47/78. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 3342 — Shaf and Witr in Prayer
Surat Al-Fajr
Hadith About Shaf and Witr Prayer
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 3342
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 3342
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو حَفْصٍ، عَمْرُو بْنُ عَلِيٍّ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ مَهْدِيٍّ، وَأَبُو دَاوُدَ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا هَمَّامٌ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ عِمْرَانَ بْنِ عِصَامٍ، عَنْ رَجُلٍ، مِنْ أَهْلِ الْبَصْرَةِ عَنْ عِمْرَانَ بْنِ حُصَيْنٍ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم سُئِلَ عَنِ الشَّفْعِ وَالْوَتْرِ فَقَالَ " هِيَ الصَّلاَةُ بَعْضُهَا شَفْعٌ وَبَعْضُهَا وَتْرٌ " . قَالَ هَذَا حَدِيثٌ غَرِيبٌ لاَ نَعْرِفُهُ إِلاَّ مِنْ حَدِيثِ قَتَادَةَ . وَقَدْ رَوَاهُ خَالِدُ بْنُ قَيْسٍ الْحُدَّانِيُّ عَنْ قَتَادَةَ أَيْضًا .
'Imran bin Husain Narrated from:
The Prophet Was Asked About Ash-Shafi, So He Said: “It Is As-Salat, Some Of It Is Shaf (Even) And Some Of It Is Witr (Odd).”
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3342In-book reference : Book 47, Hadith 394English translation : Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 3342
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 3342
This hadith about Shaf and Witr gives a short answer to a direct question. The Prophet was asked about Ash-Shaf and Al-Witr. He replied that it is prayer, and that some of it is Shaf, meaning even, and some of it is Witr, meaning odd. The wording is simple, so the explanation should stay simple too. The hadith points attention to the structure of salah and how prayer may include even and odd forms. It does not give a long ruling or a full method in this text. Its main teaching is that terms found in the Qur’an can be explained through the Prophet’s words.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet explained Ash-Shaf and Al-Witr as connected to prayer.
- Some prayer is described as even, and some as odd.
- Questions about religious words should be answered through prophetic guidance.
- A short hadith can carry a clear meaning without extra detail.
