b) The aforementioned hadith of Ibn Umar: “The night prayer is performed two rakʿahs at a time. If one of you fears the approach of dawn, he should perform Witr with one rakʿah.”

c) Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, reported: “The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to pray thirteen rakʿahs at night, performing five of them as Witr and sitting only at the end.” Another narration states: “The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to pray thirteen rakʿahs, including the two rakʿahs of Fajr.” Recorded by Muslim. (1)

d) She also reported: “The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to perform Witr with five rakʿahs, sitting only at the end.” Recorded by Abū ʿAwāna. (2)

• (5-4-3) Witr with Seven Rakʿahs:

Witr may be performed with seven rakʿahs in either of two ways:

The first is to perform six rakʿahs, two at a time, and then perform one rakʿah as Witr.

The second is to perform seven consecutive rakʿahs, sitting only after the sixth to recite the tashahhud; one then rises without giving the salām, performs the seventh rakʿah, and gives the salām.

Among the evidence for this are the following:

The hadith of Abū Ayyūb, which states: “Witr is a duty. Whoever wishes may perform Witr with seven rakʿahs.”

Umm Salama reported: “The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to perform Witr with thirteen rakʿahs; when he grew old