‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The prayer dearest to God is David’s and the fasting dearest to God is David’s. He would sleep half the night, get up to pray for a third of it, then sleep the remaining sixth; and he would fast on alternate days." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘A’isha said that he, meaning God’s Messenger, would sleep in the early part of the night and keep awake in the latter part. If he then wished intercourse with his wife he satisfied his desire, and then went to sleep. If he was sexually defiled when the first call to prayer was made, he would get up and pour water on it, but if not, he performed the ablution for the prayer and then prayed two rak'as. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Umama reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Make a practice of getting up at night, for it was the custom of the pious before you, is a means of bringing you near to your Lord, an atonement for evil deeds and a preventative of sin." Tirmidhi transmitted it.

a man when he gets up at night and prays, a company when they draw up in rows in prayer, and a company when they draw up in ranks to fight the enemy." [Baghawi] transmitted it in Sharh as-sunna.

‘Amr b. ‘Abasa reported God's Messenger as saying, “The nearest the Lord comes to a servant is in the course of the last part of the night, so if you are able to be among those who make mention of God at that hour, do so." Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying that this is a hasan sahih tradition whose isnad is gharib.

Abu Huraira' reported God’s Messenger as saying, “God show mercy to a man who gets up during the night and prays, who wakens his wife and she prays, but if she refuses sprinkles the water on her face! God show mercy to a woman who gets up during the night and prays, who wakens her husband and he prays, but if he refuses sprinkles the water on his face!” Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

Abu Umama said that God’s Messenger was asked which supplication was most readily listened to, and replied, “One made in the course of the latter part of the night, and after the prescribed prayers.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Abu Malik al-Ash‘ari reported God’s Messenger as saying, “In paradise there are rooms the outside of which can be seen from within and the inside from without which God has prepared for those who speak gently, provide food, observe frequent fasting, and pray during the night when people are asleep.” Baihaqi transmitted it in Shu'ab al-iman and Tirmidhi transmitted something similar from ‘Ali. In his version it says “for those who speak pleasantly.”

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr b. al-‘As reported God’s Messenger as saying to him, “Don’t be like so and so, ‘Abdallah. He used to get up during the night, then abandoned the practice.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

David had an hour during the night in which he would waken his family and say, “Family of David, get up and pray, for this is an hour in which God who is great and glorious answers petitions, except to a magician or a tax-gatherer.” Ahmad transmitted it.

Abu Huraira said he heard God’s Messenger say, “The most excellent prayer after that which is obligatory is one in the depth of the night.” Ahmad transmitted it.

He told of a man who came to the Prophet and said, “So and so prays at night, and when morning comes he steals.” He replied, “What you say will restrain him.” Ahmad and Baihaqi, in Shu'ab al-iman, transmitted it.

Abu Sa'id and Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “When a man wakens his wife* during the night and they pray (or he prays) two rak'as together, they are recorded among the men and women who make mention of God.” * The Arabic word is ahl which means “people” or “family”, and sometimes "wife. As the dual is used about them praying together, it obviously means “wife” here; but in Ibn ‘Umar’s tradition below the plural is used, and so the word is there translated “family”. Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The nobles among my people are those, who know the Qur’an by heart and those who pray during the night.” Baihaqi transmitted it in Shu'ab al-iman.

Ibn ‘Umar said that his father ‘Umar b. al-Khattab used to pray during the night what God wished, then during the latter part of the night he woke his family for prayer saying to them, “Come to prayer.” Then he would recite this verse, “And command your family to observe the prayer, and be constant in it. We do not ask you for provision; We provide you, and the issue pertains to piety” (Al-Qur'an; 20:132). Malik transmitted it.

Anas said, “God's Messenger used to break his fast during a month so that we imagined he had not fasted during it at all, and he fasted so that we imagined he had not broken it. You did not wish to see him praying during the night without doing so, or sleeping without doing so.” Bukhari transmitted it.

‘A’isha reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The acts most pleasing to God are those which are done most continuously, even if they amount to little.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

She reported God’s Messenger as saying; “Choose such actions as you are capable of performing, for God does not grow weary till you do.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Anas reported God’s Messenger as saying, “One should pray as long as he is lively, but when he slackens he should stop.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘A'isha reported God’s Messenger as saying, “When one of you dozes while praying he should fall over till he has slept enough, for when one of you prays while dozing he does not know whether he may be asking pardon and vilifying himself. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The religion is ease, but if anyone overdoes it it gets the better of him; so keep to the right course, approximate to perfection, rejoice, and ask help in the morning, the evening, and some of the latter part of the night.” Bukhari transmitted it.

‘Umar reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Should anyone fall asleep and fail to recite his portion of the Qur’an or a part of it, if he recites it between the dawn and the noon prayer it will be recorded for him as though he had recited it during the night.” Muslim transmitted it.

‘Imran b. Husain reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Pray standing, but if you are unable, do it sitting; and if you are unable to do that, do it lying on your side.” Bukhari transmitted it.

He said he asked the Prophet about a man who prays sitting, and he replied, “If he prays standing that is more excellent; but one who prays sitting has half the reward of one who stands, and one who prays lying down has half the reward of one who sits.” Bukhari transmitted it.

Abu Umama told of his hearing God’s Messenger say, “If anyone goes to bed in a state of purity and makes mention of God till drowsiness overtakes him, he will not turn round at any time during the night and ask God at that time for some of the good of this world and the next without His giving it to him.” Nawawi mentioned it in Kitab al-adhkar by the transmission of Ibn as-Sunni.

Our Lord is pleased with two men. One is a man who gets up from his blanket and his covering from among his beloved and his family to engage in prayer. God says to His angels, “Look at my servant who has got up from his bedding and his blanket from among his beloved and his family to engage in his prayer out of desire for what is with me and fear of what is with me.” The other is a man who goes out on an expedition in God’s path and is routed along with his companions, but who, knowing what responsibility will rest upon him for being routed and what reward he will receive for going back, returns with the result that his blood is spilt. God says to His angels, “Look at my servant who returned out of desire for what is with me and fear of what is with me with the result that his blood was spilt.” [Baghawi] transmitted it in Sharh as-sunna.

I was told that God’s Messenger had said, “Prayer engaged in by a man while sitting counts as half the prayer,” so I went to him and I found him praying while sitting, and I put my hand on his head. He said, “What is the matter with you, ‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr? ’’ I replied, “I have been told, Messenger of God, that you said that prayer engaged in by a man while sitting counts as half the prayer, yet you yourself are praying while sitting.” He said, “Yes, but I am not like one of you.” Muslim transmitted it.

Salim b. Abul Ja'd told of a man of Khuza'a saying, “I wish I had prayed and been at rest.” When the people seemed to disapprove of his saying that, he replied that he had heard God’s Messenger say, “Declare that the time for prayer has come, Bilal, and give us rest by it.”* * This probably means that prayer brings peace of mind. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Umar reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Prayer during the night should consist of pairs of rak'as, but if one of you fears the morning is near he should pray one rak'a which will make his prayer an odd number for him.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The witr* is a rak'a at the end of the night.” * Literally ‘single’, or ‘odd’, used of an odd number of rak'as prayed at some time during the night. Muslim transmitted it.

‘A’isha said that God’s Messenger used to pray thirteen rak'as during the night, observing a witr out of that with five, and sitting only during the last of them. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

I went to ‘A’isha and said, “Mother of the faithful, tell me about the nature of God’s Messenger.” She asked, “Do you not recite the Qur’an?” On my replying that I certainly did, she said, “The Prophet’s nature was the Qur’an.”* I said, “Mother of the faithful, tell me about the witr of God’s Messenger.” She replied, “I used to prepare his toothstick and his water for ablution, and God would rouse him to the extent He wished during the night. He would use the toothstick, perform ablution, and pray nine rak'as, sitting only during the eighth of them, then he would make mention of God, praise and supplicate Him, then he would get up without uttering the salutation and pray the ninth. After that he would sit, make mention of God, praise and supplicate Him, then utter a salutation loud enough for me to hear. He would then pray two rak'as sitting after uttering the salutation, and that made eleven rak'as, sonny. But when God’s Messenger grew old and became fleshy he observed a witr of seven, doing in the two rak'as, as he had done formerly, and that made nine, sonny. When God’s prophet prayed a prayer he liked to keep on observing it, but when sleep or pain made it impossible for him to get up during the night; he prayed twelve rak'as during the day. I am not aware of God’s prophet having recited the whole Qur’an in a night, or praying through a whole night till morning, or fasting a complete month, except Ramadan.” *i.e. the good characteristics included in the Qur’an were shown by the Prophet in his own life. Muslim transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Umar reported the Prophet as saying, "Make the last of your prayer at night a witr.” Muslim transmitted it.

He reported the Prophet as saying, "Hasten to pray a witr before morning.” Muslim transmitted it.

Jabir reported God’s Messenger as saying, "If anyone is afraid that he may not get up in the latter part of the night, he should observe a witr in the first part of it; and if anyone is eager to get up in the last part of it he should observe a witr at the end of the night, for prayer at the end of the night is attended by the angels, and that is most excellent.” Muslim transmitted it.

‘A’isha said that during the whole night God’s Messenger observed, a witr at the beginning, middle and end, his witr finishing at dawn. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

to fast three days every month, to pray two rak'as in the forenoon, and to observe a witr before going to sleep.” *i.e. the Prophet. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

I asked ‘A’isha whether she had seen God’s Messenger bathing because of sexual defilement in the early or the latter part of the night, and she replied, ‘‘He often bathed in the early part of the night and often in the latter part.” Thereupon I said, "God is most great. Praise be to God who has given latitude in the matter! ” I then asked whether he observed a witr in the early or the latter part of the night, and she replied, "He often observed it in the early part and often in the latter part of the night.” Thereupon I said, “God is most great. Praise be to God who has given latitude in the matter! ” I then asked whether he recited the Qur’an in a loud or in a low voice, and she replied, “He often recited it in a loud voice and often in a low voice.” Thereupon I said, “God is most great. Praise be to God who has given latitude in the matter!” Abu Dawud transmitted it, and Ibn Majah transmitted the last section.

‘Abdallah b. Abu Qais said he asked ‘A’isha how many rak'as God’s Messenger prayed when observing a witr and she replied, “He used to observe a witr with four and three, six and three, eight and three, and ten and three, never observing one with less than seven or more than thirteen.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Abu Ayyub reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The witr is a duty for every Muslim, so if anyone wishes to observe it with five rak'as 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.” Abu Dawud, Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

‘Ali reported God’s Messenger as saying, “God is single (witr) and loves what is single, so observe the witr, you who follow the Qur’an.” Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

Kharija b. Hudhafa told of God’s Messenger coming out to them and saying, “God has given you an extra prayer which is better for you than the high-bred camels,* the witr, which God has appointed for you between the evening prayer and the daybreak.” * Literally “the red ones of the camels.” These were considered to be the best quality. Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Zaid b. Aslam reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If any of you oversleeps and misses his witr, he should observe it in the morning.” Tirmidhi transmitted it in mursal form.

In the first rak'a he recited, “Glorify the name of your most high Lord,”¹ in the second, “Say, O infidels,”² and in the third, “Say, He is God, One,”³ and al-Mu‘awwidhatan.⁴ 1. Al-Qur’an; 87 2. Al-Qur’an; 109 3. Al-Qur’an; 112 4. Al-Qur’an; 113-114 Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it. Nasa’i transmitted it from ‘Abd ar-Rahman b. Abza, Ahmad from Ubayy b. Ka‘b, and Darimi from Ibn ‘Abbas, but the last two did not mention al-Mu'awwidhatan.

God’s Messenger taught me some words to say when standing in supplication during the witr. They were, “O God, 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.” Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Nasa’i, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it.

Ubayy b. Ka'b said that when God’s Messenger gave the salutation in the witr he said, “Glory be to the King most holy.” Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it, Nasa’i adding that he said it three times, prolonging the words. In a version by Nasa’i from ‘Abd ar-Rahman b. Abza from his father, he said that he used to say three times when he uttered that salutation, “Glory be to the King most holy”, raising his voice when saying it the third time.

‘Ali said that the Prophet used to say at the end of his witr, “O God, I seek refuge in Thy good pleasure from Thine anger, and in Thy forgiveness from Thy punishment, and I seek refuge in Thy mercy from Thy wrath.* I cannot reckon the praise due to Thee. Thou art as Thou hast glorified Thyself.” * Literally ‘in Thee from Thee’. Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Nasa’i, and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas, on being asked whether he approved of the Commander of the Faithful, Mu'awiya, using only one rak'a in the witr, replied, “He is right; he is versed in the law.” In a version Ibn Abu Mulaika said that Mu'awiya observed a witr after the evening prayer with one rak'u when a client of Ibn ‘Abbas was with him. He went to Ibn ‘Abbas and told him, but he replied, “Leave him alone, for he was a companion of the Prophet.” Bukhari transmitted it.

Buraida said he heard God’s Messenger 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.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Abu Sa'id reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone over-sleeps and misses the witr, or forgets it, he should pray when he remembers and when he awakes.” Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.