Caution: Translations of Quran and Ḥadīth may lead to possible misapplications and misinterpretations. This site is intended for students of sacred knowledge that are proficient in comprehending classical Arabic and have a strong foundation in Islamic sciences. Also note that religious injunctions rely on several aspects beyond what one may glean through reading individual aḥādīth.
ahmad:5217Wakīʿ > ʿImrān b. Ḥudayr > ʿAbdullāh b. Shaqīq al-ʿUqaylī > Ibn ʿUmar

[Machine] "A man came to the Prophet ﷺ and asked him about the night prayer. I was present between the questioner and the Prophet ﷺ . The Prophet ﷺ replied, 'Pray two by two. If you fear the dawn, then perform witr with one rak'ah.' He came again near the corner of the house where I was and asked the same question. The Prophet ﷺ repeated the same response, 'Pray two by two. If you fear the dawn, then perform witr with one rak'ah.'"  

أحمد:٥٢١٧حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ حَدَّثَنَا عِمْرَانُ بْنُ حُدَيْرٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ شَقِيقٍ الْعُقَيْلِيِّ عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ

جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَسَأَلَهُ عَنْ صَلَاةِ اللَّيْلِ وَأَنَا بَيْنَ السَّائِلِ وَبَيْنَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَقَالَ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى فَإِذَا خَشِيتَ الصُّبْحَ فَأَوْتِرْ بِرَكْعَةٍ قَالَ ثُمَّ جَاءَ عِنْدَ قَرْنِ الْحَوْلِ وَأَنَا بِذَاكَ الْمَنْزِلِ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ السَّائِلِ فَسَأَلَهُ فَقَالَ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى فَإِذَا خَشِيتَ الصُّبْحَ فَأَوْتِرْ بِرَكْعَةٍ