20/38. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 1702 — Three Rak'ah Witr Recitation
The differing narrations from Abu Ishaq in the hadith of Sa'eed bin Jubair from Ibn 'Abbas concerning Witr
Three Rak'ah Witr Prayer with Al-A'la, Al-Kafirun, and Al-Ikhlas
Sunan an-Nasai : 1702
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 1702
أَخْبَرَنَا الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ عِيسَى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا زَكَرِيَّا بْنُ أَبِي زَائِدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُوتِرُ بِثَلاَثٍ يَقْرَأُ فِي الأُولَى بِـ { سَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الأَعْلَى } وَفِي الثَّانِيَةِ بِـ { قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا الْكَافِرُونَ } وَفِي الثَّالِثَةِ بِـ { قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ } أَوْقَفَهُ زُهَيْرٌ .
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to pray witr with three rak'ahs. In the first he would recite "Glorify the Name of Your Lord, the Most High;" in the second: "Say: O You disbelievers!" and in the third: "Say: He is Allah, (the) One.'"
[1] Al-A'la 87.[2] Al-Kâfirûn 109.[3] Al-Ikhlâs 112.Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 1702In-book reference : Book 20, Hadith 105English translation : Vol. 2, Book 20, Hadith 1703
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 1702
This Hadith focuses on three rak'ah witr and the recitation used in it. Ibn Abbas said that the Messenger of Allah used to pray witr with three rak'ahs. In the first rak'ah he recited Surah Al-A'la. In the second rak'ah he recited Surah Al-Kafirun. In the third rak'ah he recited Surah Al-Ikhlas. The narration is direct and does not add other details about the prayer. For people searching for witr prayer recitation, this Hadith gives a simple order of surahs. It shows the pattern of recitation reported from the Prophet in this specific narration.
What we learn from this hadith
- Witr with three rak'ahs is mentioned in this report.
- Each rak'ah had a named surah in the narration.
- The first rak'ah included Surah Al-A'la.
- The second and third rak'ahs included Surah Al-Kafirun and Surah Al-Ikhlas.
