1]‏ .‏

Likewise, al-Bukhari reported from Abu Sa'id al-Khudri:

"He (ﷺ) said (the word) Daraja (degree)."

وَكَذَا لِلْبُخَارِيِّ: عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ, وَقَالَ:

دَرَجَةً

[1]‏ .‏