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.
Qurʾān Bukhārī Muslim Nasāʾī Abū Dāwūd Tirmidhī Ibn Mājah Mālik Aḥmad Dārimī Ḥākim Ibn Ḥibbān Ṭabarānī Nasāʾī's Kubrá Bayhaqī al-Luʾluʾ wa-al-Marjān Ibn Rajab's Fifty Riyāḍ al-Ṣāliḥīn Aḥmad's Zuhd Suyūṭī
ahmad:5341 – Abū Aḥmad al-Zubayrī > ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz / Ibn Abū Rawwād > Nāfiʿʿan Ibn ʿUmar

[Machine] A man came to the Prophet ﷺ and asked him about the night prayer. The Prophet ﷺ replied, "The night prayer is performed in pairs. You offer Salaam after every two units (rak'ahs). And when you fear the beginning of dawn, offer one unit (rak'ah) that will serve as Witr (odd-numbered prayer) for you."  

أحمد:٥٣٤١ – حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أَحْمَدَ الزُّبَيْرِيُّ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ يَعْنِي ابْنَ أَبِي رَوَّادٍ عَنْ نَافِعٍعَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ

جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَسَأَلَهُ عَنْ صَلَاةِ اللَّيْلِ فَقَالَ صَلَاةُ اللَّيْلِ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى تُسَلِّمُ فِي كُلِّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ فَإِذَا خِفْتَ الصُّبْحَ فَصَلِّ رَكْعَةً تُوتِرُ لَكَ مَا قَبْلَهَا  

See similar narrations below:

Collected by Bukhārī, Muslim, Nasāʾī, Abū Dāwūd, Mālik, Aḥmad, Dārimī, Nasāʾī's Kubrá
bukhari:990 – ʿAbdullāh b. Yūsuf > Mālik > Nāfiʿ And ʿAbd Allāh b. Dīnār > Ibn ʿUmar

Once a person asked Messenger of Allah ﷺ ﷺ about the night prayer. Allah's Apostle ﷺ replied, "The night prayer is offered as two Rakʿat followed by two Rakʿat and so on and if anyone is afraid of the approaching dawn (Fajr prayer) he should pray one Rakʿah and this will be a Witr for all the Rakʿat which he has prayed before."  

البخاري:٩٩٠ – حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا مَالِكٌ عَنْ نَافِعٍ وَعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ دِينَارٍ عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ

أَنَّ رَجُلاً سَأَلَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَنْ صَلاَةِ اللَّيْلِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ صَلاَةُ اللَّيْلِ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى فَإِذَا خَشِيَ أَحَدُكُمُ الصُّبْحَ صَلَّى رَكْعَةً وَاحِدَةً تُوتِرُ لَهُ مَا قَدْ صَلَّى  

muslim:749a – Yaḥyá b. Yaḥyá > Mālik > Nāfiʿ And ʿAbd Allāh b. Dīnār > Ibn ʿUmar

Prayer during the night should consist of pairs of rak'ahs, but if one of you fears morning is near, he should pray one rak'ah which will make his prayer an odd number for him.  

مسلم:٧٤٩a – وَحَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى قَالَ قَرَأْتُ عَلَى مَالِكٍ عَنْ نَافِعٍ وَعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ دِينَارٍ عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ

أَنَّ رَجُلاً سَأَلَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَنْ صَلاَةِ اللَّيْلِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ صَلاَةُ اللَّيْلِ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى فَإِذَا خَشِيَ أَحَدُكُمُ الصُّبْحَ صَلَّى رَكْعَةً وَاحِدَةً تُوتِرُ لَهُ مَا قَدْ صَلَّى  

nasai:1672 – Aḥmad b. Muḥammad b. al-Mughīrah > ʿUthmān > Shuʿayb > al-Zuhrī > Sālim > Ibn ʿUmar

"A man from among the Muslims asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ: 'How are prayers at night to be done?' He said: 'prayers at night are (offered) two by two, then if you fear that dawn will come, pray witr with one.'"  

النسائي:١٦٧٢ – أَخْبَرَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ عَنْ شُعَيْبٍ عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ عَنْ سَالِمٍ عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ

سَأَلَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَيْفَ صَلاَةُ اللَّيْلِ فَقَالَ صَلاَةُ اللَّيْلِ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى فَإِذَا خِفْتَ الصُّبْحَ فَأَوْتِرْ بِوَاحِدَةٍ  

nasai:1694 – Muḥammad b. Salamah And al-Ḥārith b. Miskīn > Ibn al-Qāsim > Mālik > Nāfiʿ Waʿabd Allāh b. Dīnār > ʿAbdullāh b. ʿUmar

A man asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about prayer at night and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Prayer at night is two by two, then if one of you fears that dawn will break, pray one rak'ah to make the total number that he prayed odd."  

النسائي:١٦٩٤ – أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ وَالْحَارِثُ بْنُ مِسْكِينٍ قِرَاءَةً عَلَيْهِ وَأَنَا أَسْمَعُ وَاللَّفْظُ لَهُ عَنِ ابْنِ الْقَاسِمِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مَالِكٌ عَنْ نَافِعٍ وَعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ دِينَارٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ

أَنَّ رَجُلاً سَأَلَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَنْ صَلاَةِ اللَّيْلِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ صَلاَةُ اللَّيْلِ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى فَإِذَا خَشِيَ أَحَدُكُمُ الصُّبْحَ صَلَّى رَكْعَةً وَاحِدَةً تُوتِرُ لَهُ مَا قَدْ صَلَّى  

abudawud:1326 – al-Qaʿnabī > Mālik > Nāfiʿ And ʿAbd Allāh b. Dīnār > ʿAbdullāh b. ʿUmar

A man asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about the prayer at night. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ 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.  

أبو داود:١٣٢٦ – حَدَّثَنَا الْقَعْنَبِيُّ عَنْ مَالِكٍ عَنْ نَافِعٍ وَعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ دِينَارٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ

أَنَّ رَجُلاً سَأَلَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَنْ صَلاَةِ اللَّيْلِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ صَلاَةُ اللَّيْلِ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى فَإِذَا خَشِيَ أَحَدُكُمُ الصُّبْحَ صَلَّى رَكْعَةً وَاحِدَةً تُوتِرُ لَهُ مَا قَدْ صَلَّى  

malik:7-13 – Yaḥyá > Mālik > Nāfiʿ And ʿAbd Allāh b. Dīnār > ʿAbdullāh b. ʿUmar

Yahya related to me from Malik from Nafi and Abdullah ibn Umar that a man asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about night prayers. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Night prayers are two by two, and when you are afraid that dawn is approaching, pray one raka to make what you have prayed odd."  

مالك:٧-١٣ – حَدَّثَنِي يَحْيَى عَنْ مَالِكٍ عَنْ نَافِعٍ وَعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ دِينَارٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ

أَنَّ رَجُلاً سَأَلَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَنْ صَلاَةِ اللَّيْلِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ صَلاَةُ اللَّيْلِ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى فَإِذَا خَشِيَ أَحَدُكُمُ الصُّبْحَ صَلَّى رَكْعَةً وَاحِدَةً تُوتِرُ لَهُ مَا قَدْ صَلَّى  

ahmad:5399 – Abū Saʿīd a freed slave of Banī Hāshim > Layth > ʿĀṣim > ʿAbdullāh b. Shaqīq > Saʾalt Ibn ʿUmar > Ṣalāh al-Layl

[Machine] Ibn Umar asked the Prophet (PBUH) about the night prayer while I was also present between them. The Prophet (PBUH) said, "The night prayer is performed two units at a time. And when you fear the approaching dawn, then hasten to offer a single unit of prayer before the Fajr prayer and two units of prayer before the morning prayer."  

أحمد:٥٣٩٩ – حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو سَعِيدٍ مَوْلَى بَنِي هَاشِمٍ حَدَّثَنَا لَيْثٌ حَدَّثَنَا عَاصِمٌ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ شَقِيقٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ ابْنَ عُمَرَ عَنْ صَلَاةِ اللَّيْلِ فَقَالَ

ابْنُ عُمَرَ سَأَلَ رَجُلٌ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ عَنْ صَلَاةِ اللَّيْلِ وَأَنَا بَيْنَهُمَا فَقَالَ صَلَاةُ اللَّيْلِ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى فَإِذَا خَشِيتَ الصُّبْحَ فَبَادِرِ الصُّبْحَ بِرَكْعَةٍ وَرَكْعَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ صَلَاةِ الْغَدَاةِ  

ahmad:5103 – Muḥammad b. ʿAbdullāh b. al-Zubayr / Abū Aḥmad al-Zubayrī > ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz / Ibn Abū Rawwād > Nāfiʿ > Ibn ʿUmar

[Machine] A man came to the Prophet ﷺ and asked him about the night prayer. The Prophet replied, "The night prayer is performed in sets of two. After every two units, you should make the Taslim (saying the Salaam). And when you fear the approaching dawn, pray one unit of prayer which will complete and perfect your night prayer."  

أحمد:٥١٠٣ – حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ يَعْنِي أَبَا أَحْمَدَ الزُّبَيْرِيَّ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ يَعْنِي ابْنَ أَبِي رَوَّادٍ عَنْ نَافِعٍ عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ

جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَسَأَلَهُ عَنْ صَلَاةِ اللَّيْلِ فَقَالَ صَلَاةُ اللَّيْلِ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى تُسَلِّمُ فِي كُلِّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ فَإِذَا خِفْتَ الصُّبْحَ فَصَلِّ رَكْعَةً تُوتِرُ لَكَ مَا قَبْلَهَا  

ahmad:5159 – Yaḥyá > ʿUbaydullāh > Nāfiʿ > Ibn ʿUmar

A man asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about the prayer at night. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ 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. (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 1326)   

أحمد:٥١٥٩ – حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللهِ أَخْبَرَنِي نَافِعٌ عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ

سَأَلَ رَجُلٌ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ عَنْ صَلَاةِ اللَّيْلِ قَالَ يُصَلِّي أَحَدُكُمْ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى فَإِذَا خَشِيَ أَنْ يُصْبِحَصَلَّى رَكْعَةً تُوتِرُ لَهُ صَلَاتَهُ  

darimi:1500 – Khālid b. Makhlad > Mālik > Nāfiʿ > Ibn ʿUmar

A man asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about the prayer at night. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ 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. (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 1326)   

الدارمي:١٥٠٠ – أَخْبَرَنَا خَالِدُ بْنُ مَخْلَدٍ حَدَّثَنَا مَالِكٌ عَنْ نَافِعٍ عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ

سَأَلَ رَجُلٌ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَنْ صَلَاةِ اللَّيْلِ فَقَالَ «مَثْنَى مَثْنَى فَإِذَا خَشِيَ أَحَدُكُمُ الصُّبْحَ فَلْيُصَلِّ رَكْعَةً وَاحِدَةً تُوتِرُ مَا قَدْ صَلَّى»  

nasai-kubra:1403 – Muḥammad b. Salamah And al-Ḥārith b. Miskīn > Ibn al-Qāsim > Mālik > Nāfiʿ Waʿabd Allāh b. Dīnār > ʿAbdullāh b. ʿUmar

A man asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about the prayer at night. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ 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. (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 1326)  

الكبرى للنسائي:١٤٠٣ – أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ وَالْحَارِثُ بْنُ مِسْكِينٍ قِرَاءَةً عَلَيْهِ وَأنا أَسْمَعُ وَاللَّفْظُ لَهُ عَنِ ابْنِ الْقَاسِمِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مَالِكٌ عَنْ نَافِعٍ وَعَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ دِينَارٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ

أَنَّ رَجُلًا سَأَلَ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ عَنْ صَلَاةِ اللَّيْلِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «صَلَاةُ اللَّيْلِ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى فَإِذَا خَشِيَ أَحَدُكُمُ الصُّبْحَ صَلَّى رَكْعَةً وَاحِدَةً تُوتِرُ لَهُ مَا قَدْ صَلَّى»