Hadith 5085

(حديث مرفوع) حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ ، أَخْبَرَنَا أَيُّوبُ ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ ، قَالَ : نَادَى رَجُلٌ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ، قَالَ : يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ، كَيْفَ تَأْمُرُنَا نُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ ؟ قَالَ : " يُصَلِّي أَحَدُكُمْ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى ، فَإِذَا خَشِيَ الصُّبْحَ يُصَلِّي وَاحِدَةً ، فَأَوْتَرَتْ لَهُ مَا قَدْ صَلَّى " .
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) that once a man asked the Prophet (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 pairs 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 / 5085
Hadith Grading حکم دارالسلام: إسناده صحيح، خ: 473، م: 729.