'A'isha reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to pray thirteen rak'ahs during the night including the two rak'ahs (Sunan) of the dawn prayer.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَانَ يُصَلِّي ثَلاَثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً بِرَكْعَتَىِ الْفَجْرِ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not observe either in Ramadan or in other months more than eleven rak'ahs (of the night prayer). He (in the first instance) observed four rak'ahs. Ask not about their excellence and their length (i. e. these were matchless in perfection and length). He again observed four rak'ahs, and ask not about their excellence and their length. He would then observe three rak'ahs (of the Witr prayer). 'A'isha again said: I said: Messenger of Allah, do you sleep before observing the Witr prayer? He said: O 'A'isha, my eyes sleep but my heart does not sleep.  

أَنَّهُ سَأَلَ عَائِشَةَ كَيْفَ كَانَتْ صَلاَةُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي رَمَضَانَ قَالَتْ مَا كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَزِيدُ فِي رَمَضَانَ وَلاَ فِي غَيْرِهِ عَلَى إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً يُصَلِّي أَرْبَعًا فَلاَ تَسْأَلْ عَنْ حُسْنِهِنَّ وَطُولِهِنَّ ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي أَرْبَعًا فَلاَ تَسْأَلْ عَنْ حُسْنِهِنَّ وَطُولِهِنَّ ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي ثَلاَثًا فَقَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَتَنَامُ قَبْلَ أَنْ تُوتِرَ فَقَالَ يَا عَائِشَةُ إِنَّ عَيْنَىَّ تَنَامَانِ وَلاَ يَنَامُ قَلْبِي  

He observed thirteen rak'ahs (in the night prayer). He observed eight rak'ahs and would then observe Witr and then observe two rak'ahs sitting, and when he wanted to bow he stood up and then bowed down, and then observed two rak'ahs in between the Adhan and lqama of the dawn prayer.  

عَنْ صَلاَةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَتْ كَانَ يُصَلِّي ثَلاَثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً يُصَلِّي ثَمَانَ رَكَعَاتٍ ثُمَّ يُوتِرُ ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ فَإِذَا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَرْكَعَ قَامَ فَرَكَعَ ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ بَيْنَ النِّدَاءِ وَالإِقَامَةِ مِنْ صَلاَةِ الصُّبْحِ  

Abu Salama reported that he asked 'A'isha about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (may peace he upon him) (during the night). The rest of the hadith is the same but with this exception that he (the Holy Prophet) observed nine rak'ahs including Witr.  

أَنَّهُ سَأَلَ عَائِشَةَ عَنْ صَلاَةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِمِثْلِهِ غَيْرَ أَنَّ فِي حَدِيثِهِمَا تِسْعَ رَكَعَاتٍ قَائِمًا يُوتِرُ مِنْهُنَّ  

O mother, inform me about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. She said: His (night prayer) in Ramadan and (during other months) was thirteen rak'ahs at night including two rak'ahs of fajr.  

أَتَيْتُ عَائِشَةَ فَقُلْتُ أَىْ أُمَّهْ أَخْبِرِينِي عَنْ صَلاَةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَتْ كَانَتْ صَلاَتُهُ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ وَغَيْرِهِ ثَلاَثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً بِاللَّيْلِ مِنْهَا رَكْعَتَا الْفَجْرِ  

It is reported on the authority of 'A'isha that the prayer of Messenger of Allah ﷺ in the night consisted of ten rak'ahs. He observed a Witr and two rak'ahs (of Sunan) of the dawn prayer, and thus the total comes to thirteen rak'ahs.  

سَمِعْتُ عَائِشَةَ تَقُولُ كَانَتْ صَلاَةُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ عَشَرَ رَكَعَاتٍ وَيُوتِرُ بِسَجْدَةٍ وَيَرْكَعُ رَكْعَتَىِ الْفَجْرِ فَتِلْكَ ثَلاَثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً  

He used to sleep in the early part of the night, and woke up in the latter part. If he then wished intercourse with his wife, he satisfied his desire, and then went to sleep; and when the first call to prayer was made he jumped up (by Allah, she, i. e. 'A'isha, did not say" he stood up" ), and poured water over him (by Allah she, i. e. 'A'isha, did not say that he took a bath but I know what she meant) and if he did not have an intercourse, he performed ablution, just as a man performs ablution for prayer and then observed two rak'ahs.  

عَنْ صَلاَةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَتْ كَانَ يَنَامُ أَوَّلَ اللَّيْلِ وَيُحْيِي آخِرَهُ ثُمَّ إِنْ كَانَتْ لَهُ حَاجَةٌ إِلَى أَهْلِهِ قَضَى حَاجَتَهُ ثُمَّ يَنَامُ فَإِذَا كَانَ عِنْدَ النِّدَاءِ الأَوَّلِ قَالَتْ وَثَبَ وَلاَ وَاللَّهِ مَا قَالَتْ قَامَ فَأَفَاضَ عَلَيْهِ الْمَاءَ وَلاَ وَاللَّهِ مَا قَالَتِ اغْتَسَلَ وَأَنَا أَعْلَمُ مَا تُرِيدُ وَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ جُنُبًا تَوَضَّأَ وُضُوءَ الرَّجُلِ لِلصَّلاَةِ ثُمَّ صَلَّى الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ  

'A'isha observed that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to observe prayer in the night and the last of his (night) prayer was Witr.  

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ حَتَّى يَكُونَ آخِرَ صَلاَتِهِ الْوِتْرُ  

He (the Holy Prophet) loved (that action) which one keeps on doing regularly. I said (to 'A'isha): When did he pray (at night)? She replied: When he heard the cock crow, he got up and observed prayer.  

عَنْ عَمَلِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَتْ كَانَ يُحِبُّ الدَّائِمَ قَالَ قُلْتُ أَىَّ حِينٍ كَانَ يُصَلِّي فَقَالَتْ كَانَ إِذَا سَمِعَ الصَّارِخَ قَامَ فَصَلَّى  

Never did the earlier part of the dawn find the Messenger of Allah ﷺ but sleeping in my house or near me.  

مَا أَلْفَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ السَّحَرُ الأَعْلَى فِي بَيْتِي أَوْ عِنْدِي إِلاَّ نَائِمًا  

When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had prayed the two rak'ahs (Sunan) of the dawn prayer, he would talk to me if I was awake, otherwise he would lie down.  

كَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ إِذَا صَلَّى رَكْعَتَىِ الْفَجْرِ فَإِنْ كُنْتُ مُسْتَيْقِظَةً حَدَّثَنِي وَإِلاَّ اضْطَجَعَ  

A hadith like this has been narrated by 'A'isha by another chain of transmitters.  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ مِثْلَهُ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to pray in the night and when he observed Witr, he said to me: O 'A'isha, get up and observe Witr.  

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَإِذَا أَوْتَرَ قَالَ قُومِي فَأَوْتِرِي يَا عَائِشَةُ  

'A'isha reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to offer prayer at night while she lay in front of him, and when the Witr prayer was yet to be observed, he would awaken her and she observed Witr.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَانَ يُصَلِّي صَلاَتَهُ بِاللَّيْلِ وَهِيَ مُعْتَرِضَةٌ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ فَإِذَا بَقِيَ الْوِتْرُ أَيْقَظَهَا فَأَوْتَرَتْ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ observed the Witr prayer every night and he completed Witr at the time of dawn.  

عَنْ أَبِي يَعْفُورٍ وَاسْمُهُ وَاقِدٌ وَلَقَبُهُ وَقْدَانُ ح وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ وَ أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ كِلاَهُمَا عَنْ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ مَسْرُوقٍ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ مِنْ كُلِّ اللَّيْلِ قَدْ أَوْتَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَانْتَهَى وِتْرُهُ إِلَى السَّحَرِ  

Masruq reported on the authority of 'A'isha that she said that the Messenger Of Allah ﷺ used to observe the Witr prayer every night, maybe in the early part of night, at midnight and in the latter part, finishing his Witr at dawn.  

مِنْ كُلِّ اللَّيْلِ قَدْ أَوْتَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مِنْ أَوَّلِ اللَّيْلِ وَأَوْسَطِهِ وَآخِرِهِ فَانْتَهَى وِتْرُهُ إِلَى السَّحَرِ  

'A'isha reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to observe Witr every night, and he would (at times) complete his Witr at the end of the night.  

كُلَّ اللَّيْلِ قَدْ أَوْتَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَانْتَهَى وِتْرُهُ إِلَى آخِرِ اللَّيْلِ  

Is there not for you a model pattern in me? And when they narrated this to him (Sa'd b. Hisham), he returned to his wife, though he had divorced her and made (people) witness to his reconciliation. He then came to Ibn 'Abbas and asked him about the Witr of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Ibn 'Abbas said: Should I not lead you to one who knows best amongst the people of the world about the Witr of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ? He said: Who is it? He (Ibn 'Abbas) said: It is 'A'isha. So go to her and ask her (about Witr) and then come to me and inform me about her answer that she would give you. So I came to Hakim b. Aflah and requested him to take me to her. He said: I would not go to her, for I forbade her to speak anything (about the conflict) between the two groupS, but she refused (to accept my advice) and went (to participate in that corflict). I (requested) him (Hakim) with an oath to lead me to her. So we went to 'A'isha and we begged permission to meet her. She granted us permission and we went in. She said: Are you Hakim? (She recognised him.) He replied: Yes. She said: Who is there with you? He said: He is Sa'd b. Hisham. She said: Which Hisham? He said: He is Hisham b. 'Amir. She blessed him ('Amir) with mercy from Allah and spoke good of him (Qatada said that he died as a martyr in Uhud). I said: Mother of the Faithful, tell me about the character of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. She said: Don't you read the Qur'an? I said: Yes. Upon this she said: The character of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was the Qur'an. He said: I felt inclined to get up and not ask anything (further) till death. But then I changed my mind and said: Inform me about the observance (of the night prayer) of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. She said: Did you not recite:" O thou wrapped up"? He said: Yes. She said: Allah, the Exalted and the Glorious, made the observance of the night prayer at the beginning of this Surah obligatory. So the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him and his Companions around him observed this (night prayer) for one year. Allah held back the concluding portion of this Surah for twelve months in the Heaven till (at the end of this period) Allah revealed the concluding verses of this Surah which lightened (the burden of this prayer), and the night prayer became a supererogatory prayer after being an obligatory one. I said: Mother of the Faithful, inform me about the Witr of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. She said: I used to prepare tooth stick for him and water for his ablution, and Allah would rouse him to the extent He wished during the night. He would use the tooth stick, and perform ablution, and would offer nine rak'ahs, and would not sit but in the eighth one and would remember Allah, and praise Him and supplicate Him, then he would get up without uttering the salutation and pray the ninth rak'ah. He would then sit, remember, praise Him and supplicate Him and then utter a salutation loud enough for us to hear. He would then pray two rak'ahs sitting after uttering the salutation, and that made eleven rak'ahs. O my son, but when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ grew old and put on flesh, he observed Witr of seven, doing in the two rak'ahs as he had done formerly, and that made nine. O my son, and when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ observed prayer, he liked to keep on observing it, and when sleep or pain overpowered him and made it impossible (for him) to observe prayer in the night, he prayed twelve rak'ahs daring the day. I am not aware of Allah's Prophet ﷺ having recited the whole Qur'an during one single night, or praying through the night till morning, or fasting a complete month, except Ramadan. He (the narrator) said: I then went to Ibn 'Abbas and narrated to him the hadith (transmitted from her), and he said: She says the truth If I went to her and got into her presence, I would have listened to it orally from her. He said: If I were to know that you do not go to her. I would not have transmitted this hadith to you narrated by her.  

أَنْ يَغْزُوَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَقَدِمَ الْمَدِينَةَ فَأَرَادَ أَنْ يَبِيعَ عَقَارًا لَهُ بِهَا فَيَجْعَلَهُ فِي السِّلاَحِ وَالْكُرَاعِ وَيُجَاهِدَ الرُّومَ حَتَّى يَمُوتَ فَلَمَّا قَدِمَ الْمَدِينَةَ لَقِيَ أُنَاسًا مِنْ أَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ فَنَهَوْهُ عَنْ ذَلِكَ وَأَخْبَرُوهُ أَنَّ رَهْطًا سِتَّةً أَرَادُوا ذَلِكَ فِي حَيَاةِ نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَنَهَاهُمْ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَقَالَ أَلَيْسَ لَكُمْ فِيَّ أُسْوَةٌ فَلَمَّا حَدَّثُوهُ بِذَلِكَ رَاجَعَ امْرَأَتَهُ وَقَدْ كَانَ طَلَّقَهَا وَأَشْهَدَ عَلَى رَجْعَتِهَا فَأَتَى ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ فَسَأَلَهُ عَنْ وِتْرِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ أَلاَ أَدُلُّكَ عَلَى أَعْلَمِ أَهْلِ الأَرْضِ بِوِتْرِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ مَنْ قَالَ عَائِشَةُ فَأْتِهَا فَاسْأَلْهَا ثُمَّ ائْتِنِي فَأَخْبِرْنِي بِرَدِّهَا عَلَيْكَ فَانْطَلَقْتُ إِلَيْهَا فَأَتَيْتُ عَلَى حَكِيمِ بْنِ أَفْلَحَ فَاسْتَلْحَقْتُهُ إِلَيْهَا فَقَالَ مَا أَنَا بِقَارِبِهَا لأَنِّي نَهَيْتُهَا أَنْ تَقُولَ فِي هَاتَيْنِ الشِّيعَتَيْنِ شَيْئًا فَأَبَتْ فِيهِمَا إِلاَّ مُضِيًّا قَالَ فَأَقْسَمْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَجَاءَ فَانْطَلَقْنَا إِلَى عَائِشَةَ فَاسْتَأْذَنَّا عَلَيْهَا فَأَذِنَتْ لَنَا فَدَخَلْنَا عَلَيْهَا فَقَالَتْ أَحَكِيمٌ فَعَرَفَتْهُ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ فَقَالَتْ مَنْ مَعَكَ قَالَ سَعْدُ بْنُ هِشَامٍ قَالَتْ مَنْ هِشَامٌ قَالَ ابْنُ عَامِرٍ فَتَرَحَّمَتْ عَلَيْهِ وَقَالَتْ خَيْرًا قَالَ قَتَادَةُ وَكَانَ أُصِيبَ يَوْمَ أُحُدٍ فَقُلْتُ يَا أُمَّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَنْبِئِينِي عَنْ خُلُقِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَتْ أَلَسْتَ تَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ قُلْتُ بَلَى قَالَتْ فَإِنَّ خُلُقَ نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَانَ الْقُرْآنَ قَالَ فَهَمَمْتُ أَنْ أَقُومَ وَلاَ أَسْأَلَ أَحَدًا عَنْ شَىْءٍ حَتَّى أَمُوتَ ثُمَّ بَدَا لِي فَقُلْتُ أَنْبِئِينِي عَنْ قِيَامِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَتْ أَلَسْتَ تَقْرَأُ { يَا أَيُّهَا الْمُزَّمِّلُ} قُلْتُ بَلَى قَالَتْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ ﷻ افْتَرَضَ قِيَامَ اللَّيْلِ فِي أَوَّلِ هَذِهِ السُّورَةِ فَقَامَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَأَصْحَابُهُ حَوْلاً وَأَمْسَكَ اللَّهُ خَاتِمَتَهَا اثْنَىْ عَشَرَ شَهْرًا فِي السَّمَاءِ حَتَّى أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ فِي آخِرِ هَذِهِ السُّورَةِ التَّخْفِيفَ فَصَارَ قِيَامُ اللَّيْلِ تَطَوُّعًا بَعْدَ فَرِيضَةٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا أُمَّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَنْبِئِينِي عَنْ وِتْرِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَتْ كُنَّا نُعِدُّ لَهُ سِوَاكَهُ وَطَهُورَهُ فَيَبْعَثُهُ اللَّهُ مَا شَاءَ أَنْ يَبْعَثَهُ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَيَتَسَوَّكُ وَيَتَوَضَّأُ وَيُصَلِّي تِسْعَ رَكَعَاتٍ لاَ يَجْلِسُ فِيهَا إِلاَّ فِي الثَّامِنَةِ فَيَذْكُرُ اللَّهَ وَيَحْمَدُهُ وَيَدْعُوهُ ثُمَّ يَنْهَضُ وَلاَ يُسَلِّمُ ثُمَّ يَقُومُ فَيُصَلِّي التَّاسِعَةَ ثُمَّ يَقْعُدُ فَيَذْكُرُ اللَّهَ وَيَحْمَدُهُ وَيَدْعُوهُ ثُمَّ يُسَلِّمُ تَسْلِيمًا يُسْمِعُنَا ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ بَعْدَ مَا يُسَلِّمُ وَهُوَ قَاعِدٌ فَتِلْكَ إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً يَا بُنَىَّ فَلَمَّا أَسَنَّ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَأَخَذَ اللَّحْمَ أَوْتَرَ بِسَبْعٍ وَصَنَعَ فِي الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ مِثْلَ صَنِيعِهِ الأَوَّلِ فَتِلْكَ تِسْعٌ يَا بُنَىَّ وَكَانَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِذَا صَلَّى صَلاَةً أَحَبَّ أَنْ يُدَاوِمَ عَلَيْهَا وَكَانَ إِذَا غَلَبَهُ نَوْمٌ أَوْ وَجَعٌ عَنْ قِيَامِ اللَّيْلِ صَلَّى مِنَ النَّهَارِ ثِنْتَىْ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً وَلاَ أَعْلَمُ نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَرَأَ الْقُرْآنَ كُلَّهُ فِي لَيْلَةٍ وَلاَ صَلَّى لَيْلَةً إِلَى الصُّبْحِ وَلاَ صَامَ شَهْرًا كَامِلاً غَيْرَ رَمَضَانَ قَالَ فَانْطَلَقْتُ إِلَى ابْنِ عَبَّاسِ فَحَدَّثْتُهُ بِحَدِيثِهَا فَقَالَ صَدَقَتْ لَوْ كُنْتُ أَقْرَبُهَا أَوْ أَدْخُلُ عَلَيْهَا لأَتَيْتُهَا حَتَّى تُشَافِهَنِي بِهِ قَالَ قُلْتُ لَوْ عَلِمْتُ أَنَّكَ لاَ تَدْخُلُ عَلَيْهَا مَا حَدَّثْتُكَ حَدِيثَهَا  

Zurara b. Aufa said that Sa'd b. Hisham divorced his wife, and then proceeded to Medina to sell his property, and the rest of the hadith is the same.  

أَنَّهُ طَلَّقَ امْرَأَتَهُ ثُمَّ انْطَلَقَ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ لِيَبِيعَ عَقَارَهُ فَذَكَرَ نَحْوَهُ  

I went to 'Abdullah b. 'Abbas and asked him about the Witr prayer, and the rest of the hadith is the same as recorded in this event. She (Hadrat 'A'isha) said: Who is that Hisham? I said: Son of 'Amir. She said: What a fine man 'Amir was! He died as a martyr in the Battle of Uhud.  

نِعْمَ الْمَرْءُ كَانَ عَامِرٌ أُصِيبَ يَوْمَ أُحُدٍ  

Who is Hisham? He said: The son of 'Amir. She said: What a fine man he was; he participated in the Battle of Uhud along with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Hakim b. Aflah said: If I ever knew that you do not go to 'A'isha, I would not have informed you about her hadith (So that you would have gone to her and heard it from her orally).  

فَأَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّهُ طَلَّقَ امْرَأَتَهُ وَاقْتَصَّ الْحَدِيثَ بِمَعْنَى حَدِيثِ سَعِيدٍ وَفِيهِ قَالَتْ مَنْ هِشَامٌ قَالَ ابْنُ عَامِرٍ قَالَتْ نِعْمَ الْمَرْءُ كَانَ أُصِيبَ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَوْمَ أُحُدٍ وَفِيهِ فَقَالَ حَكِيمُ بْنُ أَفْلَحَ أَمَا إِنِّي لَوْ عَلِمْتُ أَنَّكَ لاَ تَدْخُلُ عَلَيْهَا مَا أَنْبَأْتُكَ بِحَدِيثِهَا  

'A'isha reported that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ missed the night prayer due to pain or any other reason, he observed twelve rak'ahs during the daytime.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَانَ إِذَا فَاتَتْهُ الصَّلاَةُ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ مِنْ وَجَعٍ أَوْ غَيْرِهِ صَلَّى مِنَ النَّهَارِ ثِنْتَىْ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً  

'A'isha reported that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ decided upon doing any act, he continued to do it, and when he slept at night or fell sick he observed twelve rak'ahs during the daytime. I am not aware of Messenger of Allah ﷺ observing prayer during the whole of the night till morning, or observing fast for a whole month continuously except that of Ramadan.  

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِذَا عَمِلَ عَمَلاً أَثْبَتَهُ وَكَانَ إِذَا نَامَ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ أَوْ مَرِضَ صَلَّى مِنَ النَّهَارِ ثِنْتَىْ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً قَالَتْ وَمَا رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَامَ لَيْلَةً حَتَّى الصَّبَاحِ وَمَا صَامَ شَهْرًا مُتَتَابِعًا إِلاَّ رَمَضَانَ  

Should anyone fall asleep and fail to recite his portion of the Qur'an, or a part of it, if he recites it between the dawn prayer and the noon prayer, it will be recorded for him as though he had recited it during the night.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَنْ نَامَ عَنْ حِزْبِهِ أَوْ عَنْ شَىْءٍ مِنْهُ فَقَرَأَهُ فِيمَا بَيْنَ صَلاَةِ الْفَجْرِ وَصَلاَةِ الظُّهْرِ كُتِبَ لَهُ كَأَنَّمَا قَرَأَهُ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ  

They well know that prayer at another time than this is more excellent, for Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: The prayer of those who are penitent is observed when your weaned camels feel the heat of the sun.  

أَنَّ الصَّلاَةَ فِي غَيْرِ هَذِهِ السَّاعَةِ أَفْضَلُ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ صَلاَةُ الأَوَّابِينَ حِينَ تَرْمَضُ الْفِصَالُ  

The prayer of the penitent should be observed when the young weaned camels feel heat of the sun.  

خَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَلَى أَهْلِ قُبَاءٍ وَهُمْ يُصَلُّونَ فَقَالَ صَلاَةُ الأَوَّابِينَ إِذَا رَمِضَتِ الْفِصَالُ  

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.  

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  

It consists of pairs of rak'ahs, but if one fears morning is near, he should make it an odd number by praying one rak'ah.  

سَمِعَ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ يَقُولُ ح وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبَّادٍ وَاللَّفْظُ لَهُ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرٌو عَنْ طَاوُسٍ عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ ح وَحَدَّثَنَا الزُّهْرِيُّ عَنْ سَالِمٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ أَنَّ رَجُلاً سَأَلَ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ عَنْ صَلاَةِ اللَّيْلِ فَقَالَ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى فَإِذَا خَشِيتَ الصُّبْحَ فَأَوْتِرْ بِرَكْعَةٍ  

A man stood up and said. Messenger of Allah, how is the night prayer? The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: The night prayer consists of pair, but if you apprehend the rise of dawn, make it odd number by observing one rak'ah.  

يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ كَيْفَ صَلاَةُ اللَّيْلِ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ صَلاَةُ اللَّيْلِ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى فَإِذَا خِفْتَ الصُّبْحَ فَأَوْتِرْ بِوَاحِدَةٍ  

A person asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ as I stood between him (the Holy Prophet) and the inquirer and he said: Messenger of Allah, how is the night prayer? He (the Holy Prophet) said: It consists of pairs of rak'ahs, but if you apprehend morning, you should pray one rak'ah and make the end of your prayer as Witr. Then a person asked him (the Holy Prophet) at the end of the year and I was at that place near the Messenger of Allah ﷺ ; but I do not know whether he was the same person or another person, but he (the Holy Prophet) gave him the same reply.  

أَنَّ رَجُلاً سَأَلَ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ وَأَنَا بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ السَّائِلِ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ كَيْفَ صَلاَةُ اللَّيْلِ قَالَ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى فَإِذَا خَشِيتَ الصُّبْحَ فَصَلِّ رَكْعَةً وَاجْعَلْ آخِرَ صَلاَتِكَ وِتْرًا ثُمَّ سَأَلَهُ رَجُلٌ عَلَى رَأْسِ الْحَوْلِ وَأَنَا بِذَلِكَ الْمَكَانِ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَلاَ أَدْرِي هُوَ ذَلِكَ الرَّجُلُ أَوْ رَجُلٌ آخَرُ فَقَالَ لَهُ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ  

" Then a person asked him at the end of the year," and what follows subsequently.  

سَأَلَ رَجُلٌ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَذَكَرَا بِمِثْلِهِ وَلَيْسَ فِي حَدِيثِهِمَا ثُمَّ سَأَلَهُ رَجُلٌ عَلَى رَأْسِ الْحَوْلِ وَمَا بَعْدَهُ  

A person called (the attention) of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ as he was in the mosque, and said: Messenger of Allah, how should I make the rak'ahs of the night prayer an odd number? Upon this the Messenger of Allah (may peace he upon him) said: He who prays (night prayer) he should observe it in pairs, but if he apprehends the rise of morning, he should observe one rak'ah; that would make the number odd (for the rak'ahs) observed by him. This was narrated by Abu Kuraib 'Ubaidullah b. 'Abdullah and Ibn 'Umar did not make mention of it.  

أَنَّ رَجُلاً نَادَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَهُوَ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ كَيْفَ أُوتِرُ صَلاَةَ اللَّيْلِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَنْ صَلَّى فَلْيُصَلِّ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى فَإِنْ أَحَسَّ أَنْ يُصْبِحَ سَجَدَ سَجْدَةً فَأَوْتَرَتْ لَهُ مَا صَلَّى قَالَ أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ وَلَمْ يَقُلِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ  

I asked Ibn 'Umar to tell me about the practice of the Prophet ﷺ in regard to two rak'ahs before the dawn prayer: Should I make lengthy recitation in them? He said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to observe, the night prayer in pairs and then made the number odd by observing one rak'ah. I said: I am not asking you about it. He said: You are a bulky man, will you not show me the patience to narrate to you the hadith completely? The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to observe the night prayer in pairs and then made the number odd by observing one rak'ah, and then he observed two rak'ahs before dawn quite close to the call for prayer (Khalaf said:" Did you see [yourself the Prophet observing] the two rak'ahs before the dawn?" and he made no mention of prayer.)  

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى وَيُوتِرُ بِرَكْعَةٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ إِنِّي لَسْتُ عَنْ هَذَا أَسْأَلُكَ قَالَ إِنَّكَ لَضَخْمٌ أَلاَ تَدَعُنِي أَسْتَقْرِئُ لَكَ الْحَدِيثَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى وَيُوتِرُ بِرَكْعَةٍ وَيُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ الْغَدَاةِ كَأَنَّ الأَذَانَ بِأُذُنَيْهِ قَالَ خَلَفٌ أَرَأَيْتَ الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ الْغَدَاةِ وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ صَلاَةِ  

I asked Ibn 'Umar like this (as recorded in the previous hadith) and he made this addition:" And he (the Holy Prophet) made the end of the night prayer as odd number by one rak'ah." And there is also (this addition):" Stop, stop, you are bulky."  

بَهْ بَهْ إِنَّكَ لَضَخْمٌ  

The night prayer consists of pairs and when you see the approach of dawn, make this number odd by one rak'ah. It was said to Ibn 'Umar: What does the (word) pair imply? He said: (It means) that salutation is uttered after every two rak'ahs.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ صَلاَةُ اللَّيْلِ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى فَإِذَا رَأَيْتَ أَنَّ الصُّبْحَ يُدْرِكُكَ فَأَوْتِرْ بِوَاحِدَةٍ فَقِيلَ لاِبْنِ عُمَرَ مَا مَثْنَى مَثْنَى قَالَ أَنْ يُسَلِّمَ فِي كُلِّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ  

Hasten to pray Witr before morning.  

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ قَالَ بَادِرُوا الصُّبْحَ بِالْوِتْرِ  

He who prayed at night should make Witr the end of his prayer, for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ ordered this.  

مَنْ صَلَّى مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَلْيَجْعَلْ آخِرَ صَلاَتِهِ وِتْرًا فَإِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَانَ يَأْمُرُ بِذَلِكَ  

Make Witr the end of your night prayer.  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ اجْعَلُوا آخِرَ صَلاَتِكُمْ بِاللَّيْلِ وِتْرًا  

He who observed the night prayer should make Witr the end of his prayer before dawn. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to order them thus.  

أَنَّ ابْنَ عُمَرَ كَانَ يَقُولُ مَنْ صَلَّى مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَلْيَجْعَلْ آخِرَ صَلاَتِهِ وِتْرًا قَبْلَ الصُّبْحِ كَذَلِكَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَأْمُرُهُمْ  

Witr is a rak'ah at the end of the prayer.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الْوِتْرُ رَكْعَةٌ مِنْ آخِرِ اللَّيْلِ  

Witr is a rak'ah at the end of the night prayer.  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ الْوِتْرُ رَكْعَةٌ مِنْ آخِرِ اللَّيْلِ  

I asked Ibn 'Abbas about the Witr prayer. He said: I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ as saying: It is a rak'ah at the end of the night prayer.  

سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ رَكْعَةٌ مِنْ آخِرِ اللَّيْلِ وَسَأَلْتُ ابْنَ عُمَرَ فَقَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ رَكْعَةٌ مِنْ آخِرِ اللَّيْلِ  

Observe Witr prayer before it is morning. Abu Sa'id reported that they (the Prophet's Companions) asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about Witr (prayer). (In reply to their inquiry) he said: Observe Witr prayer before it is morning.  

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ قَالَ أَوْتِرُوا قَبْلَ أَنْ تُصْبِحُوا  

Observe Witr before morning.  

أَنَّ أَبَا سَعِيدٍ أَخْبَرَهُمْ أَنَّهُمْ سَأَلُوا النَّبِيَّ ﷺ عَنِ الْوِتْرِ فَقَالَ أَوْتِرُوا قَبْلَ الصُّبْحِ  

If anyone is afraid that he may not get up in the latter part of the night, he should observe Witr in the first part of it; and if anyone is eager to get up in the last part of it, he should observe Witr at the end of the night, for prayer at the end of the night is witnessed (by the angels) and that is preferable.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَنْ خَافَ أَنْ لاَ يَقُومَ مِنْ آخِرِ اللَّيْلِ فَلْيُوتِرْ أَوَّلَهُ وَمَنْ طَمِعَ أَنْ يَقُومَ آخِرَهُ فَلْيُوتِرْ آخِرَ اللَّيْلِ فَإِنَّ صَلاَةَ آخِرِ اللَّيْلِ مَشْهُودَةٌ وَذَلِكَ أَفْضَلُ وَقَالَ أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ مَحْضُورَةٌ  

He who amongst you is afraid that he may not be able to get up at the end of the night should observe Witr (in the first part) and then sleep, and he who is confident of getting up and praying at night (i. e. Tahajjud prayer) should observe it at the end of it, for the recitation at the end of the night is witnessed*, and that is better. *: meaning, "by angels" (Sharh an-Nawawi)  

سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ يَقُولُ أَيُّكُمْ خَافَ أَنْ لاَ يَقُومَ مِنْ آخِرِ اللَّيْلِ فَلْيُوتِرْ ثُمَّ لْيَرْقُدْ وَمَنْ وَثِقَ بِقِيَامٍ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَلْيُوتِرْ مِنْ آخِرِهِ فَإِنَّ قِرَاءَةَ آخِرِ اللَّيْلِ مَحْضُورَةٌ وَذَلِكَ أَفْضَلُ  

The most excellent prayer is that in which the duration of standing is longer.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَفْضَلُ الصَّلاَةِ طُولُ الْقُنُوتِ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked about the prayer which was most excellent. He said: That in which the standing is longer. (This hadith is narrated by another chain of transmitters too.)  

سُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَىُّ الصَّلاَةِ أَفْضَلُ قَالَ طُولُ الْقُنُوتِ قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ  

There is an hour during the night in which no Muslim individual will ask Allah for good in this world and the next without His giving it to him; and that applies to every night.  

سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ يَقُولُ إِنَّ فِي اللَّيْلِ لَسَاعَةً لاَ يُوَافِقُهَا رَجُلٌ مُسْلِمٌ يَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ خَيْرًا مِنْ أَمْرِ الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ إِلاَّ أَعْطَاهُ إِيَّاهُ وَذَلِكَ كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ  

I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ as saying: There is an hour during the night in which no Muslim bondman will ask Allah for good in this world and the next but He will grant it to him.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ إِنَّ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ سَاعَةً لاَ يُوَافِقُهَا عَبْدٌ مُسْلِمٌ يَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ خَيْرًا إِلاَّ أَعْطَاهُ إِيَّاهُ