Hadith for Witr as three Rakahs with one Salam

The narration below is Sahih according to Imam al-Ayni.

عَنْ أُبَيِّ بْنِ كَعْبٍ قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقْرَأُ فِي الْوِتْرِ بِسَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الْأَعْلَى، وَفِي الرَّكْعَةِ الثَّانِيَةِ بِقُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا الْكَافِرُونَ، وَفِي الثَّالِثَةِ بِقُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ، وَلَا يُسَلِّمُ إِلَّا فِي آخِرِهِنَّ، وَيَقُولُ ـ يَعْنِي بَعْدَ التَّسْلِيمِ ـ: «سُبْحَانَ الْمَلِكِ الْقُدُّوسِ»، ثَلَاثًا

(Sayidina) Ubay bin Ka’b (May Allah Most High be pleased with him) said, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to recite Sabihismi Rabika al-Ala in Witr. In the second Rakah, Qul Ya Ayuhal Kafiroon, and Qul huwAllahu Ahad in the third. He (peace be upon him) would not make Salam except at the end of them (the three Rakahs). And He (peace be upon him) used to say (after the final Salam), Subhana al-Malik al-Qudoos, thrice. (Sunan al-Nasai 1701, Sahih).

The above Hadith is one of many that support the Hanafi position of Witr prayer being three Rakahs with one Salam. Imam Badr al-Deen al-Ayni and others said the Sanad (chain of narration) is sound.

وَعند النَّسَائِيّ بِسَنَد صَحِيح (عَن ابي بن كَعْب: كَانَ رَسُول الله صلى الله عَلَيْهِ وَسلم يُوتر: بسبح اسْم رَبك الْأَعْلَى، وَقل يَا أَيهَا الْكَافِرُونَ، وَقل هُوَ الله أحد وَلَا يسلم إلاّ فِي آخِرهنَّ). (عمدة القاري شرح صحيح البخاري)

And (Imam) al-Nasai has it with a Sahih chain. From Ubay bin Ka’b (May Allah Most High be pleased with him) that, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to perform Witr with Sabihismi Rabika al-Ala, Qul Ya Ayuhal Kafiroon, and Qul huwAllahu Ahad. He (peace be upon him) would not make Salam except at the end of them (the three Rakahs). (Umdatu al-Qari Sharh Sahih al-Bukhari, Imam Badr al-Deen al-Ayni).

وعند النسائي بسند صحيح عن أُبَيِّ بنِ كَعْبٍ: «كانَ رسولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عليهِ وسَلَّمَ يوترُ بـ {سَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ} و {قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا الْكَافِرُونَ} و {قُلْ هُوَ اللهُ أَحَدٌ} ولا يُسَلِّمُ إلا في آخِرِهِنَّ». (التلويح إلى شرح الجامع الصحيح)

And in Nasai, with a sound chain, there is the narration from Ubay bin Ka’b (May Allah Most High be pleased with him) that, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to recite Sabihismi Rabika al-Ala, Qul Ya Ayuhal Kafiroon, and Qul huwAllahu Ahad in Witr. And He (peace be upon him) would not make Salam except at the end of them (the three Rakahs). (al-Talweeh, Imam Ala al-Deen Mughaltai).

رجال إسناده ثقات إلا عبد العزيز بن خالد وهو مقبول. (نيل الأوطار)

The narrators in the chain are reliable, except for Abdal Aziz bin Khalid who is acceptable. (Imam al-Showkani, Nayl al-Atwar).

This is the Hanafi position on this issue, and it has sound evidence to support it. Scholars of other Madhaahib differed on this issue. Such difference of opinion must be respected, and one should know that they will have evidence to support their position too. Those interested should seek such evidence from scholars of those Madhaahib.

– Answered by Shaykh Noorud-deen Rashid (26.11.2021)

See also:

Witr is three Rakahs with one Salam

See also (video):