The following also provides evidence for this:

a) The aforementioned statement of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace: “The night prayer is performed two rakʿahs at a time. If any of you fears that dawn is approaching, he should perform one rakʿah, making what he has already performed odd in number.”

b) Saʿd ibn Hishām reported: “I said, ‘O Mother of the Believers’—meaning Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her—‘tell me about the character of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.’ She asked, ‘Do you not recite the Quran?’ I replied, ‘Indeed I do.’ She said, ‘The character of the Prophet of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was the Quran.’ I then intended to leave and never ask anyone about anything for as long as I lived. Then another question occurred to me, so I said, ‘Tell me about the night prayer of the Messenger of Allah.’ She asked, ‘Do you not recite, “O you wrapped in your cloak”?’ I replied, ‘Indeed I do.’ She said, ‘Allah, Mighty and Majestic, made the night prayer obligatory at the beginning of this surah, so the Prophet of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and his Companions observed it for an entire year. Allah withheld the conclusion of the surah in heaven for twelve months, until He revealed the concession at its end. The night prayer then became voluntary after having been obligatory.’ He said: ‘I asked, “O Mother of the Believers, tell me about the Witr of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.” She replied, “We would prepare his tooth-stick and water for purification. Allah would awaken him at whatever time of the night He willed. He would clean his teeth, perform ablution, and perform nine rakʿahs, sitting only after the eighth. He would remember Allah, praise Him, and supplicate to Him; then he would rise without giving the salām and perform the ninth. He would then sit, remember Allah, praise Him, and supplicate to Him, after which he would give the salām once, audibly enough for us to hear. He would then perform two rakʿahs while seated after giving the salām. That made eleven rakʿahs, my son. When the Prophet of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, grew old and put on weight, he performed Witr with seven rakʿahs and performed the two rakʿahs in the same manner as before. That made nine rakʿahs, my son…”’” Recorded by Muslim. (1)

• (7-4-3) Witr with Eleven Rakʿahs:

It is prescribed for a Muslim to perform Witr with eleven rakʿahs, and these may be performed in either of two ways: