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English translation
457. Umm Salamah narrated: "The Prophet ﷺ would perform Witr with thirteen [Rak'ah]. When he was older and became weak he performed Witr with seven." (Sahih)
[He said:] There is a narration on this topic from 'Āishah, may Allāh be pleased with her.
Abū 'Eisā said: The Hadīth of Umm Salamah is a Hasan Hadīth.
It has been reported that the Prophet ﷺ would perform Al-Witr with thirteen with eleven, with nine, with seven, with five, with three, and with one.
Regarding the meaning of what has been reported about the Prophet ﷺ praying Witr with thirteen, Ishāq bin Ibrāhīm said: "It only means that he would pray thirteen Rak'ah during the night including Al-Witr. So the night prayer was included in Al-Witr."
He related a Hadīth about that from 'Āishah.
He also argued using a report that the Prophet ﷺ said: "Perform Al-Witr O people of the Qur'ān."
He said: He only meant the night prayer by that, as if to say that the night prayer is only to be performed by those who know the Qur'ān.
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Commentary
The night prayer is named Witr, its number of Rak'ah and forms of performance used to be different depending upon the Prophet's ﷺ various times and circumstances. Usually, he would perform eleven Rak'ah including three Witr. Sometimes, he would begin with light and brief two Rak'ah that would make the number thirteen; sometimes, he would pray ten Rak'ah in sets of two and one Witr at the end. He would sometimes pray ten Rak'ah and three Witr, eight Rak'ah and three Witr, six Rak'ah and three Witr, four Rak'ah and three Witr, and sometimes he would pray five Witr sitting in Tashah-hud only once at the end. All various forms of Witr and night prayer reported from the Prophet ﷺ may be observed according to one's own circumstances and there is no need to make any misinterpretation.
