6/17. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 738c — Nine Rak'ahs Including 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 Nine Rak'ahs Including Witr in Night Prayer
Sahih Muslim : 738c
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 738c
وَحَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا حُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شَيْبَانُ، عَنْ يَحْيَى، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا سَلَمَةَ، ح وَحَدَّثَنِي يَحْيَى بْنُ بِشْرٍ الْحَرِيرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا مُعَاوِيَةُ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ سَلاَّمٍ - عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي أَبُو سَلَمَةَ، أَنَّهُ سَأَلَ عَائِشَةَ عَنْ صَلاَةِ، رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم . بِمِثْلِهِ غَيْرَ أَنَّ فِي حَدِيثِهِمَا تِسْعَ رَكَعَاتٍ قَائِمًا يُوتِرُ مِنْهُنَّ .
Abu Salama Narrated from:
Abu Salama reported that he asked 'A'isha about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (may peace he upon him) (during the night). The rest of the hadith is the same but with this exception that he (the Holy Prophet) observed nine rak'ahs including Witr.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 738cIn-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 154USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1609
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 738c
This hadith is a wording variation in the reports about the Prophet’s night prayer. Abu Salama asked A'isha about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم). The report says the rest of the hadith is the same, except that in this wording he observed nine rak'ahs while standing, including Witr. For searches like nine rakahs Witr hadith, Sahih Muslim 738c explanation, and Prophet night prayer variation, this narration matters because it records a different number in the same broad subject. The text should be read carefully. It does not give a full new story here; it points to the same report with the stated exception. The main lesson is the preserved detail about nine rak'ahs including Witr.
What we learn from this hadith
- This narration reports nine rak'ahs including Witr.
- It is linked to Abu Salama’s question to A'isha.
- The report is presented as the same hadith with an exception.
- The wording highlights care in recording prayer counts.
