Narrated Aishah: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to pray ten rak'ahs during the night, and would observe the witr with one rak'ah, he then prayed two rak'ahs of the dawn prayer. Thus he prayed thirteen rak'ahs in all.

حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، ‏‏‏‏‏‏حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عَدِيٍّ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ حَنْظَلَةَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَالَتْ:‏‏‏‏ "كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ عَشْرَ رَكَعَاتٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَيُوتِرُ بِسَجْدَةٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَيَسْجُدُ سَجْدَتَيِ الْفَجْرِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَذَلِكَ ثَلَاثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً".

Narrated Aishah, wife of Prophet ﷺ: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to pray eleven rak'ahs (at night, observing the witr with one rak'ahs). When he finished it (the prayer), he would lie down on his right side.

حَدَّثَنَا الْقَعْنَبِيُّ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ مَالِكٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ عُرْوَةَ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ عَائِشَةَ زَوْجِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ"كَانَ يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً يُوتِرُ مِنْهَا بِوَاحِدَةٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَإِذَا فَرَغَ مِنْهَا اضْطَجَعَ عَلَى شِقِّهِ الْأَيْمَنِ".

Narrated Aishah: Between the time when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ finished the night prayer till the dawn broke, he used to pray eleven rak'ahs, uttering the salutation at the end of every two and observing the witr with a single one, and during that he would make a prostration about as long a one of you would take to recite fifty verses before raising his head. When the muadhdhin finished making the call for the dawn prayer, he stood up and prayed two short rak'ahs, then he lay down on his right side till the muadhdhin came to him

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَنَصْرُ بْنُ عَاصِمٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَهَذَا لَفْظُهُ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَالَا:‏‏‏‏ حَدَّثَنَا الْوَلِيدُ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏حَدَّثَنَا الْأَوْزَاعِيُّ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَقَالَ نَصْرٌ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ ابْنِ أَبِي ذِئْبٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَالْأَوْزَاعِيُّ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ الزُّهْرِيِّ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَالَتْ:‏‏‏‏ "كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُصَلِّي فِيمَا بَيْنَ أَنْ يَفْرُغَ مِنْ صَلَاةِ الْعِشَاءِ إِلَى أَنْ يَنْصَدِعَ الْفَجْرُ إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً يُسَلِّمُ مِنْ كُلِّ ثِنْتَيْنِ وَيُوتِرُ بِوَاحِدَةٍ وَيَمْكُثُ فِي سُجُودِهِ قَدْرَ مَا يَقْرَأُ أَحَدُكُمْ خَمْسِينَ آيَةً قَبْلَ أَنْ يَرْفَعَ رَأْسَهُ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَإِذَا سَكَتَ الْمُؤَذِّنُ بِالْأُولَى مِنْ صَلَاةِ الْفَجْرِ قَامَ فَرَكَعَ رَكْعَتَيْنِ خَفِيفَتَيْنِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏ثُمَّ اضْطَجَعَ عَلَى شِقِّهِ الْأَيْمَنِ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَهُ الْمُؤَذِّنُ".

This tradition has been transmitted by Ibn Shihab through a different chain of narrators to the same effect. This version adds: He would observe witr with a single rak'ah and make a prostration as long as you would take to recite fifty verses before raising his head. When the muadhdhin finished his call for the dawn prayer and the dawn became clear to him. . . . Then the narrator transmitted the rest of the tradition to the same effect. Some narrators added something more in their version.

حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ دَاوُدَ الْمَهْرِيُّ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏أَخْبَرَنِي ابْنُ أَبِي ذِئْبٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَعَمْرُو بْنُ الْحَارِثِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَيُونُسُ بْنُ يَزِيدَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏أَنَّ ابْنَ شِهَابٍ أَخْبَرَهُمْ بِإِسْنَادِهِ وَمَعْنَاهُ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ "وَيُوتِرُ بِوَاحِدَةٍ وَيَسْجُدُ سَجْدَةً قَدْرَ مَا يَقْرَأُ أَحَدُكُمْ خَمْسِينَ آيَةً قَبْلَ أَنْ يَرْفَعَ رَأْسَهُ فَإِذَا سَكَتَ الْمُؤَذِّنُ مِنْ صَلَاةِ الْفَجْرِ وَتَبَيَّنَ لَهُ الْفَجْرُ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَسَاقَ مَعْنَاهُ"قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ وَبَعْضُهُمْ يَزِيدُ عَلَى بَعْضٍ.

Narrated Aishah: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to pray thirteen rak'ahs during the night, observing a witr out of that with five, he did not sit during the five except the last and then gave the salutation. Abu Dawud said: Ibn Numair reported it from Hisham recently.

حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏حَدَّثَنَا وُهَيْبٌ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ عُرْوَةَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ أَبِيهِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَالَتْ:‏‏‏‏ "كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ ثَلَاثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً يُوتِرُ مِنْهَا بِخَمْسٍ لَا يَجْلِسُ فِي شَيْءٍ مِنَ الْخَمْسِ حَتَّى يَجْلِسَ فِي الْآخِرَةِ فَيُسَلِّمُ". قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُد:‏‏‏‏ رَوَاهُ ابْنُ نُمَيْرٍ، عَنْ هِشَامٍ نَحْوَهُ.

Narrated Aishah: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to pray thirteen rak'ahs during the night ; he then offered two light rak'ahs of prayer when he heard the call to the dawn prayer.

حَدَّثَنَا الْقَعْنَبِيُّ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ مَالِكٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ أَبِيهِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَالَتْ:‏‏‏‏ "كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُصَلِّي بِاللَّيْلِ ثَلَاثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً، ‏‏‏‏‏‏ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي إِذَا سَمِعَ النِّدَاءَ بِالصُّبْحِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ خَفِيفَتَيْنِ".

Narrated Aishah: The Prophet ﷺ used to pray thirteen rak'ahs during the night. He would offer eight rak'ahs observing the witr with one rak'ah. Then he prayed (the narrator Muslim said) two rak'ahs after witr prayer in sitting position. When he wished to bow, he stood up and bowed. He used to pray two rak'ahs between the call to the dawn prayer and the iqamah.

حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَمُسْلِمُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَالَا:‏‏‏‏ حَدَّثَنَا أَبَانُ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ يَحْيَى، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏أَنَّ نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ"كَانَ يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ ثَلَاثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً كَانَ يُصَلِّي ثَمَانِيَ رَكَعَاتٍ وَيُوتِرُ بِرَكْعَةٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَالَ مُسْلِمٌ:‏‏‏‏ بَعْدَ الْوِتْرِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏ثُمَّ اتَّفَقَا رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ قَاعِدٌ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَإِذَا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَرْكَعَ قَامَ فَرَكَعَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَيُصَلِّي بَيْنَ أَذَانِ الْفَجْرِ وَالْإِقَامَةِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ".

Abu Salamah bin Abdur-Rahman asked Aishah, the wife of the Prophet ﷺ: How did the Messenger of Allah ﷺ pray during Ramadhan ? She said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not pray more than eleven rak'ahs during Ramadhan and other than Ramadhan. He would pray four rak'ahs. Do not ask about their elegance and length. He then would pray for rak'ahs. Do not ask about their alegance and length. Then he would pray three rak'ahs. Aishah said: I asked: Messenger of Allah, do you sleep before observing witr ? He replied: Aishah, my eyes sleep, but my heart does not sleep.

حَدَّثَنَا الْقَعْنَبِيُّ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ مَالِكٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْمَقْبُرِيِّ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏أَنَّهُ أَخْبَرَهُ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏أَنَّهُ سَأَلَعَائِشَةَ زَوْجَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:‏‏‏‏ كَيْفَ كَانَتْ صَلَاةُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي رَمَضَانَ ؟ فَقَالَتْ:‏‏‏‏ "مَا كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَزِيدُ فِي رَمَضَانَ وَلَا فِي غَيْرِهِ عَلَى إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً يُصَلِّي أَرْبَعًا فَلَا تَسْأَلْ عَنْ حُسْنِهِنَّ وَطُولِهِنَّ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي أَرْبَعًا فَلَا تَسْأَلْ عَنْ حُسْنِهِنَّ وَطُولِهِنَّ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي ثَلَاثًا". قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا:‏‏‏‏ فَقُلْتُ:‏‏‏‏ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏أَتَنَامُ قَبْلَ أَنْ تُوتِرَ ؟ قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ "يَا عَائِشَةُ إِنَّ عَيْنَيَّ تَنَامَانِ وَلَا يَنَامُ قَلْبِي".

Narrated Saad bin Hisham: I divorced my wife. I then came to Madina to sell my land that was there so that I could buy arms and fight in battle. I met a group of the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ. They said: Six persons of us intended to do so (i. e. divorce their wives and purchase weapons), but the Prophet ﷺ prohibited them. He said: For you in the Messenger of Allah there is an excellent model. I then came to Ibn Abbas and asked him about the witr observed by the Prophet ﷺ. He said: I point to you a person who is most familiar with the witr observed by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Go to Aishah. While going to her I asked Hakim bin Aflah to accompany me. He refused, but I adjured him. He, therefore, went along with me. We sought permission to enter upon Aishah. She said: Who is this ? He said: Hakim bin Aflah. She asked: Who is with you ? He replied: Saad bin Hisham. She said: Hisham son of Amir who was killed in the Battle of Uhud. I said: Yes. She said: What a good man Amir was! I said: Mother of faithful, tell me about the character of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. She asked: Do you not recite the Quran ? The character of Messenger of Allah ﷺ was the Quran. I asked: Tell me about his vigil and prayer at night. She replied: Do you not recite: "O thou folded in garments" (73: 1). I said: Why not ? When the opening of this Surah was revealed, the Companions stood praying (most of the night) until their fett swelled, and the concluding verses were not revealed for twelve months from heaven. At last the concluding verses were revealed and the prayer at night became voluntary after it was obligatory. I said: Tell me about the witr of the Prophet ﷺ. She replied: He used to pray eight rak'ahs, sitting only during the eighth of them. Then he would stand up and pray another rak'ahs. He would sit only after the eighth and the ninth rak'ahs. He would utter salutation only after the ninth rak'ah. He would then pray two rak'ahs sitting and that made eleven rak'ahs, O my son. But when he grew old and became fleshy he observed a witr of seven, sitting only in sixth and seventh rak'ahs, and would utter salutation only after the seventh rak'ah. He would then pray two rak'ahs sitting, and that made nine rak'ahs, O my son. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would not pray through a whole night, or recite the whole Quran in a night or fast a complete month except in Ramadan. When he offered prayer, he would do that regularly. When he was overtaken by sleep at night, he would pray twelve rak'ahs. The narrator said: I came to Ibn Abbas and narrated all this to him. By Allah, this is really a tradition. Has I been on speaking terms with her, I would have come to her and heard it from her mouth. I said: If I knew that you were not on speaking terms with her, I would have never narrated it to you.

حَدَّثَنَا حَفْصُ بْنُ عُمَرَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏حَدَّثَنَا هَمَّامٌ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏حَدَّثَنَا قَتَادَةُ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ زُرَارَةَ بْنِ أَوْفَى، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ هِشَامٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ طَلَّقْتُ امْرَأَتِي، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَأَتَيْتُ الْمَدِينَةَ لِأَبِيعَ عَقَارًا كَانَ لِي بِهَا فَأَشْتَرِيَ بِهِ السِّلَاحَ وَأَغْزُو، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَلَقِيتُ نَفَرًا مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَقَالُوا:‏‏‏‏ قَدْ أَرَادَ نَفَرٌ مِنَّا سِتَّةٌ أَنْ يَفْعَلُوا ذَلِكَ فَنَهَاهُمُ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَقَالَ:‏‏‏‏ "لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ"، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَأَتَيْتُ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ فَسَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ وِتْرِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَقَالَ:‏‏‏‏ أَدُلُّكَ عَلَى أَعْلَمِ النَّاسِ بِوِتْرِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَأْتِ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَأَتَيْتُهَا، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَاسْتَتْبَعْتُ حَكِيمَ بْنَ أَفْلَحَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَأَبَى، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَنَاشَدْتُهُ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَانْطَلَقَ مَعِي، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَاسْتَأْذَنَّا عَلَى عَائِشَةَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَقَالَتْ:‏‏‏‏ مَنْ هَذَا ؟ قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ حَكِيمُ بْنُ أَفْلَحَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَالَتْ:‏‏‏‏ وَمَنْ مَعَكَ ؟ قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ سَعْدُ بْنُ هِشَامٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَالَتْ:‏‏‏‏ هِشَامُ بْنُ عَامِرٍ الَّذِي قُتِلَ يَوْمَ أُحُدٍ ؟ قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ قُلْتُ:‏‏‏‏ نَعَمْ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَالَتْ:‏‏‏‏ نِعْمَ الْمَرْءُ كَانَ عَامِرٌ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ قُلْتُ:‏‏‏‏ "يَا أُمَّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏حَدِّثِينِي عَنْ خُلُقِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَالَتْ:‏‏‏‏ أَلَسْتَ تَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ ؟ فَإِنَّ خُلُقَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ الْقُرْآنَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ قُلْتُ:‏‏‏‏ حَدِّثِينِي عَنْ قِيَامِ اللَّيْلِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَالَتْ:‏‏‏‏ أَلَسْتَ تَقْرَأُ يَأَيُّهَا الْمُزَّمِّلُ ؟ قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ قُلْتُ:‏‏‏‏ بَلَى، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَالَتْ:‏‏‏‏ فَإِنَّ أَوَّلَ هَذِهِ السُّورَةِ نَزَلَتْ فَقَامَ أَصْحَابُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ حَتَّى انْتَفَخَتْ أَقْدَامُهُمْ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَحُبِسَ خَاتِمَتُهَا فِي السَّمَاءِ اثْنَيْ عَشَرَ شَهْرًا، ‏‏‏‏‏‏ثُمَّ نَزَلَ آخِرُهَا فَصَارَ قِيَامُ اللَّيْلِ تَطَوُّعًا بَعْدَ فَرِيضَةٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ قُلْتُ:‏‏‏‏ حَدِّثِينِي عَنْ وِتْرِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَالَتْ:‏‏‏‏ كَانَ يُوتِرُ بِثَمَانِ رَكَعَاتٍ لَا يَجْلِسُ إِلَّا فِي الثَّامِنَةِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏ثُمَّ يَقُومُ فَيُصَلِّي رَكْعَةً أُخْرَى لَا يَجْلِسُ إِلَّا فِي الثَّامِنَةِ وَالتَّاسِعَةِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَلَا يُسَلِّمُ إِلَّا فِي التَّاسِعَةِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَتِلْكَ إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً يَا بُنَيَّ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَلَمَّا أَسَنَّ وَأَخَذَ اللَّحْمَ أَوْتَرَ بِسَبْعِ رَكَعَاتٍ لَمْ يَجْلِسْ إِلَّا فِي السَّادِسَةِ وَالسَّابِعَةِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَلَمْ يُسَلِّمْ إِلَّا فِي السَّابِعَةِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ فَتِلْكَ هِيَ تِسْعُ رَكَعَاتٍ يَا بُنَيَّ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَلَمْ يَقُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَيْلَةً يُتِمُّهَا إِلَى الصَّبَاحِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَلَمْ يَقْرَأْ الْقُرْآنَ فِي لَيْلَةٍ قَطُّ وَلَمْ يَصُمْ شَهْرًا يُتِمُّهُ غَيْرَ رَمَضَانَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَكَانَ إِذَا صَلَّى صَلَاةً دَاوَمَ عَلَيْهَا، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَكَانَ إِذَا غَلَبَتْهُ عَيْنَاهُ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ بِنَوْمٍ صَلَّى مِنَ النَّهَارِ ثِنْتَيْ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً"قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ فَأَتَيْتُ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ فَحَدَّثْتُهُ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَقَالَ:‏‏‏‏ هَذَا وَاللَّهِ هُوَ الْحَدِيثُ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَلَوْ كُنْتُ أُكَلِّمُهَا لَأَتَيْتُهَا حَتَّى أُشَافِهَهَا بِهِ مُشَافَهَةً، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ قُلْتُ:‏‏‏‏ لَوْ عَلِمْتُ أَنَّكَ لَا تُكَلِّمُهَا مَا حَدَّثْتُكَ.

The above mentioned tradition has also been narrated by Qatadah through a different chain of narrators. This version adds: He (the Prophet ( used to pray eight rak'ahs during which he did not sit except the eight rak'ahs. He would sit, make mention of Allah, supplicate Him and then utter the salutation so loudly that we could hear it. He would then pray two rak'ahs sitting after he had uttered the salutation. Then he would pray one rak'ah, and that made eleven rak'ahs, O my son. When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ grew old and became fleshy, he offered seven rak'ahs of witr, and then he would pray two rak'ahs sitting after he had uttered the salutation. The narrator narrated the tradition to the same effect till the end.

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ سَعِيدٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏بِإِسْنَادِهِ نَحْوَهُ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ "يُصَلِّي ثَمَانِيَ رَكَعَاتٍ لَا يَجْلِسُ فِيهِنَّ إِلَّا عِنْدَ الثَّامِنَةِ فَيَجْلِسُ فَيَذْكُرُ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏ثُمَّ يَدْعُو، ‏‏‏‏‏‏ثُمَّ يُسَلِّمُ تَسْلِيمًا يُسْمِعُنَا، ‏‏‏‏‏‏ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ بَعْدَ مَا يُسَلِّمُ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي رَكْعَةً فَتِلْكَ إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً يَا بُنَيَّ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَلَمَّا أَسَنَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَأَخَذَ اللَّحْمَ أَوْتَرَ بِسَبْعٍ وَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ بَعْدَ مَا يُسَلِّمُ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏بِمَعْنَاهُ إِلَى مُشَافَهَةً".