I spoke in detail about this subject in my book
Salaat-ut-Taraaweeh (pg. 101-115), so I felt that I should abridge that
discussion here in order to make it easy for the reader and to remind
him:
The First Manner: consists of thirteen
rakaat, which is commenced with two short rakaat. According to the most
correct opinion, these are the two rakaat of Sunnah prayer offered after
Ishaa, or they are two specific rakaat by which one begins the Night Prayer,
as has been stated previously. Then one prays two very long rakaat (after
that). Then two more rakaat are prayed, and then another two rakaat are
prayed. Then two more rakaat are prayed and another set of two rakaat
are prayed. Then witr is made with one rakah.
The
Second Manner: consists of thirteen rakaat. There are eight
rakaat within them, in which one makes tasleem after every two rakaat.
Then witr is made with five rakaat and one does not sit nor make the tasleem
except in the fifth rakah.
The Third
Manner: consists of eleven rakaat, in which one makes tasleem
after every two rakaat and then prays witr at the end with one
rakah.
The Fourth Manner: consists of
eleven rakaat, in which one prays four rakaat and makes one tasleem after the
four. The he prays another four in a similar manner and ends it with three
rakaat (for witr).
Would the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) remain in the sitting
position after eveyr two rakaat, when praying a unit of four rakaat or a unit
of three rakaat? We do not find a clear answer for this, but remaining in
the sitting position (for tashahhud) while doing a unit of three rakaat is not
legislated (in the Religion)!
The Fifth
Manner: consists of eleven rakaat, in which one prays eight
rakaat and does not sit in any of them except for the eighth rakah.
While sitting (in the eighth rakah), he makes the tashahhud and sends Salaat on
the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) and then stands up again without making the tasleem. Then
he makes witr with one rakah and when finished, he makes the tasleem.
This consists of nine rakaat. Then he prays two rakaat after that while
in the sitting position.
The Sixth Manner:
One prays nine rakaat, in which he does not sit except after the sixth rakah.
Then he makes the tashahhud and sends Salaat on the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) and then stands
again without making the tasleem. Then he makes witr with three rakaat
and when finished, he makes the tasleem, etc. (the rest is the same as the
previous manner)
These are the manners in which it is reported that
the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) performed the Night Prayer. It is possible to add other
types of manners to it, by subtracting what one wishes from each set of rakaat
until he cuts it down to one rakah, acting on the previously mentioned hadeeth
of Allaahs Messenger (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam): So whoever wishes, then let him pray witr
with five rakaat, and whoever wishes, then let him pray witr with three
rakaat, and whoever wishes, then let him pray witr with one
rakah.
So if one wants, he can pray these five rakaat
or three rakaat with one sitting and one tasleem, as is stated in the Second
Manner. And if he wants, he can make tasleem after every two rakaat, as
is stated in the Third Manner, and this is preferred.
As for
praying the set of five rakaat or three rakaat by sitting after every two
rakaat and not making the tasleem, then we did not find any authentic report
that the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) used to do this. The asl (foundation) is
that it is permissible, but since the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) forbade us from praying witr
with three rakaat indicating the reason for that by saying: And do not
liken it to the Maghrib prayer. [1] So then anyone that prays
the witr in three rakaat must not liken it to the Maghrib prayer. This
can be done in two ways:
1. Making the tasleem between the even and
odd number rakah (i.e. between the second and the third rakah). This is what
is more strong and preferred.
2. One does not sit between the even
and odd number (i.e. he prays three rakaat straight with one tasleem), and
Allaah knows best.
Footnotes:
[1] Reported by At-Tahawee,
Ad-Daraqutnee and others. See At-Taraaweeh (pg. 99 &
110)
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