“Do not perform witr with three rak‘ahs; perform it with five or seven, and do not make it resemble the Maghrib prayer.” Al-Dāraqutnī said: “All the narrators in its chain are trustworthy.”

Muhannā said: I asked Abū ‘Abd Allāh, “What position do you take on witr? Do you give the concluding salutation after two rak‘ahs?” He replied, “Yes.” I asked, “Why?” He replied, “The reports from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, concerning the salutation after two rak‘ahs are stronger and more numerous. Al-Zuhrī narrated from ‘Urwah, from ‘Ā’ishah, that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, gave the concluding salutation after two rak‘ahs.”

Harb said: Ahmad was asked about witr. He replied, “One gives the concluding salutation (1) after two rak‘ahs. If one does not, I hope there is no harm in that; nevertheless, giving the salutation is more firmly established from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him.”

Abū Tālib said: I asked Abū ‘Abd Allāh, “Which hadith do you follow concerning witr?” He replied, “I follow all of them. Whoever prays five rak‘ahs sits only in the last of them, and whoever prays seven sits only in the last of them. In the hadith narrated by Zurārah from ‘Ā’ishah, it is reported: ‘He would perform witr with nine rak‘ahs, sitting in the eighth.’ But the most numerous and strongest reports indicate a single rak‘ah, so that is what I follow (2).” I said, “Ibn Mas‘ūd says three.” He replied, “Yes. He criticised Sa‘d for praying a single rak‘ah, and Sa‘d, in turn, said something in reply to him (3).”