5. Establishing the Prayer and the Sunnah Regarding Them

It was narrated that ‘Abdullah bin Malik bin Buhainah said:

“The Prophet (ﷺ) passed by a man who was praying when the Iqamah for Subh prayer had been called, and he said something to him, I do not know what he said. When he finished, we surrounded the man and asked him: ‘What did the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say to you?’ He said: ‘He said to me: “Soon one of y…

It was narrated that Qais bin ‘Amr said:

“The Prophet (ﷺ) saw a man praying two Rak’ah after the Subh prayer and said, ‘Is the Subh prayer to be offered twice?’ The man said to him: ‘I did not pray the two Rak’ah before it, so I prayed them (now).’ The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) remained silent.”

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Prophet (ﷺ) slept and missed the two Rak’ah before Fajr, so he made them up after the sun had risen.

It was narrated from Qabus that his father said:

“My father sent word to ‘Aishah, asking which prayer the Prophet (ﷺ) most liked to perform regularly. She said: ‘He used to perform four Rak’ah before the Zuhr, in which he would stand for a long time and bow and prostrate perfectly.’”

It was narrated from Abu Ayyub that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to perform four Rak’ah before the Zuhr when the sun had passed its zenith, and he did not separate them with a Taslim. He said, “The gates of heaven are opened when the sun passes its zenith.”

It was narrated that ‘Aishah said:

“If the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) missed the four Rak’ah before the Zuhr, he would perform them after the two Rak’ah which come after the Zuhr.”

It was narrated that ‘Abdullah bin Harith said:

“Mu’awiyah sent word to Umm Salamah, and I went with his envoy who put the question to Umm Salamah. She said: ‘While the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was performing ablution for the Zuhr in my house and he had sent a Sa’i,* the Muhajirun gathered around him in large numbers, and he was busy dealing with t…

It was narrated from Umm Habibah that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:

“Whoever prays four Rak’ah before the Zuhr and four afterwards, Allah will forbid him to the Fire.”

It was narrated that ‘Asim bin Damrah As-Saluli said:

“We asked ‘Ali about the voluntary (prayer) of Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) during the day. He said: ‘You will not be able.’ We said: ‘Inform us of it, we will do what we can of it?’ So he said: ‘When he prayed the Fajr he would delay praying any more. When the sun appeared over there (west) – like it appe…

It was narrated that ‘Abdullah bin Mughaffal said:

“The Prophet of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Between every two Adhans there is a prayer.’ He said it three times, and on the third time he said, ‘For those who wish.’”*

‘Ali bin Zaid bin Jud’an said:

“I heard Anas bin Malik say: ‘The Mu ’adh-dhin would call the Adhan during the time of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and one would think that it was the Iqamah because there were so many people who stood and performed the two Rak’ah before the Maghrib.”

It was narrated that ‘Aishah said:

“The Prophet (ﷺ) used to pray the Maghrib, then he would come back to my house and pray two Rak’ah.”

It was narrated that Rafi’ bin Khadij said:

“We came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) with Banu ‘Abdul-Ashhal, and he led us in praying the Maghrib in our mosque. Then he said: ‘Pray these two Rak’ah in your houses.’”

It was narrated from ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud that for the two Rak’ah after Maghrib, the Prophet (ﷺ) used to recite:

“Say: O you disbelievers!” and “Say: He is Allah the One.” [Al- Ikhlas (112)]

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:

“Whoever prays six Rak’ah after the Maghrib and does not say anything bad in between them, will have a reward equal to the worship of twelve years.”

It was narrated that Kharijah bin Hudhafah Al-‘Adawi said:

“The Prophet (ﷺ) came out to us and said: ‘Allah has increased a prayer for you which is better for you than red camels. (It is) Witr, which Allah has enjoined on you between the ‘Isha’ prayer and the onset of dawn.’”

‘Ali bin Abu Talib said:

“Witr is not definite (obligatory) nor is it like your prescribed prayers. But the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prayed Witr, then he said: ‘O people of the Qur’an! Perform Witr, for Allah is Witr* and He loves the odd (numbered).’” * Meaning 'one' which is the first of the odd numbers; He is unique, and there is nothing like Him, similar or equal.

It was narrated from ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:

“Allah is Witr and He loves the odd (numbered), so perform Witr, O people of the Qur’an.” A Bedouin said: ‘What is the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying?’ He said: ‘That is not for you or your companions.’”

It was narrated that Ubayy bin Ka’b said:

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to perform Witr and recite: ‘Glorify the Name of your Lord the Most High.’, ‘Say: O you disbelievers!” [Al-Kafirun (109)] and ‘Say: Allah is One.”.

It was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to perform Witr and recite:

“Glorify the Name of your Lord the Most High,” “Say: O you disbelievers!” [Al-Kafirun (109)] and ‘Say: Allah is One.”. Another chain with similar wording.

It was narrated that ‘Abdul-‘Aziz bin Juraij said:

“We asked ‘Aishah what the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to recite in Witr. She said: ‘He used to recite: “Glorify the Name of your Lord the Most High,” in the first Rak’ah, ‘Say: “O disbelievers!’” [Al- Kafirun (109)] in the second Rak’ah, and ‘Say: Allah is One’ in the third and the Mu’awwidhatain …

It was narrated that Ibn ‘Umar said:

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to pray (voluntary prayers) at night two by two, and he would pray one Rak’ah of Witr.”

Abu Mijlaz narrated that Ibn ‘Umar said:

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Night prayers are to be offered two by two, and Witr is one Rak’ah.’ I said: ‘What do you think if I become drowsy and I want to sleep?’ He said: ‘Put “what do you think” up there with that star? (i.e., don’t think about it at all).’ I raised my head and saw As- Si…

A man asked Ibn ‘Umar:

“How should I perform Witr?” He said: “Pray Witr with one Rak’ah.” He said: “I am afraid that the people will say that I am cutting the prayer short.” He said: “The Sunnah of Allah and His Messenger.” Meaning “This is the Sunnah of Allah and His Messenger.”

It was narrated that ‘Aishah said:

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to say Taslim after every two Rak’ah, and he would perform Witr with one Rak’ah.”

It was narrated that Al-Hasan bin ‘Ali said:

“My grandfather, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), taught me some words to say in Qunut of Witr: Allahumma ‘afini fiman ‘afait, wa tawallani fiman tawallait, wahdini fiman hadait, wa qini sharra ma qadait, wa barik li fima a’tait. Innaka taqdi wa la yuqda ‘alaik, innahu la yudhillu man walait. Subhanaka r…

It was narrated from ‘Ali bin Abi Talib that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to say at the end of Witr:

“Allahumma inni a’udhu biridaka min sakhatika, wa a’udhu bimu’afatika min ‘uqubatika, wa a’udhu bika minka, la uhsi thana’an ‘alaika, Anta kama athnaita ‘ala nafsika (O Allah, I seek refuge in Your pleasure from Your wrath, and I seek refuge in Your forgiveness from your punishment, and I seek refug…

It was narrated from Anas bin Malik that the Prophet (ﷺ) did not raise his hands in any of his supplications except when praying for rain (Istisqa’), when he raised his hands so high that the whiteness of his armpits could be seen.

It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbas said:

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘When you call upon Allah, then do so with the palms of your hands (upwards). Do not do so with the back of your hands (upwards). And when you finish, then wipe your face with them.’”

It was narrated from Ubayy bin Ka’b that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to pray Witr and he would recite Qunut before Ruku’.

It was narrated that Anas bin Malik said:

He was asked about Qunut in the Subh prayer, and he said: “We used to recite Qunut before Ruku’ and afterwards.”

It was narrated that Muhammad said:

“I asked Anas bin Malik about Qunut, and he said: ‘The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) recited Qunut after Ruku’.’”

It was narrated that Masruq said:

“I asked ‘Aishah about the Witr of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). She said: ‘He prayed Witr at every part of the night, at the beginning, in the middle and at the end, when he died (he would perform it) just before dawn.’”

It was narrated that ‘Ali said:

“At every part of the night the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prayed Witr, at the beginning and in the middle, and finally his Witr was just before dawn.”

It was narrated from Jabir that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

“Whoever among you fears that he will not wake up at the end of the night, let him pray Witr at the beginning of the night, then go to sleep. Whoever hopes that he will wake up at the end of the night, let him pray Witr at the end of the night, for recitation (of the Qur’an) at the end of the night is attended (by the angels), and that is better.”

It was narrated that Abu Sa’eed said:

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Whoever sleeps and misses Witr, or forgets it, let him pray it when morning comes, or when he remembers.’”

It was narrated that Abu Sa’eed said:

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Pray Witr before morning comes.’”

It was narrated from Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

“Witr is Haqq.* Whoever wishes let him pray Witr with five (Rak’ah), and whoever wishes let him pray Witr with three (Rak’ah), and whoever wishes let him pray Witr with one (Rak’ah).”

It was narrated that Sa’d bin Hisham said:

“I asked ‘Aishah: ‘O Mother of the Believers! Tell me about the Witr of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).’ She said: ‘We used to keep his tooth stick and water for ablution ready for him. Allah would wake him as He willed to during the night, and he would use the tooth stick and perform ablution, then he …

It was narrated that Umm Salamah said:

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to pray Witr with seven or five Rak’ah, and he would not say Salam or speak in between them.”

It was narrated from Salim that his father said:

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to pray two Rak’ah while traveling, and he did not do more than that. And he used to pray Tahajjud at night.” I asked: “Did he pray Witr?” He said: “Yes.”

It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbas and Ibn ‘Umar said:

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prescribed two Rak’ah of prayer when traveling; they are complete and are not shortened. And Witr when traveling is Sunnah.”

It was narrated from Umm Salamah that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to pray two short Rak’ah after Witr, sitting down.

It was narrated that Abu Salamah said:

“Aishah narrated to me that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prayed Witr with one Rak’ah, then he prayed two Rak’ah in which he recited while sitting, then when he wanted to bow, he stood up and bowed.”

It was narrated that ‘Aishah said:

“I never used to see the Prophet (ﷺ) at the end of the night, except that he was sleeping near me.”

It was narrated that ‘Aishah said:

“When the Prophet (ﷺ) prayed the two (Sunnah) Rak’ah of Fajr, he would lie down on his right side.”

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said:

“When the Messenger of Allah (saw prayed the two (Sunnah) Rak’ah of Fajr, he would lie down.”

It was narrated that Sa’eed bin Yasar said:

“I was with Ibn ‘Umar and I lagged behind and prayed Witr. He said: ‘What kept you?’ I said: ‘I was praying Witr.’ He said: ‘Do you not have the best of examples in the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)?’ I said: ‘Of course.’ He said: ‘The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to pray Witr while riding his camel.’”

It was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to pray Witr while riding his mount.

It was narrated that Jabir bin ‘Abdullah said:

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to Abu Bakr: ‘When do you pray Witr?’ He said: ‘At the beginning of the night, after ‘Isha’.’ He said: ‘And you, O ‘Umar?’ He said: ‘At the end of the night.’ The Prophet (ﷺ) said: ‘As for you, O Abu Bakr, you have seized the trustworthy handhold (i.e., you want to b…