Hadith 4492

(حديث مرفوع) حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ ، حَدَّثَنَا أَيُّوبُ ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ ، قَالَ : قَالَ رَجُلٌ : يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ، كَيْفَ تَأْمُرُنَا أَنْ نُصَلِّيَ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ ؟ قَالَ : " يُصَلِّي أَحَدُكُمْ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى ، فَإِذَا خَشِيَ الصُّبْحَ ، صَلَّى وَاحِدَةً ، فَأَوْتَرَتْ لَهُ مَا قَدْ صَلَّى مِنَ اللَّيْلِ " .
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) that once a man asked the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him): "O Messenger of Allah! What do you command us regarding the night prayer?" He replied: "You should pray in sets of two rak'ahs, and when you fear that morning is near, then add one rak'ah to those two. That will suffice as witr for all the prayers you have offered during the night."
Hadith Reference مسند احمد / مسند المكثرين من الصحابة / 4492
Hadith Grading حکم دارالسلام: إسناده صحيح، خ: 473، م: 749