7 – The various ways in which the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, performed the night prayer and the witr

Know, O Muslim, that the Prophet’s night standing (qiyām al-layl) and his witr were observed in many different forms and patterns. Because most books of jurisprudence, whether concise manuals or exhaustive references, do not record these details, it is obligatory to set forth his Sunnah for the people. By doing so we clear the path for anyone who loves to follow it to put it into practice—so that, Allah willing, we may share in his reward—and we restrain the one who is ignorant of it from condemning any part of it. May Allah enable us to follow him with true adherence and keep us from the innovations he warned against. Accordingly, explanation is required, and I say:

– 1 – He would pray thirteen rakʿahs, opening them with two brief rakʿahs. Several hadiths attest to this:

The first is the report of Zayd ibn Khalid al-Juhani who said: ⦗98⦘