20/36. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 1697 — Eleven Rak'ahs in Ramadan
How to pray witr with three rak'ahs
Ramadan Night Prayer: Eleven Rak'ahs and Witr
Sunan an-Nasai : 1697
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 1697
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ، وَالْحَارِثُ بْنُ مِسْكِينٍ، قِرَاءَةً عَلَيْهِ وَأَنَا أَسْمَعُ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لَهُ - عَنِ ابْنِ الْقَاسِمِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مَالِكٌ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْمَقْبُرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، أَنَّهُ أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّهُ، سَأَلَ عَائِشَةَ أُمَّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كَيْفَ كَانَتْ صَلاَةُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي رَمَضَانَ قَالَتْ مَا كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَزِيدُ فِي رَمَضَانَ وَلاَ غَيْرِهِ عَلَى إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً يُصَلِّي أَرْبَعًا فَلاَ تَسْأَلْ عَنْ حُسْنِهِنَّ وَطُولِهِنَّ ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي أَرْبَعًا فَلاَ تَسْأَلْ عَنْ حُسْنِهِنَّ وَطُولِهِنَّ ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي ثَلاَثًا قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَتَنَامُ قَبْلَ أَنْ تُوتِرَ قَالَ " يَا عَائِشَةُ إِنَّ عَيْنِي تَنَامُ وَلاَ يَنَامُ قَلْبِي " .
Abu Salamah bin 'Abdur-Rahman Narrated from:
It was narrated from Abu Salamah bin Abdur-Rahman that : He asked Aishah, the Mother of the Believers, about how the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to pray in Ramadan. She said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) did not pray more than eleven rak'ahs during Ramadan or at any other time. He would pray four, and do not ask how beautiful or how long they were. Then he would pray four, and do not ask how beautiful or how long they were. Then he would pray three." Aishah said: "I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, do you sleep before you pray witr?' He said: 'O Aishah, my eyes sleep but my heart does not.'"
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 1697In-book reference : Book 20, Hadith 100English translation : Vol. 2, Book 20, Hadith 1698
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 1697
This hadith is often searched with the phrase eleven rak'ahs in Ramadan. Abu Salamah asked Aishah how the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم prayed in Ramadan. She said he did not pray more than eleven rak'ahs in Ramadan or at any other time. She described four, then four, then three, and praised their beauty and length. When she asked if he slept before Witr, he answered that his eyes sleep but his heart does not. The hadith focuses on the Prophet's صلى الله عليه وسلم practice as reported by Aishah. It mentions number, length, beauty, Witr, and a special statement about his heart. The report should be read as Aishah's answer to that exact question.
What we learn from this hadith
- Aishah described the Prophet's صلى الله عليه وسلم prayer in Ramadan.
- She said he did not pray more than eleven rak'ahs in Ramadan or outside it.
- The prayer was described as beautiful and long.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said his eyes sleep but his heart does not.
