Sahih Muslim Book 6 – Hadith 147-167
Sahih Muslim Book 6 – Hadith 147-167
Chapter 17: Night prayers and the number of rak`ah offered by the Prophet (saws) at night, and that Witr is one rak`ah, and a one-rak`ah prayer is correct.
'A'isha reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to pray eleven rak'ahs at night, observing the Witr with a single rak'ah, and when he had finished them, he lay down on his right side, till the Mu'adhdhin came to him and he (the Holy Prophet) then observed two short rak'ahs (of Sunan of the dawn prayer). (Sahih Muslim Book 6 – Hadith 147)
'A'isha, the wife of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), said that between the time when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) finished the 'Isha' prayer which is called 'Atama by the people, he used to pray eleven rak'ahs, uttering the salutation at the end of every two rak'ahs, and observing the Witr with a single one. And when the Mu'adhdhin had finished the call (for the) dawn prayer and he saw the dawn clearly and the Mu'adhdhin had come to him, he stood up and prayed two short rak'ahs. Then he lay down on his right side till the Mu'adhdhin came to him for lqama. (This hadith has been narrated with the same chain of transmitters by Ibn Shihab, but in it no mention has been made of Iqama) (Sahih Muslim Book 6 – Hadith 148)
'A'isha reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to observe thirteen rak'ahs of the night prayer. Five out of them consisted of Witr, and he did not sit, but at the end (for salutation). (Sahih Muslim Book 6 – Hadith 149)
This hadith has been narrated by Hisham with the same chain of transmitters. (Sahih Muslim Book 6 – Hadith 150)
'A'isha reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to pray thirteen rak'ahs during the night including the two rak'ahs (Sunan) of the dawn prayer. (Sahih Muslim Book 6 – Hadith 151)
Abu Salama b. Abd al-Rahman asked 'A'isha about the (night) prayer of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) during the month of Ramadan. She said:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) did not observe either in Ramadan or in other months more than eleven rak'ahs (of the night prayer). He (in the first instance) observed four rak'ahs. Ask not about their excellence and their length (i. e. these were matchless in perfection and length). He again observed four rak'ahs, and ask not about their excellence and their length. He would then observe three rak'ahs (of the Witr prayer). 'A'isha again said: I said: Messenger of Allah, do you sleep before observing the Witr prayer? He said: O 'A'isha, my eyes sleep but my heart does not sleep. (Sahih Muslim Book 6 – Hadith 152)
Abu Salama asked 'A'isha about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) She said:
He observed thirteen rak'ahs (in the night prayer). He observed eight rak'ahs and would then observe Witr and then observe two rak'ahs sitting, and when he wanted to bow he stood up and then bowed down, and then observed two rak'ahs in between the Adhan and lqama of the dawn prayer. (Sahih Muslim Book 6 – Hadith 153)
Abu Salama reported that he asked 'A'isha about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (may peace he upon him) (during the night). The rest of the hadith is the same but with this exception that he (the Holy Prophet) observed nine rak'ahs including Witr. (Sahih Muslim Book 6 – Hadith 154)
Abu Salama is reported to have said. I came to 'A'isha. I said:
O mother, inform me about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). She said: His (night prayer) in Ramadan and (during other months) was thirteen rak'ahs at night including two rak'ahs of fajr. (Sahih Muslim Book 6 – Hadith 155)
It is reported on the authority of 'A'isha that the prayer of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) in the night consisted of ten rak'ahs. He observed a Witr and two rak'ahs (of Sunan) of the dawn prayer, and thus the total comes to thirteen rak'ahs. (Sahih Muslim Book 6 – Hadith 156)
'A'isha thus reported about the (night prayer) of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ):
He used to sleep in the early part of the night, and woke up in the latter part. If he then wished intercourse with his wife, he satisfied his desire, and then went to sleep; and when the first call to prayer was made he jumped up (by Allah, she, i.e. 'A'isha, did not say" he stood up" ), and poured water over him (by Allah she, i.e. 'A'isha, did not say that he took a bath but I know what she meant) and if he did not have an intercourse, he performed ablution, just as a man performs ablution for prayer and then observed two rak'ahs. (Sahih Muslim Book 6 – Hadith 157)
'A'isha observed that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to observe prayer in the night and the last of his (night) prayer was Witr. (Sahih Muslim Book 6 – Hadith 158)
Masruq is reported to have asked 'A'isha about the action (most pleasing to) the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). She said:
He (the Holy Prophet) loved (that action) which one keeps on doing regularly. I said (to 'A'isha): When did he pray (at night)? She replied: When he heard the cock crow, he got up and observed prayer. (Sahih Muslim Book 6 – Hadith 159)
'A'isha reported:
Never did the earlier part of the dawn find the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) but sleeping in my house or near me. (Sahih Muslim Book 6 – Hadith 160)
'A'isha reported:
When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had prayed the two rak'ahs (Sunan) of the dawn prayer, he would talk to me if I was awake, otherwise he would lie down. (Sahih Muslim Book 6 – Hadith 161)
A hadith like this has been narrated by 'A'isha by another chain of transmitters. (Sahih Muslim Book 6 – Hadith 162)
'A'isha reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to pray in the night and when he observed Witr, he said to me: O 'A'isha, get up and observe Witr. (Sahih Muslim Book 6 – Hadith 163)
'A'isha reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to offer prayer at night while she lay in front of him, and when the Witr prayer was yet to be observed, he would awaken her and she observed Witr. (Sahih Muslim Book 6 – Hadith 164)
'A'isha reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) observed the Witr prayer every night and he completed Witr at the time of dawn. (Sahih Muslim Book 6 – Hadith 165)
Masruq reported on the authority of 'A'isha that she said that the Messenger Of Allah (ﷺ) used to observe the Witr prayer every night, maybe in the early part of night, at midnight and in the latter part, finishing his Witr at dawn. (Sahih Muslim Book 6 – Hadith 166)
'A'isha reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to observe Witr every night, and he would (at times) complete his Witr at the end of the night. (Sahih Muslim Book 6 – Hadith 167)
Sahih Muslim Book 6 – Hadith 147-167