Chapter 35.0
30 hadiths
Ibn ‘Umar reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Prayer during the night should consist of pairs of <i>rak'as</i>, but if one of you fears the morning is near he should pray one <i>rak'a</i> which will make his prayer an odd number for him.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)
عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «صَلَاةُ اللَّيْلِ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى فَإِذَا خَشِيَ أَحَدُكُمُ الصُّبْحَ صَلَّى رَكْعَةً وَاحِدَة توتر لَهُ مَا قد صلى»
He reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The <i>witr</i>* is a <i>rak'a</i> at the end of the night.” * Literally ‘single’, or ‘odd’, used of an odd number of <i>rak'as</i> prayed at some time during the night. Muslim transmitted it.
وَعَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «الْوَتْرُ رَكْعَةٌ مِنْ آخر اللَّيْل» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم
‘A’isha said that God’s Messenger used to pray thirteen <i>rak'as</i> during the night, observing a <i>witr</i> out of that with five, and sitting only during the last of them. (Bukhari and Muslim.)
وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ ثَلَاثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً يُوتِرُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ بِخَمْسٍ لَا يَجْلِسُ فِي شَيْء إِلَّا فِي آخرهَا "
Sa‘d b. Hisham said:
I went to ‘A’isha and said, “Mother of the faithful, tell me about the nature of God’s Messenger.” She asked, “Do you not recite the Qur’an?” On my replying that I certainly did, she said, “The Prophet’s nature was the Qur’an.”* I said, “Mother of the faithful, tell me about the <i>witr</i> of God’s Messenger.” She replied, “I used to prepare his toothstick and his water for ablution, and God would rouse him to the extent He wished during the night. He would use the toothstick, perform ablution, and pray nine <i>rak'as</i>, sitting only during the eighth of them, then he would make mention of God, praise and supplicate Him, then he would get up without uttering the salutation and pray the ninth. After that he would sit, make mention of God, praise and supplicate Him, then utter a salutation loud enough for me to hear. He would then pray two <i>rak'as</i> sitting after uttering the salutation, and that made eleven <i>rak'as</i>, sonny. But when God’s Messenger grew old and became fleshy he observed a <i>witr</i> of seven, doing in the two <i>rak'as</i>, as he had done formerly, and that made nine, sonny. When God’s prophet prayed a prayer he liked to keep on observing it, but when sleep or pain made it impossible for him to get up during the night; he prayed twelve <i>rak'as</i> during the day. I am not aware of God’s prophet having recited the whole Qur’an in a night, or praying through a whole night till morning, or fasting a complete month, except Ramadan.” *i.e. the good characteristics included in the Qur’an were shown by the Prophet (ﷺ) in his own life. Muslim transmitted it.
وَعَن سعد بن هِشَام قَالَ انْطَلَقْتُ إِلَى عَائِشَةَ فَقُلْتُ يَا أُمَّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَنْبِئِينِي عَنْ خُلُقِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَتْ: أَلَسْتَ تَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ؟ قُلْتُ: بَلَى. قَالَتْ: فَإِنَّ خُلُقَ نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ الْقُرْآنَ. قُلْتُ: يَا أُمَّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَنْبِئِينِي عَنْ وَتْرِ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَتْ: كُنَّا نُعِدُّ لَهُ سِوَاكَهُ وَطَهُورَهُ فَيَبْعَثُهُ اللَّهُ مَا شَاءَ أَنْ يَبْعَثَهُ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَيَتَسَوَّكُ وَيَتَوَضَّأُ وَيُصَلِّي تِسْعَ رَكَعَاتٍ لَا يَجْلِسُ فِيهَا إِلَّا فِي الثَّامِنَةِ فَيَذْكُرُ اللَّهَ وَيَحْمَدُهُ وَيَدْعُوهُ ثُمَّ يَنْهَضُ وَلَا يُسَلِّمُ فَيُصَلِّي التَّاسِعَةَ ثُمَّ يَقْعُدُ فَيَذْكُرُ اللَّهَ وَيَحْمَدُهُ وَيَدْعُوهُ ثُمَّ يُسَلِّمُ تَسْلِيمًا يُسْمِعُنَا ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ بَعْدَمَا يُسَلِّمُ وَهُوَ قَاعد فَتلك إِحْدَى عشرَة رَكْعَة يابني فَلَمَّا أَسَنَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَأَخَذَ اللَّحْمَ أَوْتَرَ بِسَبْعٍ وَصَنَعَ فِي الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ مِثْلَ صَنِيعِهِ فِي الْأُولَى فَتِلْكَ تِسْعٌ يَا بُنَيَّ وَكَانَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا صَلَّى صَلَاةً أَحَبَّ أَنْ يُدَاوِمَ عَلَيْهَا وَكَانَ إِذَا غَلَبَهُ نَوْمٌ أَوْ وَجَعٌ عَنْ قِيَامِ اللَّيْلِ صَلَّى مِنَ النَّهَارِ ثِنْتَيْ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً وَلَا أَعْلَمُ نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَرَأَ الْقُرْآنَ كُلَّهُ فِي لَيْلَةٍ وَلَا صَلَّى لَيْلَةً إِلَى الصُّبْحِ وَلَا صَامَ شهرا كَامِلا غير رَمَضَان. رَوَاهُ مُسلم
Ibn ‘Umar reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying, "Make the last of your prayer at night a <i>witr</i>.” Muslim transmitted it.
وَعَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «اجْعَلُوا آخِرَ صَلَاتِكُمْ بِاللَّيْلِ وترا» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم
He reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying, "Hasten to pray a <i>witr</i> before morning.” Muslim transmitted it.
وَعَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «بَادرُوا الصُّبْح بالوتر» . وَرَاه مُسلم
Jabir reported God’s Messenger as saying, "If anyone is afraid that he may not get up in the latter part of the night, he should observe a <i>witr</i> in the first part of it; and if anyone is eager to get up in the last part of it he should observe a <i>witr</i> at the end of the night, for prayer at the end of the night is attended by the angels, and that is most excellent.” Muslim transmitted it.
وَعَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنْ خَافَ أَنْ لَا يَقُومَ مِنْ آخِرِ اللَّيْلِ فَلْيُوتِرْ أَوَّلَهُ وَمَنْ طَمِعَ أَنْ يَقُومَ آخِرَهُ فَلْيُوتِرْ آخِرَ اللَّيْلِ فَإِنَّ صَلَاةَ آخِرِ اللَّيْلِ مَشْهُودَةٌ وَذَلِكَ أَفْضَلُ» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم
‘A’isha said that during the whole night God’s Messenger observed, a <i>witr</i> at the beginning, middle and end, his <i>witr</i> finishing at dawn. (Bukhari and Muslim.)
وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ: مِنْ كُلَّ اللَّيْلِ أَوْتَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مِنْ أَوَّلِ اللَّيْلِ وَأَوْسَطِهِ وَآخِرِهِ وَانْتَهَى وَتْرُهُ إِلَى السَّحَرِ
Abu Huraira said, ‘‘My friend* instructed me to observe three practices:
to fast three days every month, to pray two <i>rak'as</i> in the forenoon, and to observe a <i>witr</i> before going to sleep.” *i.e. the Prophet. (Bukhari and Muslim.)
وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: أَوْصَانِي خَلِيلِي بِثَلَاثٍ: صِيَامِ ثَلَاثَةِ أَيَّام من كل شهر وركعتي الضُّحَى وَأَن أوتر قبل أَن أَنَام
Ghudaif b. al-Harith said:
I asked ‘A’isha whether she had seen God’s Messenger bathing because of sexual defilement in the early or the latter part of the night, and she replied, ‘‘He often bathed in the early part of the night and often in the latter part.” Thereupon I said, "God is most great. Praise be to God who has given latitude in the matter! ” I then asked whether he observed a <i>witr</i> in the early or the latter part of the night, and she replied, "He often observed it in the early part and often in the latter part of the night.” Thereupon I said, “God is most great. Praise be to God who has given latitude in the matter! ” I then asked whether he recited the Qur’an in a loud or in a low voice, and she replied, “He often recited it in a loud voice and often in a low voice.” Thereupon I said, “God is most great. Praise be to God who has given latitude in the matter!” Abu Dawud transmitted it, and Ibn Majah transmitted the last section.
عَن غُضَيْف بن الْحَارِث قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِعَائِشَةَ: أَرَأَيْتِ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ يَغْتَسِلُ مِنَ الْجَنَابَةِ فِي أَوَّلِ اللَّيْلِ أَمْ فِي آخِرِهِ؟ قَالَتْ: رُبَّمَا اغْتَسَلَ فِي أَوَّلِ اللَّيْلِ وَرُبَّمَا اغْتَسَلَ فِي آخِرِهِ قُلْتُ: اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي جَعَلَ فِي الْأَمْرِ سَعَةً قُلْتُ: كَانَ يُوتِرُ أَوَّلَ اللَّيْلِ أَمْ فِي آخِرِهِ؟ قَالَتْ: رُبَّمَا أَوْتَرَ فِي أَوَّلِ اللَّيْلِ وَرُبَّمَا أَوْتَرَ فِي آخِرِهِ قُلْتُ: اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي جَعَلَ فِي الْأَمْرِ سَعَةً قُلْتُ: كَانَ يَجْهَرُ بِالْقِرَاءَةِ أَمْ يَخْفُتُ؟ قَالَتْ: رُبَّمَا جَهَرَ بِهِ وَرُبَّمَا خَفَتَ قُلْتُ: اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي جَعَلَ فِي الْأَمْرِ سَعَةً. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَرَوَى ابْنُ مَاجَهْ الْفَصْلَ الْأَخِيرَ
‘Abdallah b. Abu Qais said he asked ‘A’isha how many <i>rak'as</i> God’s Messenger prayed when observing a <i>witr</i> and she replied, “He used to observe a <i>witr</i> with four and three, six and three, eight and three, and ten and three, never observing one with less than seven or more than thirteen.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.
وَعَن عبد الله بن أبي قيس قَالَ: سَأَلْتُ عَائِشَةَ: بِكَمْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُوتِرُ؟ قَالَتْ: كَانَ يُوتِرُ بِأَرْبَعٍ وَثَلَاثٍ وَسِتٍّ وَثَلَاثٍ وَثَمَانٍ وَثَلَاثٍ وَعَشْرٍ وَثَلَاثٍ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ يُوتِرُ بِأَنْقَصَ مِنْ سَبْعٍ وَلَا بِأَكْثَرَ مِنْ ثَلَاث عشرَة. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد
Abu Ayyub reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The <i>witr</i> is a duty for every Muslim, so if anyone wishes to observe it with five <i>rak'as</i> he may do so; if anyone wishes to observe it with three he may do so; and if anyone wishes to observe it with one he may do so.” Abu Dawud, Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted it.
وَعَنْ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «الْوَتْرُ حَقٌّ عَلَى كُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ فَمَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يُوتِرَ بِخَمْسٍ فَلْيَفْعَلْ وَمَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يُوتِرَ بِثَلَاثٍ فَلْيَفْعَلْ وَمَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يُوتِرَ بِوَاحِدَةٍ فَلْيَفْعَلْ» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد وَالنَّسَائِيّ وَابْن مَاجَه
‘Ali reported God’s Messenger as saying, “God is single (<i>witr</i>) and loves what is single, so observe the <i>witr</i>, you who follow the Qur’an.” Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.
وَعَنْ عَلِيٍّ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَتْرٌ يُحِبُّ الْوَتْرَ فَأَوْتِرُوا يَا أَهْلَ الْقُرْآنِ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَأَبُو دَاوُدَ وَالنَّسَائِيّ
Kharija b. Hudhafa told of God’s Messenger coming out to them and saying, “God has given you an extra prayer which is better for you than the high-bred camels,* the <i>witr</i>, which God has appointed for you between the evening prayer and the daybreak.” * Literally “the red ones of the camels.” These were considered to be the best quality. Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it.
وَعَن خَارِجَة بن حذافة قَالَ: خَرَجَ عَلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَقَالَ:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ أَمَدَّكُمْ بِصَلَاةٍ هِيَ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ مِنْ حُمْرِ النِّعَمِ: الْوَتْرُ جَعَلَهُ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ فِيمَا بَيْنَ صَلَاةِ الْعِشَاءِ إِلَى أَنْ يَطْلُعَ الْفَجْرُ
. رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَأَبُو دَاوُد
Zaid b. Aslam reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If any of you oversleeps and misses his <i>witr</i>, he should observe it in the morning.” Tirmidhi transmitted it in <i>mursal</i> form.
وَعَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَسْلَمَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنْ نَامَ عَنْ وَتْرِهِ فَلْيُصَلِّ إِذَا أَصْبَحَ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ مُرْسلا
‘Abd al-‘Aziz b. Juraij said he asked ‘A’isha what Qur’an passages God’s Messenger used when observing the <i>witr</i> and she replied:
In the first <i>rak'a</i> he recited, “Glorify the name of your most high Lord,”[1] in the second, “Say, O infidels,”[2] and in the third, “Say, He is God, One,”[3] and <i>al-Mu‘awwidhatan</i>.[4] 1. Al-Qur’an; 87 2. Al-Qur’an; 109 3. Al-Qur’an; 112 4. Al-Qur’an; 113-114 Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it. Nasa’i transmitted it from ‘Abd ar-Rahman b. Abza, Ahmad from Ubayy b. Ka‘b, and Darimi from Ibn ‘Abbas, but the last two did not mention <i>al-Mu'awwidhatan</i>.
وَعَنْ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ بْنِ جُرَيْجٍ قَالَ: سَأَلْنَا عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا بِأَيِّ شَيْءٍ كَانَ يُوتِرُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ؟ قَالَتْ: كَانَ يَقْرَأُ فِي الْأُولَى بِ (سَبِّحِ اسْم رَبك الْأَعْلَى) وَفِي الثَّانِيَةِ بِ (قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا الْكَافِرُونَ) وَفَى الثَّالِثَةِ بِ (قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أحد) والمعوذتين وَرَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ وَأَبُو دَاوُد وَرَوَاهُ النَّسَائِيُّ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبْزَى وَرَوَاهُ ألأحمد عَن أبي بن كَعْب والدارمي عَن ابْن عَبَّاس وَلم يذكرُوا والمعوذتين
Al-Hasan b. ‘Ali said:
God’s Messenger taught me some words to say when standing in supplication during the <i>witr</i>. They were, “O God, guide me among those You have guided, grant me security among those You have granted security, take me into Your charge among those You have taken into Your charge, bless me in what You have given, guard me from the evil of what You have decreed, for You dost decree and nothing is decreed for You. He whom You befriendest is not humbled. Blessed and exalted are You, our Lord.” Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Nasa’i, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it.
وَعَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا قَالَ: عَلَّمَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَلِمَاتٍ أَقُولُهُنَّ فِي قُنُوتِ الْوَتْرِ: «اللَّهُمَّ اهدني فِيمَن هديت وَعَافنِي فِيمَن عافيت وتولني فِيمَن توليت وَبَارك لي فِيمَا أَعْطَيْت وقني شَرَّ مَا قَضَيْتَ فَإِنَّكَ تَقْضِي وَلَا يُقْضَى عَلَيْك أَنه لَا يذل من واليت تَبَارَكت رَبَّنَا وَتَعَالَيْتَ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَأَبُو دَاوُدَ وَالنَّسَائِيُّ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ والدارمي
Ubayy b. Ka'b said that when God’s Messenger gave the salutation in the <i>witr</i> he said, “Glory be to the King most holy.” Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it, Nasa’i adding that he said it three times, prolonging the words. In a version by Nasa’i from ‘Abd ar-Rahman b. Abza from his father, he said that he used to say three times when he uttered that salutation, “Glory be to the King most holy”, raising his voice when saying it the third time.
وَعَنْ أُبَيِّ بْنِ كَعْبٍ قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا سَلَّمَ فِي الْوتر قَالَ: «سُبْحَانَكَ الْمَلِكِ الْقُدُّوسِ» رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَالنَّسَائِيُّ وَزَادَ: ثَلَاث مَرَّات يُطِيل فِي آخِرهنَّ وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ لِلنَّسَائِيِّ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبْزَى عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ: كَانَ يَقُولُ إِذَا سَلَّمَ: «سُبْحَانَ الْمَلِكِ الْقُدُّوسِ» ثَلَاثًا وَيَرْفَعُ صَوْتَهُ بالثالثة
‘Ali said that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to say at the end of his <i>witr</i>, “O God, I seek refuge in Your good pleasure from Your anger, and in Your forgiveness from Your punishment, and I seek refuge in Your mercy from Your wrath.* I cannot reckon the praise due to You. You are as You have glorified Thyself.” * Literally ‘in You from You’. Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Nasa’i, and Ibn Majah transmitted it.
وَعَنْ عَلِيٍّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: إِنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ يَقُولُ فِي آخِرِ وَتْرِهِ: «اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِرِضَاكَ من سخطك وبمعافاتك من عُقُوبَتك وَأَعُوذ بك مِنْكَ لَا أُحْصِي ثَنَاءً عَلَيْكَ أَنْتَ كَمَا أَثْنَيْتَ عَلَى نَفْسِكَ» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَالتِّرْمِذِيُّ وَالنَّسَائِيُّ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ
Ibn ‘Abbas, on being asked whether he approved of the Commander of the Faithful, Mu'awiya, using only one <i>rak'a</i> in the <i>witr</i>, replied, “He is right; he is versed in the law.” In a version Ibn Abu Mulaika said that Mu'awiya observed a <i>witr</i> after the evening prayer with one <i>rak'u</i> when a client of Ibn ‘Abbas was with him. He went to Ibn ‘Abbas and told him, but he replied, “Leave him alone, for he was a companion of the Prophet.” Bukhari transmitted it.
عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قِيلَ لَهُ: هَلْ لَكَ فِي أَمِير الْمُؤمنِينَ مُعَاوِيَة فَإِنَّهُ مَا أَوْتَرَ إِلَّا بِوَاحِدَةٍ؟ قَالَ: أَصَابَ إِنَّهُ فَقِيهٌ وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ: قَالَ ابْنُ أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ: أَوْتَرَ مُعَاوِيَةُ بَعْدَ الْعِشَاءِ بِرَكْعَةٍ وَعِنْدَهُ مَوْلًى لِابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ فَأَتَى ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ فَأَخْبَرَهُ فَقَالَ: دَعْهُ فَإِنَّهُ قَدْ صَحِبَ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ. رَوَاهُ الْبُخَارِيُّ
Buraida said he heard God’s Messenger say, “The <i>witr</i> is a duty, so he who does not observe it does not belong to us; the <i>witr</i> is a duty, so he who does not observe it does not belong to us; the <i>witr</i> is a duty, so he who does not observe it does not belong to us.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.
وَعَن بُرَيْدَة قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «الْوَتْرُ حَقٌّ فَمَنْ لَمْ يُوتِرْ فَلَيْسَ مِنَّا الْوَتْرُ حَقٌّ فَمَنْ لَمْ يُوتِرْ فَلَيْسَ مِنَّا الْوَتْرُ حَقٌّ فَمَنْ لَمْ يُوتِرْ فَلَيْسَ مِنَّا» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ
Abu Sa'id reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone over-sleeps and misses the <i>witr</i>, or forgets it, he should pray when he remembers and when he awakes.” Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.
وَعَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسلم: «من نَام عَن الْوِتْرِ أَوْ نَسِيَهُ فَلْيُصَلِّ إِذَا ذَكَرَ أَوْ إِذا اسْتَيْقَظَ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ أَبُو دَاوُد وَابْن مَاجَه
Malik said he heard that a man asked Ibn ‘Umar whether the <i>witr</i> was obligatory, and ‘Abdallah said, “God’s Messenger observed the <i>witr</i> and the Muslims observed the <i>witr</i>.” The man kept repeating his question and ‘Abdallah kept saying, “God’s Messenger observed the <i>witr</i> and the Muslims observed the <i>witr</i>.” He transmitted it in <i>al-Muwatta</i>.
وَعَنْ مَالِكٍ بَلَغَهُ أَنَّ رَجُلًا سَأَلَ ابْنَ عُمَرَ عَنِ الْوِتْرِ: أَوَاجِبٌ هُوَ؟ فَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ: قَدْ أَوْتَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَأَوْتَرَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ. فَجَعَلَ الرَّجُلُ يُرَدِّدُ عَلَيْهِ وَعَبْدُ اللَّهِ يَقُولُ: أَوْتَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَأَوْتَرَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ. رَوَاهُ فِي الْمُوَطَّأ
‘Ali said that God’s Messenger used to pray three <i>rak'as</i> when observing the <i>witr</i>, reciting nine <i>suras</i> from <i>al-Mufassal</i> in the course of them, three in each <i>rak'a</i>, the last of them being “Say, He is God, One” (Al-Qur’an; 112). Tirmidhi transmitted it.
وَعَنْ عَلِيٍّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُوتِرُ بِثَلَاثٍ يَقْرَأُ فِيهِنَّ بِتِسْعِ سُوَرٍ مِنَ الْمُفَصَّلِ يَقْرَأُ فِي كُلِّ رَكْعَةٍ بِثَلَاثِ سُوَرٍ آخِرُهُنَّ: (قل هوا لله أحد) رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ
Nafi' said, “I was with Ibn ‘Umar in Mecca when the sky was cloudy and he was afraid the morning might have come, so he observed a <i>witr</i> with one <i>rak'a</i>. The sky then cleared and he saw that it was still night, so he made it a pair by praying one <i>rak'a</i>; then he prayed series of two <i>rak'as</i>, and when he was afraid morning was near he observed a <i>witr</i> with one.” Malik transmitted it.
وَعَنْ نَافِعٍ قَالَ: كُنْتُ مَعَ ابْنِ عُمَرَ بِمَكَّةَ وَالسَّمَاءُ مُغَيِّمَةٌ فَخَشِيَ الصُّبْحَ فَأَوْتَرَ بِوَاحِدَةٍ ثُمَّ انْكَشَفَ فَرَأَى أَنَّ عَلَيْهِ لَيْلًا فَشَفَعَ بِوَاحِدَةٍ ثُمَّ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ فَلَمَّا خَشِيَ الصُّبْح أوتر بِوَاحِدَة. رَوَاهُ مَالك