Complete Translation of Sunan Abu-Dawud, Book 2:

Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat): Prayer at Night


Chapter 457: Abrogation of the prayer at night and convenience in it


Book 2, Number 1299:

Narrated Abdullah Ibn Abbas:

In Surat al-Muzzammil (73), the verse: "Keep vigil at night but a little, a half thereof" (2-3) has been abrogated by the following verse: "He knoweth that ye count it not, and turneth unto you in mercy. Recite then of the Qur'an that which is easy for you" (v.20). The phrase "the vigil of the night" (nashi'at al-layl) means the early hours of the night. They (the companions) would pray (the tahajjud prayer) in the early hours of the night.

He (Ibn Abbas) says: It is advisable to offer the prayer at night (tahajjud), prescribed by Allah for you (in the early hours of the night). This is because when a person sleeps, he does not know when he will awake. The words "speech more certain" (aqwamu qilan) means that this time is more suitable for the understanding of the Qur'an. He says: The verse: "Lo, thou hast by day a chain of business" (v.7) means engagement for long periods (in the day's work).


Book 2, Number 1300:

Narrated Ibn 'Abbas:

When the opening verses of Surah al-Muzzamil (lxxiii.) were revealed, the Companions would pray as long as they would pray during Ramadhan until its last verses were revealed. The period between the revealation of its opening and the last verses was one year.


Chapter 458: Prayer and vigil at night


Book 2, Number 1301:

Narrated Abu Hurairah:

The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said: When one of you sleeps, the devil ties three knots at the back of his neck, seeling every knot with, "You have a long night, so sleep." So if one awakes and mentions Allah, a knot will be loosened; if he performs ablution, another knot will be loosened; and if he prays, the third knot will be loosened; and in the morning he will be active and in good spirits; otherwise he will be in bad spirits and sluggish.


Book 2, Number 1302:

Narrated 'A'ishah, Ummul Mu'minin:

Do not give up prayer at night, for the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) would not leave it. Whenever he fell ill or lethargic, he would offer it sitting.


Book 2, Number 1303:

Narrated Abu Hurairah:

The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: May Allah have mercy on a man who gets up at night and prays, and awakens his wife; if she refuses, he should sprinkle water on her face. May Allah have mercy on a woman who gets up at night and prays, and awakens her husband; if he refuses, she would sprinkle water on his face.


Book 2, Number 1304:

Narrated Abu Sa'id ; Abu Hurairah:

The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: If a man awakens his wife at night, and then both pray or both offer two rak'ahs together, the (name of the) man will be recorded among those who mention the name of Allah, and the (name of the) woman will be recorded among those who mention the name of Allah. Ibn Kathir did not narrate this tradition as a statement of the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him), but he reported it as a statement of Abu Sa'id.


Chapter 459: Dozing during prayer


Book 2, Number 1305:

Narrated 'A'ishah, wife of the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him):

The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: When one of you dozes in prayer he shold sleep till his sleep is gone, for when one of you prays while he is dozing, perhaps he will curse himself if he begs pardon of Allah.


Book 2, Number 1306:

Narrated Abu Hurairah:

The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said: When one of you gets up by night (to pray), and falters in reciting the Qur'an 9due to sleep), and he does not understand what he utters, he should sleep.


Book 2, Number 1307:

Narrated Anas:

The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) entered the mosque (and saw that) a rope was tied between two pillars. He asked: What is this (rope for)? The people told him: This is (for) Hamnah b. Jahsh who prays (here). When she is tired, she reclines on it. The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said: She should pray as much as she has strength. When she is tired, she should sit down.

The version of Ziyad has: He said: What is this? The people said: This is for Zainab who prays. When she becomes lazy, or is tired, she holds it. He said: Undo it. One of you should pray in good spirits. When he is lazy or tired, he should sit down.


Chapter 460: On a person who misses his daily round of recital


Book 2, Number 1308:

Narrated 'Umar b. al-Khattab:

The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said: He who misses his daily round of recital or a part of it due to sleep and he recites it between the dawn and the noon prayers, will be reckoned as if he recited it at night.


Chapter 461: On a person who makes the intention of getting up and praying at night but remains sleeping


Book 2, Number 1309:

Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin:

The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: Any person who offers prayer at night regularly but (on a certain night) he is dominated by sleep will be given the reward of praying. His sleep will be almsgiving.


Chapter 462: Which part of night is better (for prayer)?


Book 2, Number 1310:

Narrated Abu Hurairah:

The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said: Our Lord who is blessed and exalted descends every night to the lowest heaven when one-third of the night remains, and says: Who supplicates Me so that I may answer him? Who asks Me so that I may give to him? Who asks My forgiveness so that I may forgive him?


Chapter 463: The time when the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) used to get up at night for prayer


Book 2, Number 1311:

Narrated 'A'ishah:

Allah, the Exalted, would awaken the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) at night. When the dawn came, he would finish his daily round of recital.


Book 2, Number 1312:

Narrated Masruq:

I asked 'A'ishah about the prayer of the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him), and I said to her: At what time he prayed at night? She replied: When he heard the cock croe, he got up and prayed.


Book 2, Number 1313:

Narrated 'A'ishah:

When he was with me, he would sleep at dawn. By it she refered to the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him).


Book 2, Number 1314:

Narrated Hudhaifah:

When anything distressed the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him), he prayed.


Book 2, Number 1315:

Narrated Rabi'ah b, Ka'b al-Aslami:

I used to live with the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) at night; I would bring water for his ablution and his need. He said: Ask me. I said: Your company is in Paradise. He said: Is there anything other than that? I said: It is only that. He said: Help me for yourself by making prostration abundantly.


Book 2, Number 1316:

Narrated Anas b. Malik:

Anas said (explaining the meaning) of the following Qur'anic verse "Who forsake their beds to cry unto their Lord in fear and hope, and spend of what We have bestowed on them" (xxxii. 6): The people used to remain awake between the sunset and the night prayers and would pray. Al-Hasan used to say: (This verse means) the prayer and vigil at night.


Book 2, Number 1317:

Narrated Anas:

(Explaining the meaning) of the following Qur'anic verse: "They used to sleep but little of the night" (ii. 7): They (the people) used to pray between the sunset and the night prayers. The version of Yahya adds: The verse tatajafa junubhum also means so.


Chapter 464: Beginning the prayer at night with two Rak'ahs


Book 2, Number 1318:

Narrated Abu Hurairah:

The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said: When one of you gets up at night, he should begin prayer with two short rak'ahs.


Book 2, Number 1319:

This tradition has also been transmitted by Abu Hurairah through a different chain of narrators to the same effect. This version adds: He should then prolong it afterwards as much as he likes.


Book 2, Number 1320:

Narrated Abdullah ibn Habashi al-Khath'ami:

The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) was asked: which is the best action? He replied: To stand in prayer for a long time.


Chapter 465: The prayer at the night is to be offered in pairs of Rak'ahs each time


Book 2, Number 1321:

Narrated 'Abd Allah b. 'Umar:

A man asked the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) about the prayer at night. The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said: Prayer during the night should consist of pairs of rak'ahs, but if one of you fears the morning is near he should pray one rak'ah which will make his prayer an odd number for him.


Chapter 466: Recitation of the Qur'an in loud voice during the prayer at night


Book 2, Number 1322:

Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas:

The Prophet's (peace_be_upon_him) recitation was loud enough for one who was in the inner chamber to hear it when he was in the house.


Book 2, Number 1323:

Narrated Abu Hurairah:

The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) recitation at night was partly in a loud voice and partly in a low voice.

Abu Dawud said: The name of Abu Khalid al-Walibi is Hurmuz.


Book 2, Number 1324:

Narrated Abu Qatadah:

The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) went out at night and found Abu Bakr praying in a low voice, and he passed Umar ibn al-Khattab who was raising his voice while praying.

When they both met the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) together, the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: I passed by you, Abu Bakr, when you were praying in a low voice. He replied: I made Him hear with Whom I was holding intimate converse, Apostle of Allah. He (the Prophet) said to Umar: I passed by you when you were praying in a loud voice. He replied: Apostle of Allah, I was awakening the drowsy and driving away the Devil.

Al-Hasan added in his version: The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: Raise your voice a little, Abu Bakr, and he said to Umar: Lower your voice a little.


Book 2, Number 1325:

This tradition has also been transmitted by Abu Hurairah through a different chain of narrators. This version does not mention the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said to Abu Bakr: Raise your voice a little; or he said to 'Umar : Lower your voice a little. But this version adds: (the Prophet said:) I heard you, Bilal,(reciting); you were reciting partly from this surah and partly from that surah. He said: This is all good speech; Allah has combined one part with other. The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: All of you were correct.


Book 2, Number 1326:

Narrated 'A'ishah:

A man got up at night and recited the Qur'an in a loud voice. When the dawn came, the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said: May Allah have mercy on so and so who reminded me many verses that I had nearly forgotten.


Book 2, Number 1327:

Narrated Abu Sa'id al-Khudri:

The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) retired to the mosque. He heard them (the people) reciting the Qur'an in a loud voice. He removed the curtain and said: Lo! every one of you is calling his Lord quietly. One should not trouble the other and one should not raise the voice in recitation or in prayer over the voice of the other.


Book 2, Number 1328:

Narrated Uqbah ibn Amir al-Juhani:

The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: One who recites the Qur'an in a loud voice is like one who gives alms openly; and one who recites the Qur'an quietly is one who gives alms secretly.


Chapter 467: On the number of Rak'ahs of the prayer at night


Book 2, Number 1329:

Narrated 'A'ishah:

The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) used to pray ten rak'ahs during the night, and would observe the witr with one rak'ah; he then prayed two rak'ahs of the dawn prayer. Thus he prayed thirteen rak'ahs in all.


Book 2, Number 1330:

Narrated 'A'ishah, wife of the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him):

The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) used to pray eleven rak'ahs (at night), observing the witr with one rak'ah. When he finished it (the prayer), he would lie down on his right side.


Book 2, Number 1331:

Narrated 'A'ishah:

Between the time when the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) finshed the night prayer till the dawn broke, he used to pray eleven rak'ahs, uttering salutations at the end of every two and observing the witr with a single one, and during that he would make a prostration about as long as one of you would take to recite fifty verses before raising his head. When the mu'adhdhdin finshed making the call for the dawn prayer, he stood up and prayed two rak'ahs; then he lay down on his right side till the mu'adhdhdin came to him.


Book 2, Number 1332:

This tradition has also been transmitted bu Ibn Shihab through a different chain of narrators to the same effect. This version adds: He would observe witr with a single rak'ah and make a prostration about as long as one of you would take to recite fifty verses before raising his head. When the mu'adhdhdin finshed his call for the dawn prayer and the dawn became clear to him... Then the narrator transmitted the rest of the tradition to the same effect.


Book 2, Number 1333:

Narrated 'A'ishah:

The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) used to pay thirteen rak'ahs during the night, observing a witr out of that with five; he did not sit during the five except during the last and then gave salutation.


Book 2, Number 1334:

Narrated 'A'ishah:

The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) used to pray thirteen rak'ahs during the night; he then offered two light rak'ahs of prayer when he heard the call of the dawn prayer.


Book 2, Number 1335:

Narrated 'A'ishah:

The Prophet of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) used to pray thirteen rak'ahs during the night. He would offer eight rak'ahs observing the witr with one rak'ah. Then he prayed (the narrator Muslim said) two rak'ahs after witr prayer in sitting position. When he wished to bow, he stood up and bowed. He used to pray two rak'ahs between the call to the dawn prayer and the iqamah.


Book 2, Number 1336:

Narrated Abu Salamah b. 'Abd al-Rahman:

I asked 'A'ishah, wife of the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him): How did the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) pray during Ramadhan? She replied: The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) did not pray more than eleven rak'ahs during Ramadhan and other than Ramadhan. He would pray four rak'ahs. Do not ask about their elegance and length. He then would pray four rak'ahs. Do not ask about their elegance and length. Then he would pray three rak'ahs. 'A'ishah said: I asked: Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him), do you sleep before observing witr? He replied: 'A'ishah, my eyes sleep, but my heart does not sleep.


Book 2, Number 1337:

Narrated Sa'd b. Hisham:

I divorced my wife. I then came to Medina to sell my land that was there so that I could buy arms and fight in battle. I met a group of the Companions of the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him). They said: Six persons of us intended to do so (i.e. to divorce their wives and purchase weapons), but the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) prohibited them. He said: For you in the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) there is an excellent model. I then came to Ibn 'Abbas and asked him about the witr observed by the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him). He said: I point to you a person who is most familiar witr prayer observed by the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him). Go to 'A'ishah. While going to her I asked Hakim b. Aflah to accompany me. He refused, but I adjured him. He, therefore, went along with me. We sought permission to enter upon 'A'ishah. She said: Who is this? He said: Hakim b. Aflah. She asked: Who is with you? He replied: Sa'd b. Hisham. She said: Hisham son of 'Amir who was killed in the Battle of Uhad. I said: Yes. She said: What a good man 'Amir was! I said: Mother of the faithful, tell me about the character of the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him). She asked: Do you not recite the Qur'an? The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) was the Qur'an. I asked: Tell me about his vigil and prayer at night. She replied: Do you not recite: "O thou folded in garmamemts" (lxxiii. 1) I said: Why not?

The narrator said: I came to Ibn 'Abbas and narrated all this to him. By Allah, this is really a traditio. Had I been on speaking terms with her, I would not have come to hear it from her mouth. I said: If I knew that you were not on speaking terms with her, I would have never narrated it to you.


Book 2, Number 1338:

The above mentioned tradition has also been narrated by Qatadah through a different chain of narrators. This version adds: He (the Prophet) used to pray eight rak'ahs during which he did not sit except after eighth rak'ah. He would sit, make a mention of Allah, supplicate Him and then utter the salutations so loudly that we could hear it. He would then pray two rak'ahs sitting after he had uttered salutation. Then he would pray one rak'ah, and that made eleven rak'ahs, sonny. When the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) grew old and became fleshy, he offered seven rak'ahs of witr, and then prayed two rak'ahs sitting after he had uttered the salutation. The narrator narrated the tradition to the same effect till the end.


Book 2, Number 1339:

The above tradition has also been transmitted by Yahya b. Sa'id to the same effect. The version adds the words: "He uttered the salutation so loudly that we could hear it."


Book 2, Number 1340:

The above tradition has also been transmitted by Sa'id through a different chain of narrators to the same effect. Ibn Bashahar narrated the tradition like that of Yahya b. Sa'id. His version has: He the ssalutation in a way that we could hear it.


Book 2, Number 1341:

Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin:

Zurarah ibn Awfa said that Aisha was asked about the midnight prayer of the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him).

She said: He used to offer his night prayer in congregation and then return to his family (in his house) and pray four rak'ahs. Then he would go to his bed and sleep, but the water for his ablution was placed covered near his head and his tooth-stick was also kept there until Allah awakened him at night.

He then used the tooth-stick, performed ablution perfectly then came to the place of prayer and would pray eight rak'ahs, in which he would recite Surah al-Fatihah, and a surah from the Qur'an as Allah willed. He would not sit during any of them but sit after the eighth rak'ah, and would not utter the salutation, but recite (the Qur'an) during the ninth rak'ah. Then he would sit and supplicate as long as Allah willed, and beg Him and devote his attention to Him; He would utter the salutation once in such a loud voice that the inmates of the house were almost awakened by his loud salutation. He would then recite Surah al-Fatihah while sitting, bow while sitting, and then recite the Qur'an during the second rak'ah, and would bow and prostrate while sitting. He would supplicate Allah as long as He willed, then utter the salutation and turn away.

This amount of prayer of the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) continued till he put a weight. During that period he retrenched two rak'ahs from nine and began to pray six and seven rak'ahs standing and two rak'ahs sitting. This continued till he died.


Book 2, Number 1342:

The above mentioned tradition has also been transmitted by Bahz b. Hakim through a different chain of narrators. This version adds: He (the Prophet) would offer the night prayer and go to his bed. In this version, there is no mention of praying four rak'ahs. The narrator then trnsmitted the rest of the tradition. This version further says: He would pray eight rak'ahs during which his recitation of the Qur'an, bowing and prostration were all equal. He would sit only after the eighth rak'ah, and then stand up without uttering the salutation, and pray one rak'ah observing witr prayer and then give the salutation raising his voice so much so that we were about to awake. The narrator then trnsmitted the tradition to the same effect.


Book 2, Number 1343:

Narrated Zurarah b. Awfa:

'A'ishah was asked about the prayer of the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him). She said: He used to lead the people in the night prayer and return to his family and pray four rak'ahs and go to his bed. The narrator then transmitted the tradition in full. This version does not mention the words: "During them (rak'ahs) he equated all the recitation of the Qur'an, bowing and recitation." This also does not mention about the salutation: "Till he almost awakened us."


Book 2, Number 1344:

The above tradition has also been transmitted by 'A'ishah through a different chain of narrators. But the tradition narrated by Hammad b. Salamah is not equal to the tradition narrated by others.


Book 2, Number 1345:

Narrated 'A'ishah:

The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) used to pray thirteen rak'ahs during the night, observing the witr prayer with nine (or as she said). He used to pray two rak'ahs while sitting and pray teo rak'ahs of the dawn prayer between the adhan and the iqamah.


Book 2, Number 1346:

Narrated 'A'ishah:

The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) used to observe the witr prayer with nine rak'ahs. Then he used to pray seven rak'ahs (of witr prayer). He would pray two rak'ahs sitting after the witr in which he would recite the Qur'an(sitting). When he wished to bow, he stood up and bowed and prostrated.

Abu Dawud said: These two traditions have been transmitted by Khalid b. 'Abd Allah al-Wasiti. In his version, he said: 'Alqamah b. Waqqas said: O mother, how did he pray two rak'ahs? He narrated the tradition to the same effect.


Book 2, Number 1347:

Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin:

Sa'd ibn Hisham said: I came to Medina and called upon Aisha, and said to her: Tell me about the prayer of the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him).

She said: The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) used to lead the people in the night prayer, and then go to his bed and sleep. When midnight came he got up, went to answer the call of nature and to perform ablution with water. Having performed ablution, he entered the mosque and prayed eight rak'ahs.

To my mind he performed the recitation of the Qur'an, bowing and prostrating equally. He then observed witr with one rak'ah and prayed two rak'ahs sitting. Then he lay down on the ground. Sometimes Bilal came to him and called him for prayer. He then dozed, and sometimes I doubted whether he dozed or not, till he (Bilal) called him for prayer.

This is the prayer he offered till he grew old or put on weight. She then mentioned how he put on weight as Allah wished.


Book 2, Number 1348:

Narrated "Abd Allah b. Abbas:

I slept with the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him). He saw that he (the Prophet) awoke, used toothstick, performed ablution, and recited: "In the creation of heavens and earth" to the end of the surah ('Al 'Imran. 190). He then stood up and prayed two rak'ahs in which he prolonged the standing, bowing, prostration; he then turned away and slept till he begn to snore. This he did three times. this made six rak'ahs in all. He would use tooth-stick, then perform ablution, and recite those verses. He then observed the witr prayer. The version of 'Uthman has: with three rak'ahs. The mu'adhdhdin then came to him and he went out for prayer. The version of Ibn 'Isa adds: He then observed witr prayer; the Bilal came to him and called him for prayer when the dawn broke. He the prayed the two rak'ahs of the dawn prayer. He then went out for the prayer. Then both narrations were agreed: He began to supplicate saying: O Allah, place light in my heart, light in my tongue, light in my hearing, light in my eyesight, light on my right hand, light on my left hand, light in front of me, light behind me, light below me; O Allah, give me abundant light.


Book 2, Number 1349:

The above tradition has also been transmitted by Husain through a different chain of narrators in a like manner. This version has the words: "And give me abundant light."

Abu Dawud said: This tradition has been transmitted by Abu Khalid al-Dalani from Habib and Salamah b. Kuhail from Abu Rishdin from Ibn 'Abbas in a simmilar manner.


Book 2, Number 1350:

Narrated Fadl b. 'Abbas:

I spent a night with the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) to see how he prayed. He got up, performed ablution and prayed two rak'ahs. His standing was like his bowing (i.e. equal duration)., and his bowing was like his prostration (equal in length). Then he slept. Afterwards he awoke, performed ablution, and used tooth-stick. He then recited five verses from Sura 'Al-Imran.; In the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternations of the night and day. He went on doing so till he prayed ten rak'ahs. He then stood up and prayed one rak'ah observing witr in it. In the meantime the mu'adhdhdin called to prayer. The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) stood up after the mu'adhdhdin had kept silent. He prayed two light rak'ahs and remained silent till he offered the dawn prayer.

Abu Dawud said: A part of the tradition transmitted by Ibn Bashshar remained hidden from me.


Book 2, Number 1351:

Narrated Ibn 'Abbas:

I spent a night with my maternal aunt Maimunah. The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) came after the evening had come. He asked: Did the boy pray? She said: Yes. Then he lay down till a part of night had passed as much as Allah willed; he got up, performed ablution and prayed seven or five rak'ahs, observing witr with the. He uttered the salutation only in the last of them.


Book 2, Number 1352:

Narrated Ibn 'Abbas:

I spent a night in the house of my maternal aunt Maimunah, daughter of al-Harith. The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) offered the night prayer. He then came and prayed four rak'ahs and slept. He then stood up and prayed. I stood at his left side. He made me go round and made me stand on his right side. He then prayed five rak'ahs and slept, and I heard his snoring. He then got up and prayed two rak'ahs. Afterwards he came out and offered the dawn prayer.


Book 2, Number 1353:

Narrated Sa'id b. Jubair:

Ibn 'Abbas told me: He (the Prophet) got up and prayed eight rak'ahs in pairs, and then observed witr with five rak'ahs and he did not sit between them.


Book 2, Number 1354:

Narrated 'A'ishah:

The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) used to pray thirteen rak'ahs, observing six rak'ahs in pairs including the two rak'ahs of the dawn prayer. He would observe witr with five rak'ahs. He sat only in the last of them.


Book 2, Number 1355:

Narrated 'A'ishah:

The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) used to pray thirteen rak'ahs during the night including the two rak'ahs of the dawn prayer.


Book 2, Number 1356:

Narrated 'A'ishah:

The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) offered the night prayer and then prayed eight rak'ahs standing, and two rak'ahs between the two adhans (i.e. the adhan for the dawn prayer and the iqamah). He never left them.

Ja'far b. Musafir said in his version: (He prayed) two rak'ahs sitting between the two adhans. He added the word "sitting."


Book 2, Number 1357:

Narrated 'Abd Allah b. Abi Qais:

I asked 'A'ishah: How many rak'ahs would the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) pray observing the witr? She said: He used to obsserve the witr with four and three, six and three, eight and three and ten and three rak'ahs never observing less than seven or more than thirteen.

The narrator Ahmad added in his version: He would not observe the witr with two rak'ahs before the dawn. I asked: With what would he observe the witr? She replied: He would never leave it. The version of Ahmad does not mention the words "six and three (rak'ahs)."


Book 2, Number 1358:

Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin:

Al-Aswad ibn Yazid said that he entered upon Aisha and asked her about the prayer of the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) during the night. She said: He used to pray thirteen rak'ahs during the night. Then he began to pray eleven rak'ahs and left two rak'ahs. When he died, he would pray nine rak'ahs during the night. His last prayer during the night was witr.


Book 2, Number 1359:

The client of Ibn 'Abbas said that he asked him: How would the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) pray during the night? He replied: I spent a night with him when he was with Maimunah. He slept and woke up when half the night or one-third of it had passed. He stood up and went to a leather-bag containing water. He performed ablution and I also performed ablution with him. He then stood up and I also stood at his left side. He made me stand at his right side. He then put his hand upon my head, as he was touching my ear and awakening me. He then prayed two light rak'ahs and recited Surah al-Fatihah in each of them, and uttered the salutation. He then prayed eleven rak'ahs observing witr and slept. Then Bilal came to him and said: Prayer, Apostle of Allah. He got up and prayed two rak'ahs, and then led the people in prayer.


Book 2, Number 1360:

Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas:

I spent a night with my maternal aunt Maymunah. The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) got up to pray at night. He prayed thirteen rak'ahs including two rak'ahs of the dawn prayer. I guessed that he stood in every rak'ah as long as one could recite Surah al-Muzzammil (73).


Book 2, Number 1361:

Narrated Khalid al-Juhani:

I shall watch the prayer of the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) at night. I slept at the threshold of his door or of his tent. The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) prayed two light rak'ahs, and then he prayed two long, long, long rak'ahs. He then prayed two rak'ahs that were not so long as the two rak'ahs before them; he then prayed two rak'ahs that were less in duration, then the rak'ahs before them; again he prayed two rak'ahs that were less in length than the preceding rak'ahs; he again prayed two rak'ahs that were less in length than the previous rak'ahs. This made altogether thirteen rak'ahs.


Book 2, Number 1362:

Narrated 'Abd Allah b. Abbas:

I spent a night with Maimunah, wife of the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him), who was also my(Ibn' Abbas's) maternal aunt. I lay towards the width of the pillow and the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) and his wife slept towards its length. The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) slept. When half the night passed, or a little before it or a little after it, the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) awoke and began to rub his face (eyes) to remove the sleep. He then recited ten verses from the last part of Surah 'Al-Imran. He then came to a bag of water that was hanging. He performed ablution from it and performed his ablution well. He then stood up and prayed. I also got up and did as he did. I then went and stood at his side. The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) placed his right hand upon my head and took me by my ear twisting it. He then prayed two rak'ahs, then two rak'ahs, then two rak'ahs, the two rak'ahs, then two rak'ahs, then two rak'ahs. The narrator al-Qa'nabi said: Six times. He observed the witr prayer, and then slept until the mu'adhdhdin came. He got up and prayed two light rak'ahs; and then he came out and offered the dawn prayer.


Chapter 468: The commandment of observing moderation in praying


Book 2, Number 1363:

Narrated 'A'ishah:

The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said: Choose such actions as you are capable of performing, for Allah does not grow weary till you do. The acts most pleasing to Allah are those which are done most continuously, even if they mount to little. Whenever he began an action, he would do it continiously.


Book 2, Number 1364:

Narrated 'A'ishah:

The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) called 'Uthman b. Maz'un. When he came to him, he said: 'Uthman, did you dislike my practice? He said: No, by Allah, but I seek your practice. He said: I sleep, I pray, I fast, I (sometimes) leave fast, and I marry women. Fear Allah, 'Uthman, your wife has a right on you, your guest has a right on you, your self has a right on you; you should keep fast and (sometimes) leave fast, and pray and sleep.


Book 2, Number 1365:

Narrated 'Alqamah:

'A'ishah was asked about the actions of the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him). Did he perform some actions exclusively on some particular days? She said: No, he performed his actions regularly. Which of you has the strength as much as the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) had?