8/4. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 1424 — Witr Surahs and the Mu'awwidhatayn
What Should Be Recited In Witr
Witr Prayer Surahs: Al-Ikhlas and the Mu'awwidhatayn
Sunan Abi Dawud : 1424
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 1424
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ أَبِي شُعَيْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا خُصَيْفٌ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ بْنِ جُرَيْجٍ، قَالَ سَأَلْتُ عَائِشَةَ أُمَّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ بِأَىِّ شَىْءٍ كَانَ يُوتِرُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَذَكَرَ مَعْنَاهُ قَالَ وَفِي الثَّالِثَةِ بِـ { قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ } وَالْمُعَوِّذَتَيْنِ .
A'isha Narrated from:
AbdulAziz ibn Jurayj said: I asked Aisha, mother of the believers: With which (surah) the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to observe witr? (She reported same as in the Hadith of Ubayy ibn Ka'b, No. 1418) This version adds: In the third rak'ah he would recite: "Say, He is Allah, the One" (Surah 112), and "Say, I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak" (Surah 113), and "Say, I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind" (Surah 114).
[1] Sūrat Al-Ikhlās (112).[2] Meaning both Sūrat Al-Falaq (113) and Sūrat An-Nās (114).Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1424In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 9English translation : Book 8, Hadith 1419
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 1424
This hadith about witr prayer adds detail to the question of recitation. AbdulAziz ibn Jurayj asked Aishah, the mother of the believers, what the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) used to recite in witr. Her report matched the meaning of the narration from Ubayy ibn Ka'b, and this version adds that in the third rak'ah he would recite Surah Al-Ikhlas and the Mu'awwidhatayn, meaning Surah Al-Falaq and Surah An-Nas. The hadith is useful for people searching witr prayer surahs because it names the recitation clearly. It also shows the care of the Companions in asking about the Prophet's worship in detail.
What we learn from this hadith
- Aishah was asked about the Prophet's recitation in witr.
- The third rak'ah included Surah Al-Ikhlas and the two refuge-seeking surahs.
- Learning prayer details through careful questions is shown in this narration.
