Volume 2, Book 16, Number 105:
Narrated Ibn Umar:
Once a person asked Allah’s Apostle about the night prayer. Allah’s Apostle replied, “The night
prayer is offered as two Rakat followed by two Rakat and so on and if anyone is afraid of the ap –
proaching dawn (Fajr prayer) he should pray one Raka and this will be a Witr for all the Rakat
which he has prayed before.” Nafi’ told that ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar used to say Taslim between (the
first) two Rakat and (the third) odd one in the Witr prayer, when he wanted to attend to a certain
matter (during that interval between the Rakat).
Volume 2, Book 17, Number 121:
Narrated Masruq:
We were with ‘Abdullah and he said, “When the Prophet saw the refusal of the people to accept Is –
lam he said, “O Allah! Send (famine) years on them for (seven years) like the seven years (of famine
during the time) of (Prophet) Joseph.” So famine overtook them for one year and destroyed every
kind of life to such an extent that the people started eating hides, carcasses and rotten dead animals.
Whenever one of them looked towards the sky, he would (imagine himself to) see smoke because of
hunger. So Abu Sufyan went to the Prophet and said, “O Muhammad! You order people to obey Allah
and to keep good relations with kith and kin. No doubt the people of your tribe are dying, so please
pray to Allah for them.” So Allah revealed: “Then watch you For the day that The sky will bring forth
a kind Of smoke Plainly visible … Verily! You will return (to disbelief) On the day when We shall
seize You with a mighty grasp. (44.10-16) Ibn Masud added, “Al-Batsha (i.e. grasp) happened in the
battle of Badr and no doubt smoke, Al-Batsha, Al-Lizam, and the verse of Surat Ar-Rum have all
passed .
Volume 2, Book 16, Number 106:
Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas:
Once I passed the night in the house of Maimuna (his aunt). I slept across the bed while Allah’s
Apostle and his wife slept length-wise. The Prophet slept till midnight or nearly so and woke up rub –
bing his face and recited ten verses from Surat “Aal-Imran.” Allah’s Apostle went towards a leather
skin and performed ablution in the most perfect way and then stood for the prayer. I did the same
and stood beside him. The Prophet put his right hand on my head, twisted my ear and then prayed
two Rakat five times and then ended his prayer with Witr. He laid down till the Muadh-dhin came
then he stood up and offered two Rakat (Sunna of Fajr prayer) and then went out and offered the
Fajr prayer.
(See Hadith No. 183, Vol. 1)
Volume 2, Book 16, Number 107:
Narrated ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar:
The Prophet said, “Night prayer is offered as two Rakat followed by two Rakat and so on, and if you
want to finish it, pray only one Raka which will be Witr for all the previous Rakat.” Al-Qasim said,
“Since we attained the age of puberty we have seen some people offering a three-Rakat prayer as
Witr and all that is permissible. I hope there will be no harm in it.”
Volume 2, Book 16, Number 108:
Narrated ‘Aisha:
Volume 2 – 231 / 1700
SAHIH BUKHARI VOLUME 2 > BOOK 16: WITR PRAYER
Allah’s Apostle used to pray eleven Rakat at night and that was his night prayer and each of his
prostrations lasted for a period enough for one of you to recite fifty verses before Allah’s Apostle
raised his head. He also used to pray two Rakat (Sunna) before the (compulsory) Fajr prayer and then
lie down on his right side till the Muadh-dhin came to him for the prayer.
Volume 2, Book 16, Number 109:
Narrated Anas bin Sirin:
I asked Ibn ‘Umar, “What is your opinion about the two Rakat before the Fajr (compulsory) prayer,
as to prolonging the recitation in them?” He said, “The Prophet (p.b.u.h) used to pray at night two
Rakat followed by two and so on, and end the prayer by one Raka Witr. He used to offer two Rakat
before the Fajr prayer immediately after the Adhan.” (Hammad, the sub-narrator said, “That meant
(that he prayed) quickly.)”
Volume 2, Book 16, Number 110:
Narrated ‘Aisha:
Allah’s Apostle offered Witr prayer at different nights at various hours extending (from the ‘Isha’
prayer) up to the last hour of the night.
Volume 2, Book 16, Number 111:
Narrated ‘Aisha:
The Prophet (p.b.u.h) used to offer his night prayer while I was sleeping across in his bed.
Whenever he intended to offer the Witr prayer, he used to wake me up and I would offer the Witr
prayer too.