and several others from the Prophet (1), peace and blessings be upon him.
In al-Musnad (2), Abū Umāmah reported that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, would pray two rak‘ahs after witr while seated, reciting in them “When the earth is shaken” and “Say: O disbelievers.” Al-Dāraqutnī (3) narrated a similar report from Anas.
This has puzzled many people, who thought it contradicted his saying, peace and blessings be upon him: “Make witr your last prayer at night” (4). Mālik disapproved of these two rak‘ahs. Ahmad said: “I do not do this myself, nor do I prevent anyone from doing it.” He added: “Mālik disapproved of it.”
Some scholars said that he prayed these two rak‘ahs only to demonstrate that prayer after witr is permissible and that performing witr does not preclude further voluntary prayer. They understood (5) his saying, “Make witr your last prayer at night,” as a recommendation, and his praying
(1) Kāf, ‘Ayn: “the Messenger of Allah.”
(2) No. (22246). Also reported by al-Tahāwī in Sharh al-Ma‘ānī (1/341), al-Tabarānī (8/277), and al-Bayhaqī (3/33), through ‘Abd al-Wārith ibn Sa‘īd, from ‘Abd al-‘Azīz ibn Suhayb, from Abū Ghālib, from Abū Umāmah. This Abū Ghālib has some weakness as a narrator. See the comments of the editors of al-Musnad (22313). The previously cited hadith of ‘Ā’ishah (p. 387) suffices in its place.
(3) No. (1702), through Qatādah, from Anas. He said: “Abū Bakr [Ibn Abī Dāwūd] told us: ‘This is a sunnah uniquely transmitted by the people of Basra and preserved by the people of Syria.’” Also reported by Ibn Nasr in Qiyām al-Layl (p. 197, abridged version), al-Tabarānī in Musnad al-Shāmiyyīn (759), and al-Bayhaqī (3/33). Abū Hātim said in ‘Ilal al-Hadīth (442): “This report from Qatādah is munkar (rejected).” Ibn Khuzaymah (1105) reported it through another chain containing ‘Umārah ibn Zādhān and Mu’ammal ibn Ismā‘īl, both of whom have some weakness as narrators. The hadith of ‘Ā’ishah mentioned at the beginning of the section suffices in its place.
(4) Reported by al-Bukhārī (998) and Muslim (751/151), from Ibn ‘Umar.
(5) Kāf, ‘Ayn: “wa-humila (and it was interpreted),” explicitly vocalized in ‘Ayn.