Hadith 5483

(حديث مرفوع) حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ ، سَمِعْتُ عُقْبَةَ بْنَ حُرَيْثٍ ، سَمِعْتُ ابْنَ عُمَرَ يُحَدِّثُ ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ : " صَلَاةُ اللَّيْلِ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى ، فَإِذَا رَأَيْتَ أَنَّ الصُّبْحَ يُدْرِكُكَ فَأَوْتِرْ بِوَاحِدَةٍ " ، قَالَ : فَقِيلَ لِابْنِ عُمَرَ : مَا مَثْنَى مَثْنَى ؟ قَالَ : تُسَلِّمُ فِي كُلِّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ .
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) that once the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The night prayer consists of two rak'ahs at a time. When you fear that dawn is approaching, then add one rak'ah to these two." Someone asked Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both), "What does 'two at a time' mean?" He replied: "It means that you should say salam after every two rak'ahs."
Hadith Reference مسند احمد / مسند المكثرين من الصحابة / 5483
Hadith Grading حکم دارالسلام: إسناده صحيح ، م :749.