Book 5

‘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!” [Al-Kafirun (109)] and “Say: He is Allah the One.” [Al- Ikhlas]

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.’, [Al-A’la (87)] ‘Say: O you disbelievers!” [Al-Kafirun (109)] and ‘Say: Allah is One.”. [Al-Ikhlas]

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,” [Al-A’la (87)] “Say: O you disbelievers!” [Al-Kafirun (109)] and ‘Say: Allah is One.”. [Al-Ikhlas (112)] 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,” [Al-A’la (87)] 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 (Chapter 113, 114).’”

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- Simak.* He repeated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, ‘Night prayers are to be offered two by two, and Witr is one Rak’ah, before dawn.’” * Here, As-Simak refers to a star or stars, either Arcturus (As-Simak Ar-Ramih) or Spica, also called Alpha Virginis (As-Simak Al-A'zal)

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 rabbana tabarakta wa ta’alait (O Allah, pardon me along with those whom You have pardoned, be an ally to me along with those whom You are an ally to, guide me along with those whom You have guided, protect me from the evil that You have decreed, and bless for me that which You have bestowed. For verily You decree and none can decree over You. He whom You support can never be humiliated. Glory is to You, our Lord, You are Blessed and Exalted).”

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 refuge in You from You. I cannot enumerate Your praise, You are as You have praised Yourself).”

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’