Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat): Detailed Injunctions about Witr
8/1. Chapter:
The Recommendation To Pray Witr
Sunan Abi Dawud
Hadith No. 1416
حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ مُوسَى، أَخْبَرَنَا عِيسَى، عَنْ زَكَرِيَّا، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ عَاصِمٍ، عَنْ عَلِيٍّ، - رضى الله عنه - قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " يَا أَهْلَ الْقُرْآنِ أَوْتِرُوا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ وِتْرٌ يُحِبُّ الْوِتْرَ " .
Narrated Ali ibn AbuTalib: The Prophet (ﷺ) said: Allah is single (witr) and loves what is single, so observe the witr, you who follow the Qur'an.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1416In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 1English translation : Book 8, Hadith 1411
Sunan Abi Dawud
Hadith No. 1417
حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو حَفْصٍ الأَبَّارُ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ مُرَّةَ، عَنْ أَبِي عُبَيْدَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِمَعْنَاهُ زَادَ فَقَالَ أَعْرَابِيٌّ مَا تَقُولُ فَقَالَ " لَيْسَ لَكَ وَلاَ لأَصْحَابِكَ " .
The above mentioned tradition has also been narrated by 'Abd Allah (b. Mas'ud) through a different chain of narrators to the same effect. This version adds: A bedouin said: What are you saying ? He replied: This is neither for you, nor for your companions.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1417In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 2English translation : Book 8, Hadith 1412
Sunan Abi Dawud
Hadith No. 1418
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْوَلِيدِ الطَّيَالِسِيُّ، وَقُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، - الْمَعْنَى - قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ أَبِي حَبِيبٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ رَاشِدٍ الزَّوْفِيِّ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي مُرَّةَ الزَّوْفِيِّ، عَنْ خَارِجَةَ بْنِ حُذَافَةَ، - قَالَ أَبُو الْوَلِيدِ الْعَدَوِيُّ - قَالَ خَرَجَ عَلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ قَدْ أَمَدَّكُمْ بِصَلاَةٍ وَهِيَ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ مِنْ حُمْرِ النَّعَمِ وَهِيَ الْوِتْرُ فَجَعَلَهَا لَكُمْ فِيمَا بَيْنَ الْعِشَاءِ إِلَى طُلُوعِ الْفَجْرِ " .
Narrated Kharijah ibn Hudhafah al-Adawi: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came out to us and said: Allah the Exalted has given you an extra prayer which is better for you then the red camels (i.e. high breed camels). This is the witr which Allah has appointed for you between the night prayer and the daybreak.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1418In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 3English translation : Book 8, Hadith 1413
8/2. Chapter:
Concerning One Who Does Not Pray Witr
Sunan Abi Dawud
Hadith No. 1419
حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو إِسْحَاقَ الطَّالْقَانِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا الْفَضْلُ بْنُ مُوسَى، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْعَتَكِيِّ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ بُرَيْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " الْوِتْرُ حَقٌّ فَمَنْ لَمْ يُوتِرْ فَلَيْسَ مِنَّا الْوِتْرُ حَقٌّ فَمَنْ لَمْ يُوتِرْ فَلَيْسَ مِنَّا الْوِتْرُ حَقٌّ فَمَنْ لَمْ يُوتِرْ فَلَيْسَ مِنَّا ".
Narrated Buraydah ibn al-Hasib: I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: The witr is a duty, so he who does not observe it does not belong to us; the witr is a duty, so he who does not observe it does not belong to us; the witr is a duty, so he who does not observe it does not belong to us.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1419In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 4English translation : Book 8, Hadith 1414
Sunan Abi Dawud
Hadith No. 1420
حَدَّثَنَا الْقَعْنَبِيُّ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَحْيَى بْنِ حَبَّانَ، عَنِ ابْنِ مُحَيْرِيزٍ، أَنَّ رَجُلاً، مِنْ بَنِي كِنَانَةَ يُدْعَى الْمُخْدَجِيَّ سَمِعَ رَجُلاً، بِالشَّامِ يُدْعَى أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ يَقُولُ إِنَّ الْوِتْرَ وَاجِبٌ . قَالَ الْمُخْدَجِيُّ فَرُحْتُ إِلَى عُبَادَةَ بْنِ الصَّامِتِ فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ فَقَالَ عُبَادَةُ كَذَبَ أَبُو مُحَمَّدٍ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " خَمْسُ صَلَوَاتٍ كَتَبَهُنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَى الْعِبَادِ فَمَنْ جَاءَ بِهِنَّ لَمْ يُضَيِّعْ مِنْهُنَّ شَيْئًا اسْتِخْفَافًا بِحَقِّهِنَّ كَانَ لَهُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ عَهْدٌ أَنْ يُدْخِلَهُ الْجَنَّةَ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَأْتِ بِهِنَّ فَلَيْسَ لَهُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ عَهْدٌ إِنْ شَاءَ عَذَّبَهُ وَإِنْ شَاءَ أَدْخَلَهُ الْجَنَّةَ " .
Narrated Ubadah ibn as-Samit: Ibn Muhayriz said: A man from Banu Kinanah, named al-Makhdaji, heard a person called AbuMuhammad in Syria, saying: The witr is a duty (wajib). Al-Makhdaji said: So I went to Ubadah ibn as-Samit and informed him. Ubadah said: AbuMuhammad told a lie. I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: There are five prayers which Allah has prescribed on His servants. If anyone offers them, not losing any of them, and not treating them lightly, Allah guarantees that He will admit him to Paradise. If anyone does not offer them, Allah does not take any responsibility for such a person. He may either punish him or admit him to Paradise.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1420In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 5English translation : Book 8, Hadith 1415
8/3. Chapter:
How Many (Rak'ahs) Is Witr ?
Sunan Abi Dawud
Hadith No. 1421
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ كَثِيرٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا هَمَّامٌ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ شَقِيقٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، أَنَّ رَجُلاً، مِنْ أَهْلِ الْبَادِيَةِ سَأَلَ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنْ صَلاَةِ اللَّيْلِ فَقَالَ بِأُصْبُعَيْهِ هَكَذَا مَثْنَى مَثْنَى وَالْوِتْرُ رَكْعَةٌ مِنْ آخِرِ اللَّيْلِ .
Ibn 'Umar said: A man who lived in the desert asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) about the prayer at night. He made a sign with his two fingers-in this way in pairs. The witr consists of one rak'ah towards the end in night.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1421In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 6English translation : Book 8, Hadith 1416
Sunan Abi Dawud
Hadith No. 1422
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ، حَدَّثَنِي قُرَيْشُ بْنُ حَيَّانَ الْعِجْلِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا بَكْرُ بْنُ وَائِلٍ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ اللَّيْثِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ الأَنْصَارِيِّ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " الْوِتْرُ حَقٌّ عَلَى كُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ فَمَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يُوتِرَ بِخَمْسٍ فَلْيَفْعَلْ وَمَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يُوتِرَ بِثَلاَثٍ فَلْيَفْعَلْ وَمَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يُوتِرَ بِوَاحِدَةٍ فَلْيَفْعَلْ " .
Narrated AbuAyyub al-Ansari: The Prophet (ﷺ) said: The witr is a duty for every Muslim so if anyone wishes to observe it with five rak'ahs, he may do so; if anyone wishes to observe it with three, he may do so, and if anyone wishes to observe it with one, he may do so.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1422In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 7English translation : Book 8, Hadith 1417
8/4. Chapter:
What Should Be Recited In Witr
Sunan Abi Dawud
Hadith No. 1423
حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو حَفْصٍ الأَبَّارُ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ مُوسَى، أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَنَسٍ، - وَهَذَا لَفْظُهُ - عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ طَلْحَةَ، وَزُبَيْدٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبْزَى، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أُبَىِّ بْنِ كَعْبٍ، قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُوتِرُ بِـ { سَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الأَعْلَى } وَ { قُلْ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا } وَاللَّهُ الْوَاحِدُ الصَّمَدُ .
Narrated Ubayy ibn Ka'b: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to observe witr with (reciting) "Glorify the name of thy Lord, the most High" (Surah 87), "Say O disbelievers" (Surah 109), and "Say, He is Allah, the One, Allah, the eternally besought of all" (112).
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1423In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 8English translation : Book 8, Hadith 1418
Sunan Abi Dawud
Hadith No. 1424
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ أَبِي شُعَيْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا خُصَيْفٌ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ بْنِ جُرَيْجٍ، قَالَ سَأَلْتُ عَائِشَةَ أُمَّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ بِأَىِّ شَىْءٍ كَانَ يُوتِرُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَذَكَرَ مَعْنَاهُ قَالَ وَفِي الثَّالِثَةِ بِـ { قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ } وَالْمُعَوِّذَتَيْنِ .
Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin: AbdulAziz ibn Jurayj said: I asked Aisha, mother of the believers: With which (surah) the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to observe witr? (She reported same as in the Hadith of Ubayy ibn Ka'b, No. 1418) This version adds: In the third rak'ah he would recite: "Say, He is Allah, the One" (Surah 112), and "Say, I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak" (Surah 113), and "Say, I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind" (Surah 114).
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1424In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 9English translation : Book 8, Hadith 1419
8/5. Chapter:
The Qunut During Witr
Sunan Abi Dawud
Hadith No. 1425
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، وَأَحْمَدُ بْنُ جَوَّاسٍ الْحَنَفِيُّ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الأَحْوَصِ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ بُرَيْدِ بْنِ أَبِي مَرْيَمَ، عَنْ أَبِي الْحَوْرَاءِ، قَالَ قَالَ الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ رضى الله عنهما عَلَّمَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَلِمَاتٍ أَقُولُهُنَّ فِي الْوِتْرِ قَالَ ابْنُ جَوَّاسٍ فِي قُنُوتِ الْوِتْرِ " اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِنِي فِيمَنْ هَدَيْتَ وَعَافِنِي فِيمَنْ عَافَيْتَ وَتَوَلَّنِي فِيمَنْ تَوَلَّيْتَ وَبَارِكْ لِي فِيمَا أَعْطَيْتَ وَقِنِي شَرَّ مَا قَضَيْتَ إِنَّكَ تَقْضِي وَلاَ يُقْضَى عَلَيْكَ وَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَذِلُّ مَنْ وَالَيْتَ وَلاَ يَعِزُّ مَنْ عَادَيْتَ تَبَارَكْتَ رَبَّنَا وَتَعَالَيْتَ " .
Narrated Al-Hasan ibn Ali: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) taught me some words that I say during the witr. (The version of Ibn Jawwas has: I say them in the supplication of the witr.) They were: "O Allah, guide me among those Thou hast guided, grant me security among those Thou hast granted security, take me into Thy charge among those Thou hast taken into Thy charge, bless me in what Thou hast given, guard me from the evil of what Thou hast decreed, for Thou dost decree, and nothing is decreed for Thee. He whom Thou befriendest is not humbled. Blessed and Exalted art Thou, our Lord."
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1425In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 10English translation : Book 8, Hadith 1420