(1) An authentic hadith. Narrated by Muslim in the Book of Travelers’ Prayer and Its Shortening, chapter “The Night Prayer, the Number of Rakʿahs the Prophet Performed at Night, Witr Being One Rakʿah, and One Rakʿah Constituting a Valid Prayer,” hadith no. 736. (2) One may ask: Some of the preceding hadiths state that the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—“used to perform thirteen rakʿahs at night.” How, then, can it be correct that the night prayer and Witr together consisted of only eleven rakʿahs? The answer is that there is no contradiction among these narrations. It appears that on one occasion Aisha—may Allah be pleased with her—counted the two rakʿahs of Fajr with the eleven rakʿahs; on another, she counted with them the two brief rakʿahs before the night prayer; and on another, she counted with them the two brief rakʿahs after Witr. This may be explained as follows: The evidence that she once included the two rakʿahs of Fajr in the thirteen is the statement: “The Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—used to perform thirteen rakʿahs at night, including Witr and the two rakʿahs of Fajr.” Narrated by al-Bukhārī (1140) and Muslim (736–738). The evidence that she once included the two brief rakʿahs with which he began the night prayer is her statement: “The Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—used to perform thirteen rakʿahs at night. Then, upon hearing the call for the dawn prayer, he would perform two brief rakʿahs.” Narrated by al-Bukhārī (1170). This is considered together with her statement: “When the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—rose at night to pray, he would begin his prayer with two brief rakʿahs.” Narrated by Muslim (767). The eminent scholar al-Albānī preferred this reconciliation and supported it with another narration of this hadith that explains its concise wording. See *Salāt al-Tarāwīh*, p. 90, and *Tamām al-Minnah*, pp. 249–52. The evidence that she once included the two brief rakʿahs he performed after Witr is the previously cited hadith of Saʿd ibn Hishām from Aisha in (6-4-3); see that discussion. Likewise, Ibn ʿAbbās stated: “The Prophet’s prayer consisted of thirteen rakʿahs,” meaning at night. Narrated by al-Bukhārī (1138). This is a concise narration clarified by another version of the same hadith; see al-Bukhārī, hadith no. 992. It states that the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—“performed two rakʿahs, then two, then two, and then performed Witr.” It therefore appears that Ibn ʿAbbās counted the two brief rakʿahs with which the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—began the night prayer. It has also been said that the two-rakʿah Sunnah prayer before Fajr was included. [p. 63] See *Fath al-Bārī* (2/483–84), where the differing narrations are noted. The explanation I have presented is the one I consider strongest. Allah knows best. The same applies to the report of Umm Salamah—may Allah be pleased with her—previously cited in (5-4-3), stating that the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—would perform Witr with thirteen rakʿahs. It appears that she included the two brief rakʿahs before the night prayer and Witr. One may further ask: Does the Prophet’s statement, “The night prayer is performed two rakʿahs at a time. When one of you fears the approach of dawn, he should perform one rakʿah, making what he has already performed odd-numbered,” not indicate that the night prayer has no numerical limit? After all, he designated the entire night as its time by saying, “When one of you fears the approach of dawn…” The answer is that the evidence demonstrating that this hadith does not indicate that the night prayer has no fixed number was previously presented in (1-4-3). I would add the following: The utmost that the words “When one of you fears the approach of dawn…” establish is that Witr concludes the night prayer, that its prescribed time ends at dawn, and that one who prays at night should not omit Witr. This is further supported by the wording in which the hadith was narrated by al-Nasāʾī (3/233), Ibn Mājah (6/353–54, no. 2624, *al-Ihsān*), and *al-Muʿjam al-Kabīr* (12/274, no. 13096): “The night prayer is performed two rakʿahs at a time. When you wish to leave, perform one rakʿah, which will make what you have prayed odd-numbered.” The best way to explain one hadith is by another hadith. Success is from Allah.