Category: Q n A

The Prophet (ﷺ) went out and offered a two rak`at prayer on the Day of `Id ul Fitr and did not offer any
other prayer before or after it and at that time Bilal was accompanying him.

Once a person asked Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) (ﷺ) about the night prayer. Allah’s
Apostle (ﷺ) replied, “The night prayer is offered as two Rak`at followed by
two Rak`at and so on and if anyone is afraid of the approaching dawn
(Fajr prayer) he should pray one Rak`ah and this will be a Witr for all
the Rak`at which he has prayed before.”

Nafi` told that `Abdullah bin
`Umar used to say Taslim between (the first) two Rak`at and (the third)
odd one in the Witr prayer, when he wanted to attend to a certain
matter (during that interval between the Rak`at).

Once I passed the night in the house of Maimuna (his aunt). I slept across the bed while Allah’s
Apostle and his wife slept length-wise. The Prophet (ﷺ) slept till midnight or nearly so and woke up
rubbing his face and recited ten verses from Surat “Al-`Imran.” Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) went towards a leather
skin and performed ablution in the most perfect way and then stood for the prayer. I did the same and
stood beside him. The Prophet (ﷺ) put his right hand on my head, twisted my ear and then prayed two
rak`at five times and then ended his prayer with witr. He laid down till the Mu’adh-dhin came then he
stood up and offered two rak`at (Sunnah of Fajr prayer) and then went out and offered the Fajr prayer.
(SeeHadith 183)

Ibn `Abbas was asked whether he had joined the Prophet (ﷺ) in the `Id prayer. He said, “Yes. And I could
not have joined him had I not been young. (The Prophet (ﷺ) came out) till he reached the mark which was
near the house of Kathir bin As-Salt, offered the prayer, delivered the Khutba and then went towards
the women. Bilal was accompanying him. He preached to them and advised them and ordered them to
give alms. I saw the women putting their ornaments with their outstretched hands into Bilal’s garment.
Then the Prophet (ﷺ) along with Bilal returned home.

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Night prayer is offered as two rak`at followed by two rak`at and so on, and if you
want to finish it, pray only one rak`a which will be witr for all the previous rak`at.” Al-Qasim said,
“Since we attained the age of puberty we have seen some people offering a three-rak`at prayer as witr
and all that is permissible. I hope there will be no harm in it.”

`Ata’ told me that he had heard Jabir bin `Abdullah saying, “The Prophet (ﷺ) stood up to offer the prayer of the `Id ul Fitr. He first offered the prayer and then delivered the Khutba. After finishing it he got down (from the pulpit) and went towards the women and advised them while he was leaning on Bilal’s hand. Bilal was spreading out his garment where the women were putting their alms.” I asked `Ata’ whether it was the Zakat of `Id ul Fitr. He said, “No, it was just alms given at that time. Some lady put her finger ring and the others would do the same.” I said, (to `Ata’), “Do you think that it is incumbent upon the Imam to give advice to the women (on `Id day)?” He said, “No doubt, it is incumbent upon the Imams to do so and why should they not do so?”

Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) used to pray eleven rak`at at night and that was his night prayer and each of his
prostrations lasted for a period enough for one of you to recite fifty verses before Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)
raised his head. He also used to pray two rak`at (Sunnah) before the (compulsory) Fajr prayer and then
lie down on his right side till the Mu’adh-dhin came to him for the prayer.

‘O Prophet! When the believing women come to you to take the oath of fealty to you . . . (to the end of the verse) (60.12).’ After finishing the recitation he said, “O ladies! Are you fulfilling your covenant?” None except one woman said, “Yes.” Hasan did not know who was that woman. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Then give alms.” Bilal spread his garment and said, “Keep on giving alms. Let my father and mother sacrifice their lives for you (ladies).” So the ladies kept on putting their Fatkhs (big rings) and other kinds of rings in Bilal’s garment.” `Abdur-Razaq said, ” ‘Fatkhs’ is a big ring which used to be worn in the (Pre-Islamic) period of ignorance.

I asked Ibn `Umar, “What is your opinion about the two rak`at before the Fajr (compulsory) prayer, as
to prolonging the recitation in them?” He said, “The Prophet (ﷺ) used to pray at night two rak`at
followed by two and so on, and end the prayer by one rak`ah witr. He used to offer two rak`at before
the Fajr prayer immediately after the Adhan.” (Hammad, the sub-narrator said, “That meant (that he
prayed) quickly.)”