Saeed bin Jubair said that Ibn Abbas told him: He (the Prophet) got up and prayed eight rak'ahs in pairs, and then observed witr with five rak'ahs and he did not sit between them.

حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ عَبْدِ الْمَجِيدِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ عَبَّادٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏أَنَّ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ حَدَّثَهُ فِي هَذِهِ الْقِصَّةِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ "فَقَامَ فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ حَتَّى صَلَّى ثَمَانِيَ رَكَعَاتٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏ثُمَّ أَوْتَرَ بِخَمْسٍ وَلَمْ يَجْلِسْ بَيْنَهُنَّ".

Narrated Aishah: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to pray thirteen rak'ahs, observing six rak'ahs in pairs including the two rak'ahs of dawn prayer. He would observe witr and five rak'ahs. He sat only in the last of them.

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ يَحْيَى الْحَرَّانِيُّ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ عُرْوَةَ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَالَتْ:‏‏‏‏ "كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُصَلِّي ثَلَاثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً بِرَكْعَتَيْهِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَبْلَ الصُّبْحِ يُصَلِّي سِتًّا مَثْنَى مَثْنَى، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَيُوتِرُ بِخَمْسٍ لَا يَقْعُدُ بَيْنَهُنَّ إِلَّا فِي آخِرِهِنَّ".

Narrated Aishah: The Prophet ﷺ used to pray thirteen rak'ahs during the night including the two rak'ahs of the dawn prayer.

حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ أَبِي حَبِيبٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ عِرَاكِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏أَنَّهَا أَخْبَرَتْهُ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ"كَانَ يُصَلِّي بِاللَّيْلِ ثَلَاثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً بِرَكْعَتَيِ الْفَجْرِ".

Narrated Aishah: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ offered the night prayer and then prayed eight rak'ahs standing, and two rak'ahs between the two adhans (i. e. the adhan for the dawn prayer and the iqamah). He never left them. Jaf'ar bin Musafir said in his version: (He prayed) the two rak'ahs sitting between the two adhans. He added the word "sitting".

حَدَّثَنَا نَصْرُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَجَعْفَرُ بْنُ مُسَافِرٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ يَزِيدَ الْمُقْرِئَ أَخْبَرَهُمَا، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْجَعْفَرِ بْنِ رَبِيعَةَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ عِرَاكِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ"صَلَّى الْعِشَاءَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏ثُمَّ صَلَّى ثَمَانِيَ رَكَعَاتٍ قَائِمًا وَرَكْعَتَيْنِ بَيْنَ الْأَذَانَيْنِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَلَمْ يَكُنْ يَدَعُهُمَا". قَالَ جَعْفَرُ بْنُ مُسَافِرٍ فِي حَدِيثِهِ:‏‏‏‏ "وَرَكْعَتَيْنِ جَالِسًا بَيْنَ الْأَذَانَيْنِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏زَادَ جَالِسًا".

Abdullah bin Abi Qais said that he asked Aishah: How many rak'ahs would the Messenger of Allah ﷺ pray observing the witr ? She said: He used to observe the witr with four and three, six and three, eight and three, and ten and three rak'ahs never observing less than seven or more than thirteen. The narrator Ahmad added in his version: He would not observe the witr with two rak'ahs before the dawn. I asked: With what would he observe the witr ? She said: He would never leave it. The version of Ahmad does not mention the words "six and three (rak'ahs)".

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ صَالِحٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ الْمُرَادِيُّ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَالَا:‏‏‏‏ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ صَالِحٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي قَيْسٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ قُلْتُ لِعَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا:‏‏‏‏ بِكَمْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُوتِرُ ؟ قَالَتْ:‏‏‏‏ "كَانَ يُوتِرُ بِأَرْبَعٍ وَثَلَاثٍ وَسِتٍّ وَثَلَاثٍ وَثَمَانٍ وَثَلَاثٍ وَعَشْرٍ وَثَلَاثٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَلَمْ يَكُنْ يُوتِرُ بِأَنْقَصَ مِنْ سَبْعٍ وَلَا بِأَكْثَرَ مِنْ ثَلَاثَ عَشْرَةَ". قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُد:‏‏‏‏ زَادَ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ صَالِحٍ:‏‏‏‏ "وَلَمْ يَكُنْ يُوتِرُ بِرَكْعَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ الْفَجْرِ"، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قُلْتُ:‏‏‏‏ مَا يُوتِرُ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَالَتْ:‏‏‏‏ "لَمْ يَكُنْ يَدَعُ ذَلِكَ". وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ أَحْمَدُ:‏‏‏‏ "وَسِتٍّ وَثَلَاثٍ".

Narrated Aishah, Ummul Muminin: Al-Aswad ibn Yazid said that he entered upon Aishah and asked her about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ during the night. She said: He used to pray thirteen rak'ahs during the night. Then he began to pray eleven rak'ahs and left two rak'ahs. When he died, he would pray nine rak'ahs during the night. His last prayer during the night was witr.

حَدَّثَنَا مُؤَمَّلُ بْنُ هِشَامٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ مَنْصُورِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ الْهَمْدَانِيِّ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ الْأَسْوَدِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏أَنَّهُ دَخَلَ عَلَى عَائِشَةَ فَسَأَلَهَا عَنْ صَلَاةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِاللَّيْلِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَقَالَتْ:‏‏‏‏ "كَانَ يُصَلِّي ثَلَاثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً مِنَ اللَّيْلِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏ثُمَّ إِنَّهُ صَلَّى إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً وَتَرَكَ رَكْعَتَيْنِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏ثُمَّ قُبِضَ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ حِينَ قُبِضَ وَهُوَ يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ تِسْعَ رَكَعَاتٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَكَانَ آخِرُ صَلَاتِهِ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ الْوِتْرَ".

The client of Ibn Abbas said that he asked him: How would the Messenger of Allah ﷺ pray during the night ? He replied: I spent a night with him when he was with Maimunah. He slept and awoke when half the night or one-third of it had passed. He stood up and went to a leather bad containing water. He performed ablution and I also performed ablution with him. He then stood up and I also stood at his left side. He made me stand at his right side. He then put his hand upon my head, as he was touching my ear and awakening me. He then prayed two light rak'ahs and recited Surah al-Fatihah in each of them, and uttered the salutation. He then prayed eleven rak'ahs observing the witr and slept. Then Bilal came to him and said: Prayer, Messenger of Allah. He got up and prayed two rak'ahs, and then led the people in the prayer.

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ بْنُ شُعَيْبِ بْنِ اللَّيْثِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ جَدِّي، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ خَالِدِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي هِلَالٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْمَخْرَمَةَ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ،‏‏‏‏أَنَّ كُرَيْبًا مَوْلَى ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ أَخْبَرَهُ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏أَنَّهُ قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ سَأَلْتُ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ:‏‏‏‏ كَيْفَ كَانَتْ صَلَاةُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِاللَّيْلِ ؟ قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ بِتُّ عِنْدَهُ لَيْلَةً وَهُوَ عِنْدَ مَيْمُونَةَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏"فَنَامَ حَتَّى إِذَا ذَهَبَ ثُلُثُ اللَّيْلِ أَوْ نِصْفُهُ اسْتَيْقَظَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَقَامَ إِلَى شَنٍّ فِيهِ مَاءٌ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَتَوَضَّأَ وَتَوَضَّأْتُ مَعَهُ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏ثُمَّ قَامَ فَقُمْتُ إِلَى جَنْبِهِ عَلَى يَسَارِهِ فَجَعَلَنِي عَلَى يَمِينِهِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏ثُمَّ وَضَعَ يَدَهُ عَلَى رَأْسِي كَأَنَّهُ يَمَسُّ أُذُنِي كَأَنَّهُ يُوقِظُنِي، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ خَفِيفَتَيْنِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قُلْتُ فَقَرَأَ فِيهِمَا بِأُمِّ الْقُرْآنِ فِي كُلِّ رَكْعَةٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏ثُمَّ سَلَّمَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏ثُمَّ صَلَّى حَتَّى صَلَّى إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً بِالْوِتْرِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏ثُمَّ نَامَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَأَتَاهُ بِلَالٌ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَقَالَ:‏‏‏‏ الصَّلَاةُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَقَامَ فَرَكَعَ رَكْعَتَيْنِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏ثُمَّ صَلَّى لِلنَّاسِ".

Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas: I spent a night with my maternal aunt Maymunah. The Prophet ﷺ got up to pray at night. He prayed thirteen rak'ahs including two rak'ahs of the dawn prayer. I guessed that he stood in every rak'ah as long as one could recite Surah al-Muzzammil (73).

حَدَّثَنَا نُوحُ بْنُ حَبِيبٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَيَحْيَى بْنُ مُوسَى، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَالَا:‏‏‏‏ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ ابْنِ طَاوُسٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ بْنِ خَالِدٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ بِتُّ عِنْدَ خَالَتِي مَيْمُونَةَ"فَقَامَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَصَلَّى ثَلَاثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً مِنْهَا رَكْعَتَا الْفَجْرِ حَزَرْتُ قِيَامَهُ فِي كُلِّ رَكْعَةٍ بِقَدْرِ يَأَيُّهَا الْمُزَّمِّلُ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏لَمْ يَقُلْ نُوحٌ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏مِنْهَا رَكْعَتَا الْفَجْرِ".

Khalid al-Juhani said: I shall watch the prayer of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ at night. I slept at the threshold of his door or of his tent. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ prayed two light rak'ahs, and then prayed two long, long, long rak'ahs. He then prayed two rak'ahs that were not so long as the two rak'ahs before them ; he then prayed two rak'ahs that were less in duration, than the rak'ahs before them; again he prayed two rak'ahs that were less in length then the preceding rak'ahs; he then prayed two rak'ahs that were less in length than the previous rak'ahs. This made altogether thirteen rak'ahs.

حَدَّثَنَا الْقَعْنَبِيُّ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ مَالِكٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ أَبِيهِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ قَيْسِ بْنِ مَخْرَمَةَ أَخْبَرَهُ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ الْجُهَنِيِّ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏أَنَّهُ قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ لَأَرْمُقَنَّ صَلَاةَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ اللَّيْلَةَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ فَتَوَسَّدْتُ عَتَبَتَهُ أَوْ فُسْطَاطَهُ"فَصَلَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ رَكْعَتَيْنِ خَفِيفَتَيْنِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏ثُمَّ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ طَوِيلَتَيْنِ طَوِيلَتَيْنِ طَوِيلَتَيْنِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏ثُمَّ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُمَا دُونَ اللَّتَيْنِ قَبْلَهُمَا، ‏‏‏‏‏‏ثُمَّ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ دُونَ اللَّتَيْنِ قَبْلَهُمَا، ‏‏‏‏‏‏ثُمَّ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ دُونَ اللَّتَيْنِ قَبْلَهُمَا، ‏‏‏‏‏‏ثُمَّ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ دُونَ اللَّتَيْنِ قَبْلَهُمَا، ‏‏‏‏‏‏ثُمَّ أَوْتَرَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَذَلِكَ ثَلَاثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً".

Narrated Abdullah bin Abbas: That he spent a night with Maimunah, wife of the Prophet ﷺ, who was also his (Ibn Abbas's) maternal aunt. I lay towards the width of the pillow and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and his wife slept towards its length. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ slept. When half the night passed, or a little before it or a little after it, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ awoke and began to rub his face (eyes) to remove the sleep. He then recited ten verses from the last part of Surah 'Al-Imran. Hen then came to a bag of water that was hanging. He performed ablution from it and performed his ablution well. He then stood up and prayed. I also got up and did as he did. I then went and stood at his side. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ placed his right hand upon my head and took me by my ear twisting it. He then prayed two rak'ahs, then two rak'ahs, then two rak'ahs, then two rak'ahs, then two rak'ahs, then two rak'ahs. The narrator al-Qanabi said: Six times. He observed the witr prayer, and then slept until the muadhdhin came. He got up and prayed two light rak'ahs and then came out and offered the dawn prayer.

حَدَّثَنَا الْقَعْنَبِيُّ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ مَالِكٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ مَخْرمَةَ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ كُرَيْبٍ موْلَى ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَبَّاسٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏أَنَّهُ بَاتَ عِنْدَ مَيْمُونَةَ زَوْجِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَهِيَ خَالَتُهُ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ فَاضْطَجَعْتُ فِي عَرْضِ الْوِسَادَةِ"وَاضْطَجَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَأَهْلُهُ فِي طُولِهَا، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَنَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ حَتَّى إِذَا انْتَصَفَ اللَّيْلُ أَوْ قَبْلَهُ بِقَلِيلٍ أَوْ بَعْدَهُ بِقَلِيلٍ اسْتَيْقَظَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَجَلَسَ يَمْسَحُ النَّوْمَ عَنْ وَجْهِهِ بِيَدِهِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏ثُمَّ قَرَأَ الْعَشْرَ الْآيَاتِ الْخَوَاتِمِ مِنْ سُورَةِ آلِ عِمْرَانَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏ثُمَّ قَامَ إِلَى شَنٍّ مُعَلَّقَةٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَتَوَضَّأَ مِنْهَا، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَأَحْسَنَ وُضُوءَهُ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏ثُمَّ قَامَ يُصَلِّي، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ:‏‏‏‏ فَقُمْتُ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَصَنَعْتُ مِثْلَ مَا صَنَعَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏ثُمَّ ذَهَبْتُ فَقُمْتُ إِلَى جَنْبِهِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَوَضَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَدَهُ الْيُمْنَى عَلَى رَأْسِي فَأَخَذَ بِأُذُنِي يَفْتِلُهَا فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏ثُمَّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏ثُمَّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏ثُمَّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏ثُمَّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏ثُمَّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَالَ الْقَعْنَبِيُّ:‏‏‏‏ سِتَّ مَرَّاتٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏ثُمَّ أَوْتَرَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏ثُمَّ اضْطَجَعَ حَتَّى جَاءَهُ الْمُؤَذِّنُ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَقَامَ فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ خَفِيفَتَيْنِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏ثُمَّ خَرَجَ فَصَلَّى الصُّبْحَ".