5/27. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 1351 — Nine and Seven Rak'ah Witr
On The Night Prayer
Witr Prayer Hadith: Nine Rak'ahs, Seven Rak'ahs, and Two Sitting
Sunan Abi Dawud : 1351
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 1351
حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادٌ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ بْنِ وَقَّاصٍ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، رضى الله عنها : أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يُوتِرُ بِتِسْعِ رَكَعَاتٍ، ثُمَّ أَوْتَرَ بِسَبْعِ رَكَعَاتٍ، وَرَكَعَ رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ بَعْدَ الْوِتْرِ يَقْرَأُ فِيهِمَا، فَإِذَا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَرْكَعَ قَامَ فَرَكَعَ ثُمَّ سَجَدَ، قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ : رَوَى هَذَيْنِ الْحَدِيثَيْنِ خَالِدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْوَاسِطِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو مِثْلَهُ، قَالَ فِيهِ قَالَ عَلْقَمَةُ بْنُ وَقَّاصٍ : يَا أُمَّتَاهُ كَيْفَ كَانَ يُصَلِّي الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ فَذَكَرَ مَعْنَاهُ . حَدَّثَنَا وَهْبُ بْنُ بَقِيَّةَ عَنْ خَالِدٍ .
A'isha Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to observe the witr prayer with nine rak'ahs. Then he used to pray seven rak'ahs (of witr prayer). He would pray two rak'ahs sitting after the witr in which he would recite the Qur'an (sitting). When he wished to bow, he stood up and bowed and prostrated. Abu Dawud said: These two traditions have been transmitted by Khalid b. 'Abd Allah al-Wasiti. In his version he said: 'Alqamah b. Waqqas said: O mother, how did he pray the two rak'ahs ? He narrated the rest of the tradition to the same effect.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1351In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 102English translation : Book 5, Hadith 1346
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 1351
This Hadith focuses on the witr prayer of the Prophet. Aishah said he used to observe witr with nine rak'ahs, then later with seven rak'ahs. She also described two rak'ahs after witr while sitting. In those two, he recited the Qur'an while sitting, and when he wanted to bow, he stood up, bowed, and then prostrated. The report also includes a note from Abu Dawud about related transmissions by Khalid b. Abd Allah al-Wasiti and a question from Alqamah b. Waqqas about how those two rak'ahs were prayed. For searches like nine rak'ah witr hadith and two rak'ahs after witr, this is a direct narration.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet's witr is described as nine rak'ahs, then seven rak'ahs.
- Two rak'ahs sitting after witr are mentioned in this report.
- He recited while sitting, then stood when he wished to bow.
- The narration includes a transmission note about similar reports.
