The Prophet ﷺ’s Practice of 11 Rakʿahs in Ramadan and Outside Ramadan
Source: Aḥkām wa Masāʾil, Ṣalāh Section, Vol. 1, p.227
❖ Question
According to the narration of ʿĀ’ishah (RA), the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to pray a total of 11 Rakʿahs in both Ramadan and outside Ramadan. Kindly explain in detail:
◈ In Ramadan, when Tarāwīḥ was prayed, were the Witr three Rakʿahs?
◈ Outside Ramadan, which Rakʿahs were obligatory and Sunnah?
◈ In summary, how many Rakʿahs of obligatory prayers, Sunnah Muʾakkadah, and Witr did the Messenger of Allah ﷺ regularly pray in Ramadan and outside Ramadan?
❖ Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā baʿd!
ʿĀ’ishah al-Ṣiddīqah (RA) explained in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim regarding these eleven Rakʿahs:
"He ﷺ would pray eleven Rakʿahs, offering salām after every two Rakʿahs."
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb Ṣalāt al-Musāfirīn, Bāb Ṣalāt al-Layl wa ʿAdad Rakʿāt al-Nabī ﷺ fī al-Layl)
From this narration, the following is clear:
◈ The Prophet ﷺ used to offer salām after every two Rakʿahs.
◈ At the end, he would pray one Rakʿah of Witr separately, with its own salām.
It is also established from authentic narrations that the night prayer (Tahajjud or Qiyām al-Layl) of the Prophet ﷺ had multiple valid forms, and all such forms are correct to practice.
❖ Summary of the Prophet ﷺ’s Practice
Whether in Ramadan or outside Ramadan, the Prophet ﷺ’s practice was:
◈ Total Rakʿahs: 11
◈ Pattern: Two by two Rakʿahs with salām after each, then a separate Witr prayer
✿ In Ramadan
◈ Tarāwīḥ: 8 Rakʿahs (in sets of two)
◈ Witr: 3 Rakʿahs (separate)
◈ Total: 11 Rakʿahs
✿ Outside Ramadan
◈ Tahajjud / Qiyām al-Layl: 8 Rakʿahs (in sets of two)
◈ Witr: 3 Rakʿahs (separate)
◈ Total: 11 Rakʿahs
This was the consistent practice of the Prophet ﷺ, as clearly mentioned by ʿĀ’ishah (RA).
❖ Other Narrations Show Various Forms of Night Prayer
The Prophet ﷺ is also authentically reported to have prayed:
◈ Witr as three Rakʿahs separately
◈ Witr as one Rakʿah
◈ Sometimes Witr as five, seven, or nine Rakʿahs
All these methods are authentically established from the Prophet ﷺ, and practicing any of them is correct and permissible.
ھذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
