TalibNotes

Witr Prayer

Sahih al-Bukhari · Book 14 · 15 hadiths

Section 1

مَا جَاءَ فِي الْوِتْرِ

What is said regarding the Witr prayer

990

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، وَعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ دِينَارٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، أَنَّ رَجُلاً، سَأَلَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنْ صَلاَةِ اللَّيْلِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ ‏ صَلاَةُ اللَّيْلِ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى، فَإِذَا خَشِيَ أَحَدُكُمُ الصُّبْحَ صَلَّى رَكْعَةً وَاحِدَةً، تُوتِرُ لَهُ مَا قَدْ صَلَّى ‏‏‏.‏

Narrated Ibn `Umar: Once a person asked Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) (ﷺ) about the night prayer. Allah'sApostle (ﷺ) replied, "The night prayer is offered as two Rak`at followed bytwo Rak`at and so on and if anyone is afraid of the approaching dawn(Fajr prayer) he should pray one Rak`ah and this will be a Witr for allthe Rak`at which he has prayed before."

Sahih al-Bukhari 990

Book 14 (Witr Prayer), Hadith 1

991

وَعَنْ نَافِعٍ، أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عُمَرَ، كَانَ يُسَلِّمُ بَيْنَ الرَّكْعَةِ وَالرَّكْعَتَيْنِ فِي الْوِتْرِ، حَتَّى يَأْمُرَ بِبَعْضِ حَاجَتِهِ‏.‏

Narrated Ibn `Abbas: Nafi` told that `Abdullah bin`Umar used to say Taslim between (the first) two Rak`at and (the third)odd one in the Witr prayer, when he wanted to attend to a certainmatter (during that interval between the Rak`at).

Sahih al-Bukhari 991

Book 14 (Witr Prayer), Hadith 2

992

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ مَخْرَمَةَ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ، عَنْ كُرَيْبٍ، أَنَّ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ، أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّهُ، بَاتَ عِنْدَ مَيْمُونَةَ، وَهْىَ خَالَتُهُ، فَاضْطَجَعْتُ فِي عَرْضِ وِسَادَةٍ، وَاضْطَجَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَهْلُهُ فِي طُولِهَا، فَنَامَ حَتَّى انْتَصَفَ اللَّيْلُ أَوْ قَرِيبًا مِنْهُ، فَاسْتَيْقَظَ يَمْسَحُ النَّوْمَ عَنْ وَجْهِهِ، ثُمَّ قَرَأَ عَشْرَ آيَاتٍ مِنْ آلِ عِمْرَانَ، ثُمَّ قَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِلَى شَنٍّ مُعَلَّقَةٍ، فَتَوَضَّأَ فَأَحْسَنَ الْوُضُوءَ، ثُمَّ قَامَ يُصَلِّي فَصَنَعْتُ مِثْلَهُ فَقُمْتُ إِلَى جَنْبِهِ، فَوَضَعَ يَدَهُ الْيُمْنَى عَلَى رَأْسِي، وَأَخَذَ بِأُذُنِي يَفْتِلُهَا، ثُمَّ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ، ثُمَّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ، ثُمَّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ، ثُمَّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ، ثُمَّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ، ثُمَّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ، ثُمَّ أَوْتَرَ، ثُمَّ اضْطَجَعَ حَتَّى جَاءَهُ الْمُؤَذِّنُ فَقَامَ فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ، خَرَجَ فَصَلَّى الصُّبْحَ‏.‏

Narrated Ibn `Abbas: Once I passed the night in the house of Maimuna (his aunt). I slept across the bed while Allah'sApostle and his wife slept length-wise. The Prophet (ﷺ) slept till midnight or nearly so and woke uprubbing his face and recited ten verses from Surat "Al-`Imran." Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) went towards a leatherskin and performed ablution in the most perfect way and then stood for the prayer. I did the same andstood beside him. The Prophet (ﷺ) put his right hand on my head, twisted my ear and then prayed tworak`at five times and then ended his prayer with witr. He laid down till the Mu'adh-dhin came then hestood up and offered two rak`at (Sunnah of Fajr prayer) and then went out and offered the Fajr prayer.(See Hadith 183)

Sahih al-Bukhari 992

Book 14 (Witr Prayer), Hadith 3

993

حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عَمْرٌو، أَنَّ عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنَ الْقَاسِمِ، حَدَّثَهُ عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ ‏ صَلاَةُ اللَّيْلِ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى، فَإِذَا أَرَدْتَ أَنْ تَنْصَرِفَ فَارْكَعْ رَكْعَةً تُوتِرُ لَكَ مَا صَلَّيْتَ ‏‏‏.‏ قَالَ الْقَاسِمُ وَرَأَيْنَا أُنَاسًا مُنْذُ أَدْرَكْنَا يُوتِرُونَ بِثَلاَثٍ، وَإِنَّ كُلاًّ لَوَاسِعٌ أَرْجُو أَنْ لاَ يَكُونَ بِشَىْءٍ مِنْهُ بَأْسٌ‏.‏

Narrated `Abdullah bin `Umar: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Night prayer is offered as two rak`at followed by two rak`at and so on, and if youwant to finish it, pray only one rak`a which will be witr for all the previous rak`at." Al-Qasim said,"Since we attained the age of puberty we have seen some people offering a three-rak`at prayer as witrand all that is permissible. I hope there will be no harm in it."

Sahih al-Bukhari 993

Book 14 (Witr Prayer), Hadith 4

994

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَانِ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ، أَخْبَرَتْهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يُصَلِّي إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً، كَانَتْ تِلْكَ صَلاَتَهُ ـ تَعْنِي بِاللَّيْلِ ـ فَيَسْجُدُ السَّجْدَةَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَدْرَ مَا يَقْرَأُ أَحَدُكُمْ خَمْسِينَ آيَةً قَبْلَ أَنْ يَرْفَعَ رَأْسَهُ، وَيَرْكَعُ رَكْعَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ صَلاَةِ الْفَجْرِ، ثُمَّ يَضْطَجِعُ عَلَى شِقِّهِ الأَيْمَنِ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَهُ الْمُؤَذِّنُ لِلصَّلاَةِ‏.‏

Narrated `A'isha: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to pray eleven rak`at at night and that was his night prayer and each of hisprostrations lasted for a period enough for one of you to recite fifty verses before Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)raised his head. He also used to pray two rak`at (Sunnah) before the (compulsory) Fajr prayer and thenlie down on his right side till the Mu'adh-dhin came to him for the prayer.

Sahih al-Bukhari 994

Book 14 (Witr Prayer), Hadith 5

Section 2

سَاعَاتِ الْوِتْرِ

The timing of the Salat-ul-Witr (Witr prayer)

995

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو النُّعْمَانِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَنَسُ بْنُ سِيرِينَ، قَالَ قُلْتُ لاِبْنِ عُمَرَ أَرَأَيْتَ الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ صَلاَةِ الْغَدَاةِ أُطِيلُ فِيهِمَا الْقِرَاءَةَ فَقَالَ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى، وَيُوتِرُ بِرَكْعَةٍ وَيُصَلِّي الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ صَلاَةِ الْغَدَاةِ وَكَأَنَّ الأَذَانَ بِأُذُنَيْهِ‏.‏ قَالَ حَمَّادٌ أَىْ سُرْعَةً‏.‏

Narrated Anas bin Seereen: I asked Ibn `Umar, "What is your opinion about the two rak`at before the Fajr (compulsory) prayer, asto prolonging the recitation in them?" He said, "The Prophet (ﷺ) used to pray at night two rak`atfollowed by two and so on, and end the prayer by one rak`ah witr. He used to offer two rak`at beforethe Fajr prayer immediately after the Adhan." (Hammad, the sub-narrator said, "That meant (that heprayed) quickly.)"

Sahih al-Bukhari 995

Book 14 (Witr Prayer), Hadith 6

996

حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ حَفْصٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي قَالَ، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مُسْلِمٌ، عَنْ مَسْرُوقٍ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ كُلَّ اللَّيْلِ أَوْتَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَانْتَهَى وِتْرُهُ إِلَى السَّحَرِ‏.‏

Narrated `Aisha: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) offered witr prayer at different nights at various hours extending (from the `Isha'prayer) up to the last hour of the night.

Sahih al-Bukhari 996

Book 14 (Witr Prayer), Hadith 7

997

حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُصَلِّي، وَأَنَا رَاقِدَةٌ مُعْتَرِضَةً عَلَى فِرَاشِهِ، فَإِذَا أَرَادَ أَنْ يُوتِرَ أَيْقَظَنِي فَأَوْتَرْتُ‏.‏

Narrated `A'isha:The Prophet (ﷺ) used to offer his night prayer while I was sleeping across in his bed. Whenever he intended to offer the witr prayer, he used to wake me up and I would offer the witr prayer too

Sahih al-Bukhari 997

Book 14 (Witr Prayer), Hadith 8

ʿAbd al-Bāqī edition

Section 4

لِيَجْعَلْ آخِرَ صَلاَتِهِ وِتْرًا

Witr as the last Salat (at night)

998

حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنِي نَافِعٌ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ ‏ اجْعَلُوا آخِرَ صَلاَتِكُمْ بِاللَّيْلِ وِتْرًا ‏‏‏.‏

Narrated `Abdullah bin `Umar: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Make witr as your last prayer at night."

Sahih al-Bukhari 998

Book 14 (Witr Prayer), Hadith 9

Section 5

الْوِتْرِ عَلَى الدَّابَّةِ

To offer the Witr Salat while riding on an animal

999

حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مَالِكٌ، عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرِ بْنِ عُمَرَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ، أَنَّهُ قَالَ كُنْتُ أَسِيرُ مَعَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ بِطَرِيقِ مَكَّةَ فَقَالَ سَعِيدٌ فَلَمَّا خَشِيتُ الصُّبْحَ نَزَلْتُ فَأَوْتَرْتُ، ثُمَّ لَحِقْتُهُ فَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُمَرَ أَيْنَ كُنْتَ فَقُلْتُ خَشِيتُ الصُّبْحَ، فَنَزَلْتُ فَأَوْتَرْتُ‏.‏ فَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ أَلَيْسَ لَكَ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ فَقُلْتُ بَلَى وَاللَّهِ‏.‏ قَالَ فَإِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يُوتِرُ عَلَى الْبَعِيرِ‏.‏

Narrated Sa`id bin Yasar: I was going to Mecca in the company of `Abdullah bin `Umar and when I apprehended theapproaching dawn, I dismounted and offered the witr prayer and then joined him. `Abdullah bin`Umar said, "Where have you been?" I replied, "I apprehended the approaching dawn so I dismountedand prayed the witr prayer." `Abdullah said, "Isn't it sufficient for you to follow the good example ofAllah's Messenger (ﷺ)?" I replied, "Yes, by Allah." He said, "Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to pray witr on the back ofthe camel (while on a journey)."

Sahih al-Bukhari 999

Book 14 (Witr Prayer), Hadith 10

Section 6

الْوِتْرِ فِي السَّفَرِ

Offering prayers of Witr while on a journey

1000

حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا جُوَيْرِيَةُ بْنُ أَسْمَاءَ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُصَلِّي فِي السَّفَرِ عَلَى رَاحِلَتِهِ، حَيْثُ تَوَجَّهَتْ بِهِ، يُومِئُ إِيمَاءً، صَلاَةَ اللَّيْلِ إِلاَّ الْفَرَائِضَ، وَيُوتِرُ عَلَى رَاحِلَتِهِ‏.‏

Narrated Ibn `Umar: The Prophet (ﷺ) used to offer (Nawafil) prayers on his Rahila (mount) facing its direction by signals, butnot the compulsory prayer. He also used to pray witr on his (mount) Rahila.

Sahih al-Bukhari 1000

Book 14 (Witr Prayer), Hadith 11

Section 7

الْقُنُوتِ قَبْلَ الرُّكُوعِ وَبَعْدَهُ

To recite Qunut before and after bowing

1001

حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ، قَالَ سُئِلَ أَنَسٌ أَقَنَتَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي الصُّبْحِ قَالَ نَعَمْ‏.‏ فَقِيلَ لَهُ أَوَقَنَتَ قَبْلَ الرُّكُوعِ قَالَ بَعْدَ الرُّكُوعِ يَسِيرًا‏.‏

Narrated Muhammad bin Seereen: Anas was asked, "Did the Prophet (ﷺ) recite Qunut in the Fajr prayer?" Anas replied in the affirmative. Hewas further asked, "Did he recite Qunut before bowing?" Anas replied, "He recited Qunut afterbowing for some time (for one month)."

Sahih al-Bukhari 1001

Book 14 (Witr Prayer), Hadith 12

1002

حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَاحِدِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَاصِمٌ، قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَنَسَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ عَنِ الْقُنُوتِ،‏.‏ فَقَالَ قَدْ كَانَ الْقُنُوتُ‏.‏ قُلْتُ قَبْلَ الرُّكُوعِ أَوْ بَعْدَهُ قَالَ قَبْلَهُ‏.‏ قَالَ فَإِنَّ فُلاَنًا أَخْبَرَنِي عَنْكَ أَنَّكَ قُلْتَ بَعْدَ الرُّكُوعِ‏.‏ فَقَالَ كَذَبَ، إِنَّمَا قَنَتَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بَعْدَ الرُّكُوعِ شَهْرًا ـ أُرَاهُ ـ كَانَ بَعَثَ قَوْمًا يُقَالُ لَهُمُ الْقُرَّاءُ زُهَاءَ سَبْعِينَ رَجُلاً إِلَى قَوْمٍ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ دُونَ أُولَئِكَ، وَكَانَ بَيْنَهُمْ وَبَيْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَهْدٌ فَقَنَتَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم شَهْرًا يَدْعُو عَلَيْهِمْ‏.‏

Narrated `Asim: I asked Anas bin Malik about the Qunut. Anas replied, "Definitely it was (recited)". I asked, "Beforebowing or after it?" Anas replied, "Before bowing." I added, "So and so has told me that you hadinformed him that it had been after bowing." Anas said, "He told an untruth (i.e. "was mistaken,"according to the Hijazi dialect). Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) recited Qunut after bowing for a period of onemonth." Anas added, "The Prophet (ﷺ) sent about seventy men (who knew the Qur'an by heart) towardsthe pagans (of Najd) who were less than they in number and there was a peace treaty between themand Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) (but the Pagans broke the treaty and killed the seventy men). So Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)recited Qunut for a period of one month asking Allah to punish them."

Sahih al-Bukhari 1002

Book 14 (Witr Prayer), Hadith 13

1003

أَخْبَرَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ يُونُسَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا زَائِدَةُ، عَنِ التَّيْمِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي مِجْلَزٍ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، قَالَ قَنَتَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم شَهْرًا يَدْعُو عَلَى رِعْلٍ وَذَكْوَانَ‏.‏

Narrated Anas bin Malik: The Prophet (ﷺ) recited Qunut for one month (in the Fajr prayer) asking Allah to punish the tribes of Raland Dhakwan.

Sahih al-Bukhari 1003

Book 14 (Witr Prayer), Hadith 14

1004

حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدٌ، عَنْ أَبِي قِلاَبَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، قَالَ كَانَ الْقُنُوتُ فِي الْمَغْرِبِ وَالْفَجْرِ‏.‏

Narrated Anas: The Qunut used to be recited in the Maghrib and the Fajr prayers.

Sahih al-Bukhari 1004

Book 14 (Witr Prayer), Hadith 15