6/17. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 736c — Eleven Rak'ahs and Witr
Night prayers and the number of rak`ah offered by the Prophet (saws) at night, and that Witr is one rak`ah, and a one-rak`ah prayer is correct
Hadith About Eleven Rak'ahs of Night Prayer and One Witr
Sahih Muslim : 736c
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 736c
وَحَدَّثَنِي حَرْمَلَةُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي عَمْرُو بْنُ الْحَارِثِ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، زَوْجِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَتْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُصَلِّي فِيمَا بَيْنَ أَنْ يَفْرُغَ مِنْ صَلاَةِ الْعِشَاءِ - وَهِيَ الَّتِي يَدْعُو النَّاسُ الْعَتَمَةَ - إِلَى الْفَجْرِ إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً يُسَلِّمُ بَيْنَ كُلِّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَيُوتِرُ بِوَاحِدَةٍ فَإِذَا سَكَتَ الْمُؤَذِّنُ مِنْ صَلاَةِ الْفَجْرِ وَتَبَيَّنَ لَهُ الْفَجْرُ وَجَاءَهُ الْمُؤَذِّنُ قَامَ فَرَكَعَ رَكْعَتَيْنِ خَفِيفَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ اضْطَجَعَ عَلَى شِقِّهِ الأَيْمَنِ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَهُ الْمُؤَذِّنُ لِلإِقَامَةِ . وَحَدَّثَنِيهِ حَرْمَلَةُ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ . وَسَاقَ حَرْمَلَةُ الْحَدِيثَ بِمِثْلِهِ غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ لَمْ يَذْكُرْ وَتَبَيَّنَ لَهُ الْفَجْرُ وَجَاءَهُ الْمُؤَذِّنُ . وَلَمْ يَذْكُرِ الإِقَامَةَ . وَسَائِرُ الْحَدِيثِ بِمِثْلِ حَدِيثِ عَمْرٍو سَوَاءً .
A'isha, the wife of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), said that between the time when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) finished the 'Isha' prayer which is called 'Atama by the people, he used to pray eleven rak'ahs, uttering the salutation at the end of every two rak'ahs, and observing the Witr with a single one. And when the Mu'adhdhin had finished the call (for the) dawn prayer and he saw the dawn clearly and the Mu'adhdhin had come to him, he stood up and prayed two short rak'ahs. Then he lay down on his right side till the Mu'adhdhin came to him for lqama. (This hadith has been narrated with the same chain of transmitters by Ibn Shihab, but in it no mention has been made of Iqama )
Reference : Sahih Muslim 736b-cIn-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 148USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1603
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 736c
This narration from A'isha describes the Prophet’s night prayer in a clear order. After 'Isha' until Fajr, he prayed eleven rak'ahs. The hadith says he gave salutation between every two rak'ahs and made Witr with one rak'ah. After the Mu'adhdhin had finished the call for the dawn prayer, and after dawn was clear and the Mu'adhdhin came to him, he prayed two short rak'ahs. Then he lay on his right side until the Mu'adhdhin came for Iqama. This is a helpful hadith for searches like eleven rakahs night prayer, Witr one rakah, and Prophet Sunnah before Fajr. The report keeps the focus on worship order, timing, and light Fajr Sunnah prayer.
What we learn from this hadith
- The narration gives a clear order for the Prophet’s night prayer.
- It mentions salutation after every two rak'ahs.
- Witr was observed with one rak'ah in this report.
- The two rak'ahs before Fajr were short.
