2. Ṣalāh (Prayer) (3/33)

٢۔ كِتَابُ الصَّلَاةِ ص ٣

nasai-kubra:410Ibrāhīm b. Yaʿqūb > ʿUthmān / Ibn ʿUmar > Isrāʾīl > Abū Isḥāq > Abū Salamah > Um Salamah

The Prophet ﷺ used to offer thirteen rakʿat of the night prayer and that included the witr and two rakʿat (Sunna) of the Fajr prayer. (Using translation from Bukhārī 1140)   

الكبرى للنسائي:٤١٠أَخْبَرَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ يَعْقُوبَ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ وَهُوَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْرَائِيلُ عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ أَنَّ أُمَّ سَلَمَةَ قَالَتْ

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ ثَلَاثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً ثَمَانِيَ رَكَعَاتٍ وَيُوتِرُ بِثَلَاثٍ وَيَرْكَعُ رَكْعَتَيِ الْفَجْرِ»  

nasai-kubra:411ʿAmr b. ʿAlī > ʿAbd al-Raḥman > Mālik > Saʿīd > Abū Salamah

That he asked ʿAisha "How was the prayer of Messenger of Allah ﷺ in the month of Ramadan?" She replied, "He used not to pray more than eleven rakʿat whether in Ramadan or in any other month. He used to offer four rakʿat, let alone their beauty and length, and then four rakʿat, let alone their beauty and length. Afterwards he would offer three rakʿat. I said, 'O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Do you go to bed before offering the witr prayer?' He said, 'My eyes sleep, but my heart does not sleep."' (Using translation from Bukhārī 3569)   

الكبرى للنسائي:٤١١أَخْبَرَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عَلِيٍّ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مَالِكٌ عَنْ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ قَالَ

سَأَلْتُ عَائِشَةَ كَمْ صَلَاةُ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ؟ قَالَتْ مَا كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ يَزِيدُ فِي رَمَضَانَ وَلَا غَيْرِهِ عَلَى إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً «يُصَلِّي أَرْبَعًا فَلَا تَسْأَلْ عَنْ حُسْنِهِنَّ وَطُولِهِنَّ ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي أَرْبَعًا فَلَا تَسْأَلْ عَنْ حُسْنِهِنَّ وَطُولِهِنَّ ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي ثَلَاثًا»  

nasai-kubra:412Hishām b. ʿAmmār > Yaḥyá / Ibn Ḥamzah > al-Awzāʿī > Yaḥyá > Abū Salamah > ʿĀʾishah

[Machine] The Prophet ﷺ used to pray eight rak'ahs after the last Isha prayer, then he would perform "wittr" prayer. After that, he would pray two rak'ahs in which he would recite while sitting. When he wanted to perform the next rak'ah, he would stand up and pray, and then he would pray two rak'ahs after that for the Fajr prayer.  

الكبرى للنسائي:٤١٢أَخْبَرَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ عَمَّارٍ عَنْ يَحْيَى وَهُوَ ابْنُ حَمْزَةَ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي الْأَوْزَاعِيُّ عَنْ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ قَالَ حَدَّثَتْنِي عَائِشَةُ

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ كَانَ «يُصَلِّي بَعْدَ الْعِشَاءِ الْآخِرَةِ ثَمَانِيَ رَكَعَاتٍ ثُمَّ يُوتِرُ ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ يُقْرَأُ فِيهِمَا وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ فَإِذَا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَرْكَعَ قَامَ فَرَكَعَ ثُمَّ رَكَعَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ رَكْعَتَيِ الْفَجْرِ»  

nasai-kubra:413Qutaybah b. Saʿīd > Sufyān > Ibn Abū Labīd > Abū Salamah > Saʾalt ʿĀʾishah

[Machine] About the fasting of the Messenger of Allah, ﷺ , she said, "He used to fast much of Sha'ban except a little." And I asked her about his night prayer, and she said, "His night prayer in the month of Ramadan and other months was thirteen rak'ahs, including the two rak'ahs of Fajr."  

الكبرى للنسائي:٤١٣أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ سُفْيَانَ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي لَبِيدٍ سَمِعَ أَبَا سَلَمَةَ يَقُولُ سَأَلْتُ عَائِشَةَ

عَنْ صِيَامِ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ؟ فَقَالَتْ «كَانَ يَصُومُ شَعْبَانَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا» وَسَأَلْتُهَا عَنْ صَلَاتِهِ بِاللَّيْلِ فَقَالَتْ «كَانَتْ صَلَاتُهُ بِاللَّيْلِ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ وَفِي غَيْرِهِ ثَلَاثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً مِنْهَا رَكْعَتَا الْفَجْرِ»  

nasai-kubra:414Abū Bakr b. Isḥāq > Yūnus / Ibn Muḥammad al-Muʾaddib > al-Layth b. Saʿd > Yazīd > Jaʿfar b. Rabīʿah > Abū Salamah > ʿĀʾishah

[Machine] "He heard Aisha saying that the Prophet of Allah ﷺ used to pray every night thirteen rak'ahs, nine of them standing and two while sitting, then he would wait until the first Adhan for Fajr prayer, and then he would perform two more rak'ahs."  

الكبرى للنسائي:٤١٤أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يُونُسُ يَعْنِي ابْنَ مُحَمَّدٍ الْمُؤَدِّبِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ عَنْ يَزِيدَ عَنْ جَعْفَرَ بْنِ رَبِيعَةَ عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ

أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ عَائِشَةَ تَقُولُ كَانَ نَبِيَّ اللهِ ﷺ «يُصَلِّي كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ ثَلَاثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً تِسْعًا قَائِمًا وَرَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ ثُمَّ يُمْهِلُ حَتَّى يُؤَذِّنَ بِالْأَوَّلِ مِنَ الصُّبْحِ قَامَ فَرَكَعَ رَكْعَتَيْنِ»  

nasai-kubra:415Muḥammad b. ʿAbdullāh b. Yazīd from his father > Saʿīd / Ibn Abū Ayyūb > Jaʿfar b. Rabīʿah > ʿIrāk b. Mālik > Abū Salamah > ʿĀʾishah

Messenger of Allah ﷺ offered the ʿIsha' prayer (and then got up at the Tahajjud time) and offered eight rakʿat and then offered two rakʿat while sitting. He then offered two rakʿat in between the Adhan and Iqama (of the Fajr prayer) and he never missed them. (Using translation from Bukhārī 1159)   

الكبرى للنسائي:٤١٥أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ وَهُوَ ابْنُ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي جَعْفَرُ بْنُ رَبِيعَةَ عَنْ عِرَاكَ بْنِ مَالِكٍ عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ

«صَلَّى رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ الْعِشَاءَ ثُمَّ صَلَّى ثَمَانِيَ رَكَعَاتٍ قَائِمًا وَرَكْعَتَيْنِ جَالِسًا وَرَكْعَتَيْنِ بَيْنَ النِّدَاءَيْنِ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ يَدَعُهُمَا»  

nasai-kubra:416Qutaybah b. Saʿīd > al-Layth > Yazīd b. Abū Ḥabīb > ʿIrāk b. Mālik > ʿUrwah > ʿĀʾishah

The Prophet ﷺ used to pray thirteen rak'ahs during the night including the two rak'ahs of the dawn prayer. (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 1360)  

الكبرى للنسائي:٤١٦أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ أَبِي حَبِيبٍ عَنْ عِرَاكَ بْنِ مَالِكٍ عَنْ عُرْوَةَ أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ أَخْبَرَتْهُ

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ كَانَ «يُصَلِّي ثَلَاثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً بِرَكْعَتَيِ الْفَجْرِ»  

nasai-kubra:417Qutaybah b. Saʿīd > Mālik > Ibn Shihāb > ʿUrwah b. al-Zubayr > ʿĀʾishah

"Messenger of Allah (S) would pray eleven Rak'ah at night, making them off with one. When he finished them he would lay down on his right side." (Using translation from Tirmidhī 440)  

الكبرى للنسائي:٤١٧أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ مَالِكٍ عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ عَنْ عُرْوَةَ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ كَانَ «يُصَلِّي بِاللَّيْلِ إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً يُوتِرُ مِنْهَا بِوَاحِدَةٍ فَإِذَا فَرَغَ مِنْهَا اضْطَجَعَ عَلَى شِقِّهِ الْأَيْمَنَ»  

nasai-kubra:418Aḥmad b. ʿAmr b. al-Sarḥ > Ibn Wahb > Ibn Abū Dhiʾb Wayūnus Waʿamrū b. al-Ḥārith > Ibn Shihāb > ʿUrwah > ʿĀʾishah

"Between the time when he finished 'Isha' prayer and Fajr, the Prophet ﷺ used to pray eleven Rak'ahs, saying the Taslim after each two Rak'ahs, then praying Witr as one Rak'ah. He would prostrate for as long as it takes one of you to recite fifty verses, then he would raise his head. When the Mu'adhdhin finished the call to Fajr prayer and he could see the dawn, he would pray two brief Rak'ahs, then he would go out with him." Some of these narrators (Ibn Abi Dhi'b, Yunus and 'Amr bin Al-Harith) added some phrases not mentioned by the others in the Hadith. (Using translation from Nasāʾī 685)  

الكبرى للنسائي:٤١٨أَخْبَرَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَمْرِو بْنِ السَّرْحِ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي ابْنُ أَبِي ذِئْبٍ وَيُونُسُ وَعَمْرُو بْنُ الْحَارِثِ أَنَّ ابْنَ شِهَابٍ أَخْبَرَهُمْ عَنْ عُرْوَةَ عَنَ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «يُصَلِّي فِيمَا بَيْنَ أَنْ يَفْرُغَ مِنْ صَلَاةِ الْعِشَاءِ إِلَى الْفَجْرِ إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً يُسَلِّمُ فِي كُلِّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَيُوتِرُ بِوَاحِدَةٍ وَيَسْجُدُ سَجْدَةً قَدْرَ مَا يُقْرَأُ أَحَدُكُمْ خَمْسِينَ آيَةً قَبْلَ أَنْ يَرْفَعَ رَأْسَهُ فَإِذَا سَكَتَ الْمُؤَذِّنُ مِنْ صَلَاةِ الْفَجْرِ وَتَبَيَّنَ لَهُ الْفَجْرَ قَامَ فَرَكَعَ رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَاضْطَجَعَ عَلَى شِقِّهِ الْأَيْمَنِ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَهُ الْمُؤَذِّنُ لِلْإِقَامَةِ فَيَخْرُجُ مَعَهُ» وَبَعْضُهُمْ يَزِيدُ عَلَى بَعْضٍ فِي قِصَّةِ الْحَدِيثِ  

nasai-kubra:419Qutaybah b. Saʿīd > Mālik > Hishām b. ʿUrwah from his father > ʿĀʾishah

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to pray thirteen rak'ahs during the night ; he then offered two light rak'ahs of prayer when he heard the call to the dawn prayer. (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 1339)  

الكبرى للنسائي:٤١٩أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ مَالِكٍ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «يُصَلِّي بِاللَّيْلِ ثَلَاثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي إِذَا سَمِعَ النِّدَاءَ بِالصُّبْحِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ خَفِيفَتَيْنِ»  

nasai-kubra:420Isḥāq b. Ibrāhīm > ʿAbdah b. Sulaymān > Hishām b. ʿUrwah from his father > ʿĀʾishah

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to pray thirteen rak'ahs during the night, observing a witr out of that with five, he did not sit during the five except the last and then gave the salutation. Abu Dawud said: Ibn Numair reported it from Hisham recently. (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 1338)   

الكبرى للنسائي:٤٢٠أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدَةُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ عُرْوَةَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ ثَلَاثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً يُوتِرُ مِنْهَا بِخَمْسٍ لَا يَجْلِسُ فِي شَيْءٍ مِنَ الْخَمْسِ إِلَّا فِي أُخْرَاهُنَّ يَجْلِسُ وَيُسَلِّمُ»  

nasai-kubra:421Muḥammad b. Salamah > Ibn Wahb > Ḥanẓalah > al-Qāsim > ʿĀʾishah

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to pray ten units of night prayer, then perform one unit of Witr prayer, and then pray the two units of the dawn prayer.  

الكبرى للنسائي:٤٢١أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ عَنْ حَنْظَلَةَ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ الْقَاسِمَ يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ عَشَرَ رَكَعَاتٍ ثُمَّ يُوتِرُ بِوَاحِدَةٍ ثُمَّ يَرْكَعُ رَكْعَتَيِ الْفَجْرِ»  

nasai-kubra:422Muḥammad b. ʿAlī b. Ḥarb al-Marwazī > Hishām b. ʿAbd al-Malik > Ḥuṣayn b. Nāfiʿ al-ʿAnbarī > al-Ḥasan > Saʿd b. Hishām > ʿĀʾishah

[Machine] The Prophet ﷺ used to pray eight units of prayer and then he would perform the Witr prayer as the ninth. But when he grew older, he prayed six units, performed the Witr prayer as the seventh, and then prayed two units while sitting.  

الكبرى للنسائي:٤٢٢أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيِّ بْنِ حَرْبٍ الْمَرْوَزِيُّ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا حُصَيْنُ بْنُ نَافِعٍ الْعَنْبَرِيُّ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ هِشَامٍ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ كَانَ «يُصَلِّي ثَمَانِيَ رَكَعَاتٍ وَيُوتِرُ بِالتَّاسِعَةِ فَلَمَّا بَدُنَ صَلَّى سِتَّ رَكَعَاتٍ وَأَوْتَرَ بِالسَّابِعَةِ وَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ»  

nasai-kubra:423Aḥmad b. Sulaymān > Yazīd > Hishām > al-Ḥasan > Saʿd b. Hishām

" I came to Al-Madinah and entered upon Aishah, may Allah (SWT) be pleased with her. She said: 'Who are you?' I said: 'I am Sa'd bin Hisham bin 'Amir.' She said: 'May Allah have mercy on your father.' I said: 'Tell me about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.' She said: 'The Messenger of Allah ﷺ did such and such.' I said: 'Yes indeed.' She said: 'The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to pray Isha' at night, then he would go to his bed and sleep. In the middle of the night, he would get up to relieve himself and go to his water for purification and perform wudu. Then he went into the Masjid and prayed eight rak'ahs. I think he made the recitation, bowing and prostration equal in length. Then he prayed one rak'ah of witr, then he prayed two rak'ahs sitting down. Then he lay down on his side. Sometimes Bilal would come and tell him that it was time to pray before he napped, and sometimes he napped. And sometimes I was not sure if he had napped or not before he told him that it was time to pray. This is how the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to pray until he grew older and gained weight"- and she mentioned whatever Allah (SWT) willed about his gaining weight. She said: "And the Prophet ﷺ used to lead the people in praying witr, then he would go to his bed. In the middle of the night, he would get up and go to water for purification, and to relieve himself, then he would perform wudu. Then he would go into the masjid and pray six rak'ahs, and I think he made the recitation, bowing, and prostration equal in length. Then he prayed one rak'ah of witr, then he prayed two rak'ahs sitting down. Then he lay down on his side. Sometimes Bilal would come and tell him that it was time to pray before he napped, and sometimes he napped. And sometimes I was not sure if he had napped or not before he told him that it was time to pray." She said: "And this is how the Messenger of Allah ﷺ continued to pray." (Using translation from Nasāʾī 1651)   

الكبرى للنسائي:٤٢٣أَخْبَرَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ هِشَامٍ قَالَ قَدِمْتُ الْمَدِينَةَ فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَى عَائِشَةَ فَقَالَتْ لِي مَنْ أَنْتَ؟ فَقُلْتُ أَنَا سَعْدُ بْنُ هِشَامٍ فَقَالَتْ يَرْحَمُ اللهُ أَبَاكَ قُلْتُ أَخْبِرِينِي

عَنْ صَلَاةِ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَقَالَتْ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ كَانَ يُقَوَّى قُلْتُ أَجَلْ وَلَكِنْ أَخْبِرِينِي قَالَتْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «يُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ الْعِشَاءَ الْآخِرَةَ ثُمَّ يَأْوِي إِلَى فِرَاشِهِ فَإِذَا كَانَ مِنْ جَوْفِ اللَّيْلِ قَامَ إِلَى طُهُورِهِ فَتَوَضَّأَ ثُمَّ دَخَلَ الْمَسْجِدَ فَصَلَّى ثَمَانِيَ رَكَعَاتٍ يُسَوِّي بَيْنَهُنَّ فِي الْقِرَاءَةِ وَالرُّكُوعِ وَالسُّجُودِ ثُمَّ يُوتِرُ بِرَكْعَةٍ ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ ثُمَّ يَضَعُ رَأْسَهُ فَرُبَّمَا جَاءَهُ بِلَالٌ فَآذَنَهُ بِالصَّلَاةِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُغْفِي وَرُبَّمَا شَكَكْتُ أَغْفَى أَوْ لَمْ يُغْفِ حَتَّى يُؤْذِنَهُ بِالصَّلَاةِ فَكَانَتْ تِلْكَ صَلَاةُ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ حَتَّى أَسَنَّ وَلَحُمَ فَكَانَ يُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ الْعَتَمَةَ ثُمَّ يَأْوِي إِلَى فِرَاشِهِ فَإِذَا كَانَ مِنْ جَوْفِ اللَّيْلِ قَامَ إِلَى طُهُورِهِ فَتَوَضَّأَ ثُمَّ دَخَلَ الْمَسْجِدَ فَصَلَّى سِتَّ رَكَعَاتٍ يُسَوِّي بَيْنَهُنَّ فِي الرُّكُوعِ وَالسُّجُودِ وَالْقِرَاءَةِ وَيُوتِرُ بِرَكْعَةٍ وَيُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ ثُمَّ يَضَعُ جَنْبَهُ فَرُبَّمَا لَمْ يُغْفِ حَتَّى يَجِيءَ بِلَالٌ فَيُؤْذِنَهُ بِالصَّلَاةِ وَرُبَّمَا شَكَكْتُ أَغْفَى أَوْ لَمْ يُغْفِ»  

nasai-kubra:424Ismāʿīl b. Masʿūd > Khālid > Saʿīd > Qatādah > Zurārah b. Awfá > Saʿd b. Hishām > Atá ʿAbdullāh b. ʿAbbās Fasaʾalah > al-Witr

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. (Using translation from Muslim 746a)   

الكبرى للنسائي:٤٢٤أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ مَسْعُودٍ عَنْ خَالِدٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدٌ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا قَتَادَةُ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ بْنِ أَوْفَى عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ هِشَامٍ أَنَّهُ أَتَى عَبْدَ اللهِ بْنَ عَبَّاسٍ فَسَأَلَهُ عَنِ الْوِتْرِ؟ فَقَالَ

أَلَا أَدُلُّكَ عَلَى أَعْلَمِ أَهْلِ الْأَرْضِ بِوِتْرِ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ قُلْتُ مَنْ؟ قَالَ عَائِشَةُ ائْتِهَا فَسَلْهَا ثُمَّ ارْجِعْ إِلَيَّ فَأَخْبَرَنِي بِرَدِّهَا عَلَيْكَ فَانْطَلَقْنَا إِلَى عَائِشَةَ فَاسْتَأْذَنَّا عَلَيْهَا فَدَخَلْنَا قُلْتُ يَا أُمَّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَنْبِئِينِي عَنْ خُلُقِ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَتْ أَلَسْتَ تَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ؟ قُلْتُ بَلَى قَالَتْ فَإِنَّ خُلُقَ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ كَانَ الْقُرْآنُ فَهَمَمْتُ أَنْ أَقُومَ فَلَا أَسْأَلُ أَحَدًا عَنْ شَيْءٍ حَتَّى أَمُوتَ قُلْتُ أَنْبِئِينِي عَنْ قِيَامِ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَتْ أَلَسْتَ تَقْرَأُ هَذِهِ السُّورَةَ يَا أَيُّهَا الْمُزَّمِّلُ قُلْتُ بَلَى قَالَتْ فَإِنَّ اللهَ افْتَرَضَ الْقِيَامَ فِي أَوَّلِ هَذِهِ السُّورَةِ فَقَامَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ وَأَصْحَابُهُ حَوْلًا حَتَّى انْتَفَخَتْ أَقْدَامَهُمْ وَأَمْسَكَ اللهُ خَاتِمَتَهَا اثْنَى عَشَرَ شَهْرًا فِي السَّمَاءِ ثُمَّ أَنْزَلَ اللهُ التَّخْفِيفَ فِي آخِرِ هَذِهِ السُّورَةِ فَصَارَ قِيَامُ اللَّيْلِ تَطَوُّعًا بَعْدَ فَرِيضَةٍ قُلْتُ يَا أُمَّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَنْبِئِينِي عَنْ وِتْرِ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَتْ كُنَّا نَعُدُّ لَهُ طُهُورَهُ وَسِوَاكَهُ فَيَبْعَثُهُ اللهُ لَمَّا شَاءَ أَنْ يَبْعَثُهُ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَيَتَسَوَّكُ وَيَتَوَضَّأُ ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي تِسْعَ رَكَعَاتٍ لَا يَجْلِسُ فِيهِنَّ إِلَّا عِنْدَ الثَّامِنَةِ فَيَحْمَدُ رَبَّهُ وَيَدْعُوهُ وَيَذْكُرُهُ [245] ثُمَّ يَنْهَضُ وَلَا يُسَلِّمُ وَيُصَلِّي التَّاسِعَةَ فَيَجْلِسُ فَيَذْكُرُ رَبَّهُ وَيَحْمَدُهُ وَيَدْعُوهُ ثُمَّ يُسَلِّمُ تَسْلِيمًا يُسْمِعُنَا ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ قَاعِدٌ بَعْدَمَا يُسَلِّمُ فَتِلْكَ إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ يَا بَنِيَ فَلَمَّا أَسَنَّ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ وَأَخَذَ اللَّحْمَ صَلَّى سَبْعَ رَكَعَاتٍ لَا يَقْعُدُ إِلَّا فِي آخِرِهِنَّ وَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ قَاعِدٌ بَعْدَمَا يُسَلِّمُ فَتِلْكَ تِسْعٌ يَا بَنِيَ وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ إِذَا صَلَّى صَلَاةً أَحَبَّ أَنْ يُدَاوِمَ عَلَيْهَا وَكَانَ نَبِيُّ اللهِ ﷺ إِذَا شَغَلَهُ أَمْرٌ أَوْ غَلَبَهُ نَوْمٌ أَوْ وَجِعٌ صَلَّى مِنَ النَّهَارِ اثْنَتَيْ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً وَلَا أَعْلَمُ نَبِيَّ اللهِ ﷺ قَرَأَ الْقُرْآنَ كُلَّهُ فِي لَيْلَةٍ وَلَا قَامَ لَيْلَةً حَتَّى أَصْبَحَ وَلَا صَامَ شَهْرًا قَطُّ كَامِلَا غَيْرَ رَمَضَانَ فَأَتَيْتُ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ فَأَنْبَأْتُهُ بِحَدِيثِهَا فَقَالَ صَدَقَتْ أَمَّا إِنِّي لَوْ كُنْتُ أُدْخِلُ عَلَيْهَا لَأَتَيْتُهَا حَتَّى تُشَافِهَنِي بِهِ مُشَافَهَةً قُلْتُ لَوْ عَلِمْتُ أَنَّكَ لَا تَأْتِيهَا مَا أَنْبَأْتُكَ بِحَدِيثِهَا  

nasai-kubra:425Aḥmad b. Sulaymān > ʿUbaydullāh b. Mūsá > Isrāʾīl > Abū Ḥuṣayn > Yaḥyá / Ibn Wathhāb > Masrūq > Saʾalt ʿĀʾishah

I asked Aisha about the night prayer of Messenger of Allah ﷺ and she said, "It was seven, nine or eleven rakʿat besides the two rakʿat of the Fajr prayer (i.e. Sunna). " (Using translation from Bukhārī 1139)   

الكبرى للنسائي:٤٢٥أَخْبَرَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللهِ بْنُ مُوسَى قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْرَائِيلُ عَنْ أَبِي حُصَيْنٍ عَنْ يَحْيَى وَهُوَ ابْنُ وَثَّابٍ عَنْ مَسْرُوقٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ عَائِشَةَ

عَنْ صَلَاةِ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ بِاللَّيْلِ؟ فَقَالَتْ «سَبْعٌ وَتِسْعٌ وَإِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً سِوَى رَكْعَتَيِ الْغَدَاةِ»  

nasai-kubra:426Hannād b. al-Sarī > Abū al-Aḥwaṣ > al-Aʿmash > Ibrāhīm > al-Aswad > ʿĀʾishah

"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to pray nine rak'ahs at night." (Using translation from Nasāʾī 1725)  

الكبرى للنسائي:٤٢٦أَخْبَرَنَا هَنَّادُ بْنُ السَّرِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي الْأَحْوَصِ عَنِ الْأَعْمَشِ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنِ الْأَسْوَدِ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ تِسْعَ رَكَعَاتٍ»  

nasai-kubra:427Aḥmad b. Saʿīd > al-ʿAlāʾ / Ibn ʿUṣaym > Abū al-Aḥwaṣ > al-Aʿmash > ʿUmārah b. ʿUmayr > Yaḥyá b. al-Jazzār > ʿĀʾishah

[Machine] That the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to pray nine units of prayer at night. But when he grew old and weak, he prayed seven units of prayer.  

الكبرى للنسائي:٤٢٧أَخْبَرَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا الْعَلَاءُ وَهُوَ ابْنُ عُصَيْمٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْأَحْوَصِ عَنِ الْأَعْمَشِ عَنْ عُمَارَةَ بْنِ عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ الْجَزَّارِ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ كَانَ «يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ تِسْعَ رَكَعَاتٍ فَلَمَّا كَثُرَ لَحْمُهُ وَأَسَنَّ صَلَّى سَبْعَ رَكَعَاتٍ»  

nasai-kubra:428Hannād b. al-Sarī > Abū Muʿāwiyah > al-Aʿmash > ʿAmr b. Murrah > Yaḥyá b. al-Jazzār > Um Salamah

"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to pray witr with thirteen rak'ahs, but when he grew older and weaker he prayed witr with nine." (Using translation from Nasāʾī 1727)  

الكبرى للنسائي:٤٢٨أَخْبَرَنَا هَنَّادُ بْنُ السَّرِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي مُعَاوِيَةَ عَنِ الْأَعْمَشِ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ مُرَّةَ عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ الْجَزَّارِ عَنْ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ قَالَتْ

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «يُوتِرُ بِثَلَاثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً فَلَمَّا كِبَرَ وَضَعُفَ أَوْتَرَ بِتِسْعٍ»  

nasai-kubra:429Muḥammad b. al-Muthanná > Yaḥyá b. Ḥammād > Abū ʿAwānah > al-Aʿmash > Abū al-Ḍuḥá > Masrūq > ʿĀʾishah

[Machine] That the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to pray "Witr" with nine (rak'ahs).  

الكبرى للنسائي:٤٢٩أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي يَحْيَى بْنُ حَمَّادٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ عَنِ الْأَعْمَشِ عَنْ أَبِي الضُّحَى عَنِ مَسْرُوقٍ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ كَانَ «يُوتِرُ بِتِسْعٍ»  

nasai-kubra:430Muḥammad b. al-Muthanná > Yaḥyá b. Ḥammād > Abū ʿAwānah > al-Aʿmash > Ibrāhīm > al-Aswad > ʿĀʾishah

[Machine] That the Prophet ﷺ used to perform the "Witr prayer with nine units."  

الكبرى للنسائي:٤٣٠أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي يَحْيَى بْنُ حَمَّادٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ عَنِ الْأَعْمَشِ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنِ الْأَسْوَدِ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ كَانَ «يُوتِرُ بِتسَعٍ»  

nasai-kubra:431Ismāʿīl b. Masʿūd > Yazīd / b. Zurayʿ > Shuʿbah > al-Ḥakam > Limiqsam Innī

Abu Dawud said “I heard Muhammad bin Isa narrating this tradition who said Mu’tamar narrated it to us. And he (Mu’tamar) said “ I heard Al Hakam bin Aban narrating this tradition. He did not mention the name of Ibn ‘Abbas. Abu Dawud said “Al Hussain bin Huraith wrote to me saying “Al Fadl bin Musa narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas to the same effect from the Prophet ﷺ. (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 2225)  

الكبرى للنسائي:٤٣١أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ يَعْنِي بْنُ زُرَيْعٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ عَنِ الْحَكَمِ قَالَ قُلْتُ لِمِقْسَمٍ إِنِّي أَسْمَعُ الْأَذَانَ فَأَوْتِرُ بِثَلَاثٍ ثُمَّ أَخْرُجُ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ خَشْيَةَ أَنْ تَفُوتَنِي قَالَ إِنَّ ذَلِكَ «§لَا يَصْلُحُ إِلَّا بِسَبْعٍ أَوْ خَمْسٍ» فَحَدَّثْتُ بِذَلِكَ مُجَاهِدًا وَيَحْيَى بْنَ الْجَزَّارِ فَقَالَا سَلْهُ عَنْ مَنْ فَسَأَلْتُهُ فَقَالَ الثِّقَةُ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ وَمَيْمُونَةَ

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ  

nasai-kubra:432Muḥammad b. ʿAbdullāh b. al-Mubārak > Yaḥyá / Ibn Ādam > Sufyān > Manṣūr > al-Ḥakam > Miqsam > Um Salamah

“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.” (Using translation from Ibn Mājah 1192)   

الكبرى للنسائي:٤٣٢أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ الْمُبَارَكِ عَنْ يَحْيَى وَهُوَ ابْنُ آدَمَ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ عَنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ مِقْسَمٍ عَنْ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ كَانَ «يُوتِرُ بِخَمْسٍ أَوْ بِسَبْعٍ لَا يَفْصِلُ بَيْنَهُنَّ بِكَلَامٍ وَلَا بِتَسْلِيمٍ»  

nasai-kubra:433ʿAmr b. Hishām > Makhlad > Sufyān > Manṣūr > al-Ḥakam > Miqsam > Ibn ʿAbbās > Um Salamah

“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.” (Using translation from Ibn Mājah 1192)   

الكبرى للنسائي:٤٣٣أَخْبَرَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ هِشَامٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مَخْلَدٌ عَنْ سُفْيَانَ عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ عَنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ مِقْسَمٍ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ عَنْ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ قَالَتْ

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «يُوتِرُ بِسَبْعٍ وَخَمْسٍ لَا يَفْصِلُ بَيْنَهُنَّ بِتَسْلِيمٍ وَلَا بِكَلَامٍ»  

nasai-kubra:434Isḥāq b. Manṣūr > ʿAbd al-Raḥman > Sufyān > Hishām b. ʿUrwah from his father > ʿĀʾishah

The Prophet ﷺ used to pray witr with five and he did not sit except in the last (rak'ah) of them. (Using translation from Nasāʾī 1717)  

الكبرى للنسائي:٤٣٤أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ عَنْ سُفْيَانَ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ كَانَ «يُوتِرُ بِخَمْسٍ لَا يَجْلِسُ إِلَّا فِي آخِرِهِنَّ»  

nasai-kubra:435ʿAlī b. Ḥujr > Sharīk > Abū Isḥāq > Saʿīd b. Jubayr > Ibn ʿAbbās

[Machine] "That the Prophet ﷺ used to perform the Witr prayer with recitation of Subhan Allahi Rabbil 'Ala (Glory be to Allah, the Lord of the Highest) and Surah Al-Kafirun (The Disbelievers) and Surah Al-Ikhlas (Chapter of Tawheed) in every unit (rak'ah). Abu Nuaim reported this."  

الكبرى للنسائي:٤٣٥أَخْبَرَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا شَرِيكٌ عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ كَانَ «يُوتِرُ بِسَبِّحِ اسْمِ رَبِّكَ الْأَعْلَى وَقُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا الْكَافِرُونَ وَقُلْ هُوَ اللهُ أَحَدٌ فِي رَكْعَةٍ رَكْعَةٍ» وَقَفَهُ أَبُو نُعَيْمٍ  

nasai-kubra:436Aḥmad b. Sulaymān > Abū Nuʿaym > Sharīk > Abū Isḥāq > Saʿīd b. Jubayr > Ibn ʿAbbās

“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)] (Using translation from Ibn Mājah 1171)   

الكبرى للنسائي:٤٣٦أَخْبَرَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ قَالَ أَبُو نُعَيْمٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شَرِيكٌ عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ

أَنَّهُ كَانَ «يُوتِرُ بِسَبِّحِ اسْمِ رَبِّكَ الْأَعْلَى وَقُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا الْكَافِرُونَ وَقُلْ هُوَ اللهُ أَحَدٌ» وَقَفَهُ أَبُو نُعَيْمٍ  

nasai-kubra:437Aḥmad b. ʿAbdah > Ḥammād > Anas b. Sīrīn

I asked Ibn ʿUmar, "What is your opinion about the two rakʿat before the Fajr (compulsory) prayer, as to prolonging the recitation in them?" He said, "The Prophet ﷺ used to pray at night two rakʿat followed by two and so on, and end the prayer by one rakʿah witr. He used to offer two rakʿat before the Fajr prayer immediately after the Adhan." (Hammad, the sub-narrator said, "That meant (that he prayed) quickly.)" (Using translation from Bukhārī 995)   

الكبرى للنسائي:٤٣٧أَخْبَرَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَبْدَةَ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادٌ عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ سِيرِينَ قَالَ

قُلْتُ لِابْنِ عُمَرَ أَرَأَيْتَ الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ صَلَاةِ الْغَدَاةِ أَأُطِيلُ فِيهِمَا الْقِرَاءَةَ؟ قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى وَيُوتِرُ بِرَكْعَةٍ وَيُصَلِّي الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ الْغَدَاةِ كَأَنَّ الْأَذَانَ بِأُذُنَيْهِ»  

nasai-kubra:438Isḥāq b. Ibrāhīm > al-Muʿtamir from his father > Ṭāwus > Ibn ʿUmar

"Ibn Umar said: "A man asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about prayer at night. He said: "Two by two, and if you fear that dawn will come, then one.'" (Using translation from Nasāʾī 1667)   

الكبرى للنسائي:٤٣٨أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا الْمُعْتَمِرُ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ طَاوُسَ عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ

سُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ عَنْ صَلَاةِ اللَّيْلِ؟ فَقَالَ «مَثْنَى مَثْنَى فَإِذَا خَشِيتَ الصُّبْحَ فَوَاحِدَةً»  

nasai-kubra:439Isḥāq b. Ibrāhīm > Sufyān > al-Zuhrī > Sālim from his father

A man said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! How is the prayer of the night?" He said, "Two rakʿat followed by two rakʿat and so on, and when you apprehend the approaching dawn, offer one rakʿa as witr." (Using translation from Bukhārī 1137)   

الكبرى للنسائي:٤٣٩أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا سُفْيَانُ عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ عَنْ سَالِمٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ «صَلَاةُ اللَّيْلِ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى فَإِذَا خِفْتَ الصُّبْحَ فَأَوْتِرْ بِرَكْعَةٍ»  

nasai-kubra:440Isḥāq b. Mūsá al-Anṣārī > Jarīr > Manṣūr > Abū Isḥāq > ʿĀṣim > ʿAlī

ʿAllah is One and loves that which is odd numbered, so pray Witr, O people of the Qur’an.” (Using translation from Aḥmad 1225)  

الكبرى للنسائي:٤٤٠أَخْبَرَنِي إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ مُوسَى الْأَنْصَارِيُّ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ عَنْ عَاصِمٍ عَنْ عَلِيٍّ قَالَ

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «إِنَّ» اللهَ وُتِرٌ يُحِبُّ الْوِتْرَ فَأَوْتِرُوا يَا أَهْلَ الْقُرْآنِ  

nasai-kubra:441Maḥmūd b. Ghaylān > Wakīʿ > Sufyān > Abū Isḥāq > ʿĀṣim > ʿAlī

Witr is not a must like the obligatory prayers, but it is a Sunnah established by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. (Using translation from Aḥmad 927)   

الكبرى للنسائي:٤٤١أَخْبَرَنَا مَحْمُودُ بْنُ غَيْلَانَ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ عَنْ عَاصِمٍ عَنْ عَلِيٍّ قَالَ

«لَيْسَ الْوِتْرُ بِحَتْمٍ مِثْلَ الْمَكْتُوبَةِ وَلَكِنَّهُ سُنَّةٌ سَنَّهَا رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ»  

nasai-kubra:442ʿAmr b. ʿUthmān > Baqiyyah > Ḍubārah b. Abū al-Sulayk > Dūwayd > Ibn Nāfiʿ > Ibn Shihāb > ʿAṭāʾ b. Yazīd > Abū Ayyūb

" Ibn Shihab informed me, saying: 'Ata bin Yazid narrated to me from Abu Ayyub: That the Prophet ﷺ said: 'Witr is a duty, and whoever wants to pray witr with seven (rak'ahs), let him do so; whoever wants to pray witr with five, let him do so, whoever wants to pray witr with three, let him do so; and whoever wants to pray witr with one, let him do so.'" (Using translation from Nasāʾī 1710)  

الكبرى للنسائي:٤٤٢أَخْبَرَنِي عَمْرُو بْنُ عُثْمَانَ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا بَقِيَّةٌ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي ضُبَارَةُ بْنُ أَبِي السُّلَيكِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي دُوَيْدٌ هُوَ ابْنُ نَافِعٍ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي ابْنُ شِهَابٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عَطَاءُ بْنُ يَزِيدَ عَنْ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ قَالَ «الْوِتْرُ حَقٌّ فَمَنْ شَاءَ أَوْتَرَ بِسَبْعٍ وَمَنْ شَاءَ أَوْتَرَ بِخَمْسٍ وَمَنْ شَاءَ أَوْتَرَ بِثَلَاثٍ وَمَنْ شَاءَ أَوْتَرَ بِوَاحِدَةٍ» وَقَفَهُ أَبُو مُعَيْدٍ  

nasai-kubra:443al-Rabīʿ b. Sulaymān b. Dāwud > ʿAbdullāh b. Yūsuf > al-Haytham b. Ḥumayd > Abū Muʿayd > al-Zuhrī > ʿAṭāʾ b. Yazīd > Abū Ayyūb > al-Witr Ḥaq Faman Aḥab > Yūtir Bikhams Rakaʿāt Falyafʿal And Man Aḥab > Yūtir Bithalāth Rakaʿāt Falyafʿal Waman Aḥab > Yūtir Biwāḥidah Falyafʿal

[Machine] We have Abu Abdul Rahman, also known as Abu Mu'aid, his name is Hafs ibn Ghailan and he is proficient in Hadith.  

الكبرى للنسائي:٤٤٣أَخْبَرَنِي الرَّبِيعُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ دَاوُدَ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا الْهَيْثَمُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو مُعَيْدٍ عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عَطَاءُ بْنُ يَزِيدَ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا أَيُّوبَ يَقُولُ «§الْوِتْرُ حَقٌّ فَمَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يُوتِرَ بِخَمْسِ رَكَعَاتٍ فَلْيَفْعَلْ وَمَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يُوتِرَ بِثَلَاثِ رَكَعَاتٍ فَلْيَفْعَلْ وَمَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يُوتِرَ بِوَاحِدَةٍ فَلْيَفْعَلْ» قَالَ

لنا أَبُو عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ أَبُو مُعَيْدٍ اسْمُهُ حَفْصُ بْنُ غَيْلَانَ وَهُوَ صَالِحُ الْحَدِيثِ  

nasai-kubra:444al-Rabīʿ b. Sulaymān > Ḥajjāj b. Ibrāhīm > Ibn Wahb > ʿAmr b. al-Ḥārith > ʿAbd al-Raḥman Wahū Ibn al-Qāsim from his father > ʿAbdullāh b. ʿUmar

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Prayer at night is two by two, then when you want to finish, pray one rak'h which will make the total number that you prayed odd." (Using translation from Nasāʾī 1692)   

الكبرى للنسائي:٤٤٤أَخْبَرَنِي الرَّبِيعُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا حَجَّاجُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْحَارِثِ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ وَهُوَ ابْنُ الْقَاسِمِ حَدَّثَهُ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ

عَنْ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ «صَلَاةُ اللَّيْلِ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى فَإِذَا أَرَدْتَ أَنْ تَنْصَرِفَ فَارْكَعْ رَكْعَةً وَاحِدَةً تُوتِرُ لَكَ مَا صَلَّيْتَ»  

nasai-kubra:445Isḥāq b. Manṣūr > ʿAbd al-Raḥman > Mālik > al-Zuhrī > ʿUrwah > ʿĀʾishah

The Prophet ﷺ used to pray eleven rak'ahs at night, ending them with one rak'ah of witr, then he would lie down on his right side. (Using translation from Nasāʾī 1696)  

الكبرى للنسائي:٤٤٥أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مَالِكٌ عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ عَنْ عُرْوَةَ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ كَانَ «يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً يُوتِرُ مِنْهَا بِوَاحِدَةٍ ثُمَّ يَضْطَجِعُ عَلَى شِقِّهِ الْأَيْمَنِ»  

nasai-kubra:446Yaḥyá b. Mūsá al-Balkhī > ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz b. Khālid > Saʿīd b. Abū ʿArūbah > Qatādah > ʿAzrah > Saʿīd b. ʿAbd al-Raḥman b. Abzá from his father > Ubay b. Kaʿb

"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to recite: "Glorify the Name of Your Lord, the Most High;" in witr, in the second rak'ah he would recite: "Say: O you disbelievers!"; and in the third "Say: He is Allah, (the) One". And he only said the taslim at the end, and he would say- meaning after the taslim: Subhanal-Malikil-Quddus (Glory be to the Sovereign, the Most Holy)' three times." (Using translation from Nasāʾī 1701)   

الكبرى للنسائي:٤٤٦أَخْبَرَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ مُوسَى الْبَلْخِيُّ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ خَالِدٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ أَبِي عَرُوبَةَ عَنْ قَتَادَةَ عَنْ عَزْرَةَ عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبْزَى عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أُبَيِّ بْنِ كَعْبٍ قَالَ

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ يُقْرَأُ فِي الْوِتْرِ فِي الرَّكْعَةِ الْأُولَى بِسَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الْأَعْلَى وَفِي الرَّكْعَةِ الثَّانِيَةِ بِقُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا الْكَافِرُونَ وَفِي الرَّكْعَةِ الثَّالِثَةِ بِقُلْ هُوَ اللهُ أَحَدٌ وَلَا يُسَلِّمُ إِلَّا فِي آخِرِهِنَّ وَيَقُولُ بَعْدَ التَّسْلِيمِ «سُبْحَانَ الْمَلَكِ الْقُدُّوسِ» ثَلَاثًا خَالَفَهُ عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ عَبْدِ الصَّمَدِ  

nasai-kubra:447Muḥammad b. al-Muthanná > ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz b. ʿAbd al-Ṣamad > Saʿīd > Qatādah > ʿAzrah > Saʿīd b. ʿAbd al-Raḥman b. Abzá from his father

"Abu Dawud narrated to us from Shu'bah, from Qatadah, who said: I heard 'Azarah narrating from Sa'eed bin 'Abdur-Rahman Ibn Abza, from his father That the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to recite in witr: Glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most High;" and "Say: O you disbelievers!;' and 'Say: He is Allah, (the) One.' And when he had finished praying, he said: Subhanal-Malikil-Quddus (Glory be to the Sovereign, the Most Holy) three times." (Using translation from Nasāʾī 1740)  

الكبرى للنسائي:٤٤٧أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ عَبْدِ الصَّمَدِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدٌ عَنْ قَتَادَةَ عَنْ عَزْرَةَ عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبْزَى عَنْ أَبِيهِ

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ كَانَ يُوتِرُ بِسَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الْأَعْلَى وَقُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا الْكَافِرُونَ وَقُلْ هُوَ اللهُ أَحَدٌ فَإِذَا فَرَغَ مِنْ وِتْرِهِ قَالَ «سُبْحَانَ الْمَلَكِ الْقُدُّوسِ»  

nasai-kubra:448Zakariyyā b. Yaḥyá > Isḥāq > ʿAbd al-Razzāq > Maʿmar > Qatādah > Zurārah b. Awfá > Saʿd b. Hishām b. ʿĀmir Lammā

"When Sa'd bin Hisham bin Amir came to visit us, he told us that he came to Ibn Abbas and asked him about the witr of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. He said: 'Shall I not tell you of the most knowledgeable person on Earth about the witr of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ?' I said: 'Who?' He said: 'Aishah.' So we went to her and greeted her with Salam and entered and asked her. I said: 'Tell me about the witr of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.' She said: 'We used to prepare for him his siwak and water for wudu, then Allah (SWT) would wake him when He willed to wake him at night. He would clean his teeth and perform wudu, then he would pray nine rak'ahs, during which he would not sit until the eighth. Then he would praise Allah (SWT) and remember Him and supplicate, then he would get up and not say the taslim. Then he would pray the ninth, then sit and praise Allah (SWT) and remember Him and supplicate, then he would say a taslim that we could hear. Then he prayed two rak'ahs sitting, and that was eleven rak'ahs, O my son. When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ grew older and put on weight, he prayed witr with seven, then he prayed two rak'ahs sitting after saying the taslim, and that was nine, O my son. And when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ offered a prayer, he liked to persist in offering it.'" (Using translation from Nasāʾī 1721)  

الكبرى للنسائي:٤٤٨أَخْبَرَنِي زَكَرِيَّا بْنُ يَحْيَى قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مَعْمَرٌ عَنْ قَتَادَةَ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ بْنِ أَوْفَى أَنَّ سَعْدَ بْنِ هِشَامِ بْنِ عَامِرٍ لَمَّا أَنْ قَدِمَ عَلَيْنَا أَخْبَرَنَا أَنَّهُ أَتَى ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ فَسَأَلَهُ

عَنْ وِتْرِ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ؟ قَالَ أَلَا أَدُلُّكَ أَوْ أَلَا أُنَبِّئُكَ بِأَعْلَمِ أَهْلِ الْأَرْضِ بِوِتْرِ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ؟ قُلْتُ مَنْ؟ قَالَ عَائِشَةُ فَأَتَيْنَاهَا فَسَلَّمْنَا وَدَخَلْنَا فَسَأَلْتُهَا فَقُلْتُ أَنْبِئِينِي عَنْ وِتْرِ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَقَالَتْ كُنَّا نَعُدُّ لَهُ سِوَاكَهُ وَطُهُورَهُ فَيَبْعَثُهُ اللهُ لَمَّا شَاءَ أَنْ يَبْعَثَهُ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ «فَيَتَسَوَّكُ وَيَتَوَضَّأُ ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي تِسْعَ رَكَعَاتٍ لَا يَقْعُدُ فِيهِنَّ إِلَّا فِي الثَّامِنَةِ فَيَحْمَدُ اللهَ وَيَذْكُرُهُ وَيَدْعُوهُ ثُمَّ يَنْهَضُ وَلَا يُسَلِّمُ فَيُصَلِّي التَّاسِعَةَ فَيَجْلِسُ فَيَحْمَدُ اللهَ وَيَذْكُرُهُ وَيَدْعُوهُ ثُمَّ يُسَلِّمُ تَسْلِيمًا يُسْمِعُنَا ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ فَتِلْكَ إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ أَيْ بَنِيَ فَلَمَّا أَسَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ وَأَخَذَ اللَّحْمَ أَوْتَرَ بِسَبْعٍ ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ بَعْدَمَا يُسَلِّمُ فَتِلْكَ تِسْعٌ» أَيْ بَنِيَ وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ إِذَا صَلَّى صَلَاةً أَحَبَّ أَنْ يُدَاوِمَ عَلَيْهَا  

nasai-kubra:449Zakariyyā b. Yaḥyá al-Sijistānī > Isḥāq > ʿAbd al-Razzāq > Maʿmar > Qatādah > al-Ḥasan > Saʿd b. Hishām > ʿĀʾishah > Samiʿahā

"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to pray witr with nine rak'ahs, then he would pray two rak'ahs sitting down. When he grew weaker he prayed witr with seven rak'ahs, then he prayed two rak'ahs sitting down." (Using translation from Nasāʾī 1722)  

الكبرى للنسائي:٤٤٩أَخْبَرَنَا زَكَرِيَّا بْنُ يَحْيَى السِّجِسْتَانِيُّ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ عَنْ قَتَادَةَ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي سَعْدُ بْنُ هِشَامٍ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ

أَنَّهُ سَمِعَهَا تَقُولُ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ كَانَ «يُوتِرُ بِتِسْعِ رَكَعَاتٍ ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ فَلَمَّا ضَعُفَ أَوْتَرَ بِسَبْعِ رَكَعَاتٍ ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ»  

nasai-kubra:450Isḥāq b. Ibrāhīm > Muʿādh b. Hishām from my father > Yaḥyá b. Abū Kathīr > Abū Salamah

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. (Using translation from Muslim 738b)   

الكبرى للنسائي:٤٥٠أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا مُعَاذُ بْنُ هِشَامٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو سَلَمَةَ أَنَّهُ سَأَلَ عَائِشَةَ

عَنْ صَلَاةِ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ؟ فَقَالَتْ كَانَ «يُصَلِّي ثَمَانِ رَكَعَاتٍ ثُمَّ يُوتِرُ ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ فَيَقْرَأُ وَيَرْكَعُ وَيُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ بَيْنَ النِّدَاءِ وَالْإِقَامَةِ مِنْ صَلَاةِ الصُّبْحِ» تَابَعَهُ جَعْفَرُ بْنُ رَبِيعَةَ  

nasai-kubra:451Abū Bakr b. Isḥāq al-Ṣaghānī > Yūnus / Ibn Muḥammad al-Muʿallim al-Baghdādī > Layth > Yazīd > Jaʿfar b. Rabīʿah > Abū Salamah > ʿĀʾishah

[Machine] He heard Aisha say that the Prophet of Allah ﷺ used to pray thirteen rak'ahs every night, standing for nine rak'ahs, sitting for two rak'ahs, then he would wait until the first adhan of Fajr and then he would stand and pray two rak'ahs. Abu Abdur-Rahman said that Sa'id entered between Jafar and Abu Salamah fighting each other.  

الكبرى للنسائي:٤٥١أَخْبَرَنِي أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ الصَّغَانِيَّ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يُونُسُ وَهُوَ ابْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الْمُعَلِّمُ الْبَغْدَادِيُّ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا لَيْثٌ عَنْ يَزِيدَ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ رَبِيعَةَ عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ

أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ عَائِشَةَ تَقُولُ كَانَ نَبِيُّ اللهِ ﷺ «يُصَلِّي كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ ثَلَاثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً تِسْعًا قَائِمًا وَرَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ ثُمَّ يُمْهِلُ حَتَّى يُؤَذِّنَ بِالْأَوَّلِ مِنَ الصُّبْحِ قَامَ فَرَكَعَ رَكْعَتَيْنِ» قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ أَدْخَلَ سَعِيدٌ بَيْنَ جَعْفَرٍ وَبَيْنَ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ عِرَاكُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ  

nasai-kubra:452Muḥammad b. ʿAbdullāh b. Yazīd from his father > Saʿīd > Jaʿfar b. Rabīʿah > ʿIrāk b. Mālik > Abū Salamah > ʿĀʾishah

[Machine] "The Messenger of Allah, ﷺ , prayed the evening prayer, then he prayed eight units of prayer standing, two units sitting, and two units between the two calls to prayer, and he did not skip them. Sa'eed bin Abi Sa'eed al-Maqburi and Abdullah bin Abi Labid opposed him in this, and they narrated it from Abu Salamah, but they did not mention the two units of prayer."  

الكبرى للنسائي:٤٥٢أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنُ يَزِيدَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدٌ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي جَعْفَرُ بْنُ رَبِيعَةَ عَنْ عِرَاكِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ

«صَلَّى رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ الْعِشَاءَ ثُمَّ صَلَّى ثَمَانِ رَكَعَاتٍ قَائِمًا وَرَكْعَتَيْنِ جَالِسًا وَرَكْعَتَيْنِ بَيْنَ النِّدَاءَيْنِ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ يَدَعُهُمَا» خَالَفَهُمَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْمَقْبُرِيُّ وَعَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ أَبِي لَبِيدٍ فَرَوَيَاهُ عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ وَلَمْ يَذْكُرَا الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ  

nasai-kubra:453ʿAmr b. ʿAlī > ʿAbd al-Raḥman > Mālik > Saʿīd > Abū Salamah > Saʾalt ʿĀʾishah

That he asked ʿAisha "How was the prayer of Messenger of Allah ﷺ in the month of Ramadan?" She replied, "He used not to pray more than eleven rakʿat whether in Ramadan or in any other month. He used to offer four rakʿat, let alone their beauty and length, and then four rakʿat, let alone their beauty and length. Afterwards he would offer three rakʿat. I said, 'O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Do you go to bed before offering the witr prayer?' He said, 'My eyes sleep, but my heart does not sleep."' (Using translation from Bukhārī 3569)   

الكبرى للنسائي:٤٥٣أَخْبَرَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مَالِكٌ عَنْ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ عَائِشَةَ

عَنْ صَلَاةِ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ؟ قَالَتْ مَا كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ يَزِيدُ فِي رَمَضَانَ وَلَا غَيْرِهِ عَلَى إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً «يُصَلِّي أَرْبَعًا فَلَا تَسْأَلْ عَنْ حُسْنِهِنَّ وَطُولِهِنَّ ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي أَرْبَعًا فَلَا تَسْأَلْ عَنْ حُسْنِهِنَّ وَطُولِهِنَّ ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي ثَلَاثًا»  

nasai-kubra:454Qutaybah b. Saʿīd > Sufyān > Ibn Abū Labīd > Abū Salamah > Saʾalt ʿĀʾishah

[Machine] Regarding the fast of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ , it was said that he used to fast most of the month of Sha'ban, except for a few days. I asked about his night prayer, and it was said that his night prayer consisted of thirteen units of prayer, including the two units of Fajr.  

الكبرى للنسائي:٤٥٤أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ سُفْيَانَ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي لَبِيدٍ سَمِعَ أَبَا سَلَمَةَ يَقُولُ سَأَلْتُ عَائِشَةَ

عَنْ صِيَامِ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَقَالَتْ كَانَ يَصُومُ شَعْبَانَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا وَسَأَلْتُهَا عَنْ صَلَاةِ اللَّيْلِ؟ فَقَالَتْ كَانَتْ صَلَاتُهُ بِاللَّيْلِ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ وَغَيْرِهِ ثَلَاثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً مِنْهَا رَكْعَتَا الْفَجْرِ  

nasai-kubra:455Abū Bakr b. Isḥāq > Ismāʿīl b. Khalīl > Ibn Abū Zāʾidah > Isrāʾīl > ʿĪsá b. Abū ʿAzzah > ʿĀmir > Abū Thawr al-Azdī > Abū Hurayrah

[Machine] That the Prophet ﷺ commanded performing two units of prayer before the Fajr prayer.  

الكبرى للنسائي:٤٥٥أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ خَلِيلٍ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي زَائِدَةَ عَنْ إِسْرَائِيلَ عَنْ عِيسَى بْنِ أَبِي عَزَّةَ عَنْ عَامِرٍ عَنْ أَبِي ثَوْرٍ الْأَزْدِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ «أَمْرَ بِالرَّكْعَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ صَلَاةِ الْفَجْرِ»  

nasai-kubra:456Yaʿqūb b. Ibrāhīm > Yaḥyá > Ibn Jurayj > ʿAṭāʾ > ʿUbayd b. ʿUmayr > ʿĀʾishah

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was more particular about observing the supererogatory rak'ahs before the dawn prayer than about observing any of the other supererogatory prayers. (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 1254)   

الكبرى للنسائي:٤٥٦أَخْبَرَنَا يَعْقُوبُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى عَنِ ابْنِ جُرَيْجٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عَطَاءٌ عَنْ عُبَيْدِ بْنِ عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ

«لَمْ يَكُنْ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ عَلَى شَيْءٍ مِنَ النَّوَافِلِ أَشَدَّ مُعَاهَدَةً مِنْهُ عَلَى الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ الْفَجْرِ»  

nasai-kubra:457Muḥammad b. ʿAbd al-Aʿlá > Khālid / Ibn al-Ḥārith > Shuʿbah > Ibrāhīm b. Muḥammad > Abū > ʿĀʾishah

The Prophet ﷺ never omitted four rak'ahs before the noon prayer, and two rak'ahs before the dawn prayer. (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 1253)   

الكبرى للنسائي:٤٥٧أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْأَعْلَى قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدٌ يَعْنِي ابْنَ الْحَارِثِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ أَنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنَ مُحَمَّدٍ أَخْبَرَهُ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبِي يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «لَا يَدَعُ أَرْبَعًا قَبْلَ الظُّهْرِ وَلَا الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ صَلَاةِ الصُّبْحِ»  

nasai-kubra:458Muḥammad b. al-Muthanná > Yaḥyá > Saʿīd And Sulaymān al-Taymī > Qatādah > Zurārah > Saʿd b. Hishām > ʿĀʾishah

[Machine] From the Prophet, ﷺ , he said: "The two units of prayer before dawn are more beloved to me than the whole world."  

الكبرى للنسائي:٤٥٨أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى عَنْ سَعِيدٍ وَسُلَيْمَانَ التَّيْمِيِّ عَنْ قَتَادَةَ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ هِشَامٍ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ «رَكْعَتَا الْفَجْرِ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا جَمِيعًا»  

nasai-kubra:459Qutaybah b. Saʿīd > Mālik > Abū al-Zinād > al-Aʿraj > Abū Hurayrah

Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Angels come to you in succession by night and day and all of them get together at the time of the Fajr and ʿAsr prayers. Those who have passed the night with you (or stayed with you) ascend (to the Heaven) and Allah asks them, though He knows everything about you, well, "In what state did you leave my slaves?" The angels reply: "When we left them they were praying and when we reached them, they were praying." (Using translation from Bukhārī 555)  

الكبرى للنسائي:٤٥٩أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ مَالِكٍ عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ عَنِ الْأَعْرَجِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ يَتَعَاقَبُونَ فِيكُمْ مَلَائِكَةٌ بِاللَّيْلِ وَمَلَائِكَةُ بِالنَّهَارِ وَيَجْتَمِعُونَ فِي صَلَاةِ الْفَجْرِ وَصَلَاةِ الْعَصْرِ ثُمَّ يَعْرُجُ الَّذِينَ بَاتُوا فِيكُمْ فَيَسْأَلُهُمْ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِهِمْ كَيْفَ تَرَكْتُمْ عِبَادِي؟ فَيَقُولُونَ تَرَكْنَاهُمْ وَهُمْ يُصَلُّونَ وَأَتَيْنَاهُمْ وَهُمْ يُصَلُّونَ