Establishing the Prayer and the Sunnah Regarding Them

It wasnarrated from Abu Ayyub that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to performfourRak’ah before the Zuhr when the sun had passed its zenith, and hedid not separate them with a Taslim. He said, “The gates of heavenareopened when the sun passes its zenith.”

It wasnarrated that ‘Aishah said: “If the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)missed the four Rak’ah before the Zuhr, he would perform them afterthe two Rak’ah which come after the Zuhr.”

It wasnarrated that ‘Abdullah bin Harith said: “Mu’awiyah sent wordto Umm Salamah, and I went with his envoy who put the question to UmmSalamah. She said: ‘While the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) wasperformingablution for the Zuhr in my house and he had sent a Sa’i,*theMuhajirun gathered around him in large numbers, and he was busydealing withthem. When a knock on the door came, he went out andperformed the Zuhr, then he sat and distributed what had been broughtto him.’ She said: ‘He continued doing that until the ‘Asr.Then hecame into my house and performed two Rak’ah. Then he said:“The matterof the Sa’i kept me from praying them after Zuhr, soI prayed themafter ‘Asr.”

It wasnarrated from Umm Habibah that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Whoeverprays four Rak’ah before the Zuhr and four afterwards, Allahwillforbid him to the Fire.”

It wasnarrated that ‘Asim bin Damrah As-Saluli said: “We asked ‘Aliabout the voluntary (prayer) of Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) during theday. He said: ‘You will not be able.’ We said: ‘Inform us ofit, we will do what we can of it?’ So he said: ‘When he prayedthe Fajr he would delay praying any more. When the sun appeared overthere (west) – like it appears here, meaning in the direction ofthe east, about the amount for the ‘Asr prayer from there, meaningin the direction of the west, meaning before the Maghrib – he wouldstand and perform two Rak’ah* then he would delay praying until thesun appeared over there (west), meaning in the direction of the east,about the amount of the Zuhr prayer from there, then he would standand perform four. And, four before the Zuhr when the sun passed thezenith, and two Rak’ah after it, and, four before the ‘Asr,separating between every two Rak’ah with Taslim** upon the angelsthat are close (to Allah), the Prophets, and those who follow themamong the Muslims and the believers.’”'Ali said: "That is sixteen Rak'ah of voluntary prayer which Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) performed during the day. And there are very few who offer them regularly."

It wasnarrated that ‘Abdullah bin Mughaffal said: “The Prophet ofAllah(ﷺ) said: ‘Between every two Adhans there is a prayer.’ Hesaidit three times, and on the third time he said, ‘For those whowish.’”*

‘Alibin Zaid bin Jud’an said: “I heard Anas bin Malik say: ‘TheMu’adh-dhin would call the Adhan during the time of the MessengerofAllah (ﷺ), and one would think that it was the Iqamah becausetherewere so many people who stood and performed the two Rak’ahbefore theMaghrib.”

It wasnarrated that ‘Aishah said: “The Prophet (ﷺ) used to praytheMaghrib, then he would come back to my house and pray two Rak’ah.”

It wasnarrated that Rafi’ bin Khadij said: “We came to the MessengerofAllah (ﷺ) with Banu ‘Abdul-Ashhal, and he led us in praying theMaghrib in our mosque. Then he said: ‘Pray these two Rak’ah inyourhouses.’”

It wasnarrated from ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud that for the two Rak’ahafter Maghrib, the Prophet (ﷺ) used to recite: “Say: O youdisbelievers!” [Al-Kafirun (109)] and “Say: He is Allah the One.”[Al-Ikhlas (112)]

It wasnarrated from Abu Hurairah that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Whoeverprays six Rak’ah after the Maghrib and does not say anythingbad inbetween them, will have a reward equal to the worship of twelveyears.”

It wasnarrated that Kharijah bin Hudhafah Al-‘Adawi said: “TheProphet(ﷺ) came out to us and said: ‘Allah has increased a prayerforyou which is better for you than red camels. (It is) Witr, whichAllah has enjoined on you between the ‘Isha’ prayer and the onsetofdawn.’”

‘Alibin Abu Talib said: “Witr is not definite (obligatory) nor is itlike your prescribed prayers. But the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prayedWitr, then he said: ‘O people of the Qur’an! Perform Witr, forAllahis Witr* and He loves the odd (numbered).’”

It wasnarrated from ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud that the Prophet (ﷺ)said: “Allah is Witr and He loves the odd (numbered), so perform Witr,Opeople of the Qur’an.” A Bedouin said: ‘What is the MessengerofAllah (ﷺ) saying?’ He said: ‘That is not for you or yourcompanions.’”

It wasnarrated that Ubayy bin Ka’b said: “The Messenger of Allah(ﷺ)used to perform Witr and recite: ‘Glorify the Name of your LordtheMost High.’, [Al-A’la (87)] ‘Say: O you disbelievers!”[Al-Kafirun(109)] and ‘Say: Allah is One.”. [Al-Ikhlas (112)]

It wasnarrated from Ibn ‘Abbas that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)used toperform Witr and recite: “Glorify the Name of your Lord theMostHigh,” [Al-A’la (87)] “Say: O you disbelievers!” [Al-Kafirun(109)] and ‘Say: Allah is One.”. [Al-Ikhlas (112)]

It wasnarrated that ‘Abdul-‘Aziz bin Juraij said: “We asked ‘Aishahwhat the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to recite in Witr. She said:‘He used to recite: “Glorify the Name of your Lord the MostHigh,”[Al-A’la (87)] in the first Rak’ah, ‘Say: “Odisbelievers!’” [Al-Kafirun (109)] in the second Rak’ah, and‘Say: Allah is One’ in thethird and the Mu’awwidhatain(Chapter 113, 114).’”

It wasnarrated that Ibn ‘Umar said: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)usedto pray (voluntary prayers) at night two by two, and he wouldprayone Rak’ah of Witr.”

AbuMijlaz narrated that Ibn ‘Umar said: “The Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) said: ‘Night prayers are to be offered two by two, and Witrisone Rak’ah.’ I said: ‘What do you think if I become drowsyand I wantto sleep?’ He said: ‘Put “what do you think” upthere with that star?(i.e., don’t think about it at all).’ Iraised my head and saw As-Simak.* He repeated that the Messenger ofAllah (ﷺ) said, ‘Nightprayers are to be offered two by two, andWitr is one Rak’ah, beforedawn.’”

A manasked Ibn ‘Umar: “How should I perform Witr?” He said: “PrayWitr with one Rak’ah.” He said: “I am afraid that the peoplewill saythat I am cutting the prayer short.” He said: “TheSunnah of Allah andHis Messenger.” Meaning “This is the Sunnahof Allah and HisMessenger.”

It wasnarrated that ‘Aishah said: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) usedtosay Taslim after every two Rak’ah, and he would perform Witr withone Rak’ah.”

It wasnarrated that Al-Hasan bin ‘Ali said: “My grandfather, theMessenger of Allah (ﷺ), taught me some words to say in Qunut ofWitr: Allahumma ‘afini fiman ‘afait, wa tawallani fimantawallait,wahdini fiman hadait, wa qini sharra ma qadait, wa barikli fimaa’tait. Innaka taqdi wa la yuqda ‘alaik, innahu layudhillu manwalait. Subhanaka rabbana tabarakta wa ta’alait (OAllah, pardon mealong with those whom You have pardoned, be an allyto me along withthose whom You are an ally to, guide me along withthose whom You haveguided, protect me from the evil that You havedecreed, and bless forme that which You have bestowed. For verilyYou decree and none candecree over You. He whom You support cannever be humiliated. Glory isto You, our Lord, You are Blessed andExalted).”

It wasnarrated from ‘Aki bin Abi Talib that the Prophet (ﷺ) usedto sayat the end of Witr: “Allahumma inni a’udhu bika biridaka minsakhatika, wa a’udhu bimu’afatika min ‘uqubatika, wa a’udhubikaminka, la uhsi thana’an ‘alaika, Anta kama athnaita ‘alanafsika (OAllah, I seek refuge in Your pleasure from Your wrath, andI seekrefuge in Your forgiveness from your punishment, and I seekrefuge inYou from You. I cannot enumerate Your praise, You are asYou havepraised Yourself).”

It wasnarrated from Anas bin Malik that the Prophet (ﷺ) did notraise hishands in any of his supplications except when praying forrain(Istisqa’), when he raised his hands so high that the whitenessofhis armpits could be seen.

It wasnarrated that Ibn ‘Abbas said: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)said: ‘When you call upon Allah, then do so with the palms of yourhands (upwards). Do not do so with the back of your hands (upwards).And when you finish, then wipe your face with them.’”

It wasnarrated from Ubayy bin Ka’b that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)usedto pray Witr and he would recite Qunut before Ruku’.

It wasnarrated that Anas bin Malik said: He was asked about Qunut intheSubh prayer, and he said: “We used to recite Qunut before Ruku’and afterwards.”

It wasnarrated that Muhammad said: “I asked Anas bin Malik aboutQunut,and he said: ‘The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) recited Qunut afterRuku’.’”

It wasnarrated that Masruq said: “I asked ‘Aishah about the Witr oftheMessenger of Allah (ﷺ). She said: ‘He prayed Witr at every partof the night, at the beginning, in the middle and at the end, when hedied (he would perform it) just before dawn.’”