5/27. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 1343 — Witr Prayer with Dhikr and Dua
On The Night Prayer
Witr Prayer Hadith: Sitting, Dhikr, Dua, and Audible Salam
Sunan Abi Dawud : 1343
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 1343
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، بِإِسْنَادِهِ نَحْوَهُ قَالَ : يُصَلِّي ثَمَانِ رَكَعَاتٍ لاَ يَجْلِسُ فِيهِنَّ إِلاَّ عِنْدَ الثَّامِنَةِ، فَيَجْلِسُ فَيَذْكُرُ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ، ثُمَّ يَدْعُو، ثُمَّ يُسَلِّمُ تَسْلِيمًا يُسْمِعُنَا، ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ بَعْدَ مَا يُسَلِّمُ، ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي رَكْعَةً، فَتِلْكَ إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً يَا بُنَىَّ، فَلَمَّا أَسَنَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَخَذَ اللَّحْمَ أَوْتَرَ بِسَبْعٍ، وَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ بَعْدَ مَا يُسَلِّمُ، بِمَعْنَاهُ إِلَى مُشَافَهَةً .
Qatada Narrated from:
The above mentioned tradition has also been narrated by Qatadah through a different chain of narrators. This version adds: He (the Prophet( used to pray eight rak'ahs during which he did not sit except the eight rak'ahs. He would sit, make mention of Allah, supplicate Him and then utter the salutation so loudly that we could hear it. He would then pray two rak'ahs sitting after he had uttered the salutation. Then he would pray one rak'ah, and that made eleven rak'ahs, O my son. When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) grew old and became fleshy, he offered seven rak'ahs of witr, and then he would pray two rak'ahs sitting after he had uttered the salutation. The narrator narrated the tradition to the same effect till the end.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1343In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 94English translation : Book 5, Hadith 1338
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 1343
This Hadith is another chain for the earlier report, but it adds important wording about the Prophet's witr prayer. It says he prayed eight rak'ahs without sitting except in the eighth. He then sat, remembered Allah, made dua, and gave salam in a voice that those present could hear. After that, he prayed two rak'ahs sitting, then one rak'ah, making eleven rak'ahs. The report also says that when he grew older and became heavier, he offered seven rak'ahs of witr and then prayed two rak'ahs sitting after salam. This Hadith about tahajjud and witr shows careful prayer, remembrance, supplication, and a clear ending with salam.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet sat in the eighth rak'ah in this version and remembered Allah.
- Dua is mentioned clearly before the audible salam.
- The report gives an eleven-rak'ah pattern, then a later seven-rak'ah witr pattern.
- The two rak'ahs sitting after salam are part of this described night prayer practice.
