The Optional Salah (prayer)

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع وَ أَنَا شَابٌّ فَوَصَفَ لِيَ التَّطَوُّعَ وَ الصَّوْمَ فَرَأَى ثِقْلَ ذَلِكَ فِي وَجْهِي فَقَالَ لِي إِنَّ هَذَا لَيْسَ كَالْفَرِيضَةِ مَنْ تَرَكَهَا هَلَكَ إِنَّمَا هُوَ التَّطَوُّعُ إِنْ شُغِلْتَ عَنْهُ أَوْ تَرَكْتَهُ قَضَيْتَهُ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا يَكْرَهُونَ أَنْ تُرْفَعَ أَعْمَالُهُمْ يَوْماً تَامّاً وَ يَوْماً نَاقِصاً إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ‌ الَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلى‌ صَ

“I went to visit abu Ja‘far (a.s.). I was a young person. The Imam described for me optional Salawat (prayers) and fasting and he noticed from my face that I considered it heavy. He then said to me, This is not like obligatory Salawat (prayers), so that on neglecting, one is destroyed. It is optional and if you cannot

الْفَرِيضَةُ وَ النَّافِلَةُ إِحْدَى وَ خَمْسُونَ رَكْعَةً مِنْهَا رَكْعَتَانِ بَعْدَ الْعَتَمَةِ جَالِساً تُعَدَّانِ بِرَكْعَةٍ وَ هُوَ قَائِمٌ الْفَرِيضَةُ مِنْهَا سَبْعَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً وَ النَّافِلَةُ أَرْبَعٌ وَ ثَلَاثُونَ رَكْعَةً.

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from ibn ’Udhaynah from ibn Faddal ibn Yasar who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘Obligatory and optional Salah (prayer) are fifty-one Rak‘at, of which there are two Rak‘at after al-‘Atmah in a sitting position whic

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يُصَلِّي مِنَ التَّطَوُّعِ مِثْلَيِ الْفَرِيضَةِ وَ يَصُومُ مِنَ التَّطَوُّعِ مِثْلَيِ الْفَرِيضَةِ.

“We heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying that the Messenger of Allah would perform of optional Salah (prayer) twice as much as obligatory Salah (prayer), and fast of optional fast twice as much as the obligatory one.”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ أَفْضَلِ مَا جَرَتْ بِهِ السُّنَّةُ مِنَ الصَّلَاةِ فَقَالَ تَمَامُ الْخَمْسِينَ. - وَ رَوَى الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ‌ مِثْلَهُ.

‘It is the complete, all fifty (Rak‘at).’” Al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id has narrated from Muhammad ibn Sinan a similar Hadith.

سَأَلَ عَمْرُو بْنُ حُرَيْثٍ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ أَنَا جَالِسٌ فَقَالَ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ صَلَاةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص فَقَالَ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ ص يُصَلِّي ثَمَانِيَ رَكَعَاتِ الزَّوَالِ وَ أَرْبَعاً الْأُولَى وَ ثَمَانِيَ بَعْدَهَا وَ أَرْبَعاً الْعَصْرَ وَ ثَلَاثاً الْمَغْرِبَ وَ أَرْبَعاً بَعْدَ الْمَغْرِبِ وَ الْعِشَاءَ الْآخِرَةَ أَرْبَعاً وَ ثَمَانِيَ صَلَاةَ اللَّيْلِ وَ ثَلَاثاً الْوَتْر

5. Muhammad has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Flusayn from Muhammad ibn ’Isma‘il ibn Bazi‘ from Hanan who has said the following: “Once, when I was present, ‘Arm ibn Hurayth asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, tell me about Salah (prayer) of the Messenger of

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع هَلْ قَبْلَ الْعِشَاءِ الْآخِرَةِ وَ بَعْدَهَا شَيْ‌ءٌ قَالَ لَا غَيْرَ أَنِّي أُصَلِّي بَعْدَهَا رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَ لَسْتُ أَحْسُبُهُمَا مِنْ صَلَاةِ اللَّيْلِ.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘Is there anything before or after al-‘Isha’ al- Akhirah?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘No, except that I perform two Rak‘at thereafter and I do not count it as part of nightly Salah (prayer).’”

نَهَانِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَنْ أَتَكَلَّمَ بَيْنَ الْأَرْبَعِ رَكَعَاتٍ الَّتِي بَعْدَ الْمَغْرِبِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), prohibited me from speaking between the four Rak‘at after al- Maghrib.”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع إِنَّ أَصْحَابَنَا يَخْتَلِفُونَ فِي صَلَاةِ التَّطَوُّعِ بَعْضُهُمْ يُصَلِّي أَرْبَعاً وَ أَرْبَعِينَ وَ بَعْضُهُمْ يُصَلِّي خَمْسِينَ فَأَخْبِرْنِي بِالَّذِي تَعْمَلُ بِهِ أَنْتَ كَيْفَ هُوَ حَتَّى أَعْمَلَ بِمِثْلِهِ فَقَالَ أُصَلِّي وَاحِدَةً وَ خَمْسِينَ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَمْسِكْ وَ عَقَدَ بِيَدِهِ الزَّوَالَ ثَمَانِيَةً وَ أَرْبَعاً بَعْدَ الظُّهْرِ وَ أَرْبَعاً قَبْلَ الْعَصْرِ وَ رَكْعَت

“I once said to abu al-Hassan (a.s.), that our people have differences about optional Salah (prayer). Certain ones among them say it is forty-four and others perform fifty. Please tell me about what you perform and how is it, so I can do similarly. He (the Imam) said, ‘I perform fifty-one Rak‘at.’ He (the Imam) then sa

سَأَلْتُهُ‌[1] عَنِ التَّطَوُّعِ بِالنَّهَارِ فَذَكَرَ أَنَّهُ يُصَلِّي ثَمَانَ رَكَعَاتٍ قَبْلَ الظُّهْرِ وَ ثَمَانٍ بَعْدَهَا.

‘He performs eight Rak‘at before al-Dhuhr and eight after al-Dhuhr.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص‌ صَلَاةُ الزَّوَالِ صَلَاةُ الْأَوَّابِينَ‌[2].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, “Salah (prayer) at noontime is Salah (prayer) of repenting people.’””

قُلْتُ لَهُ‌ آناءَ اللَّيْلِ‌ ساجِداً وَ قائِماً يَحْذَرُ الْآخِرَةَ وَ يَرْجُوا رَحْمَةَ رَبِّهِ‌[3] قَالَ يَعْنِي صَلَاةَ اللَّيْلِ قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ‌ وَ أَطْرافَ النَّهارِ لَعَلَّكَ تَرْضى‌[4] قَالَ يَعْنِي تَطَوَّعْ بِالنَّهَارِ قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ‌ وَ إِدْبارَ النُّجُومِ‌[5] قَالَ رَكْعَتَانِ قَبْلَ الصُّبْحِ قُلْتُ‌ وَ أَدْبارَ السُّجُودِ[6] قَالَ رَكْعَتَانِ بَعْدَ الْمَغْرِبِ.

“I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the words of Allah, ‘. . . during the night in Sajdah (prostration) and in standing position fearful of the next life and hopeful of the mercy of his Lord. . . .’ (20:130). He (the Imam) said, ‘It is a reference to the nightly optional Salah (prayer).’ I then said, ‘ . . . and in

إِذَا قُمْتَ بِاللَّيْلِ مِنْ مَنَامِكَ فَقُلِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي رَدَّ عَلَيَّ رُوحِي لِأَحْمَدَهُ وَ أَعْبُدَهُ فَإِذَا سَمِعْتَ صَوْتَ الدُّيُوكِ فَقُلْ سُبُّوحٌ قُدُّوسٌ رَبُّ الْمَلَائِكَةِ وَ الرُّوحِ سَبَقَتْ رَحْمَتُكَ غَضَبَكَ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ وَحْدَكَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ عَمِلْتُ سُوءاً وَ ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي‌ وَ ارْحَمْنِي إِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ فَإِذَا قُمْتَ

“Abu la’ far (a.s.), has said, ‘At the time you wake up, at night for prayer (Tahajjud) then say, “All praise belongs to Allah who has returned my spirit so I can praise and worship Him.” When you hear the rooster crow say, “He is free of all defects. He is most holy. He is the Lord of angels and the spirit. His mercy

إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص كَانَ إِذَا صَلَّى الْعِشَاءَ الْآخِرَةَ أَمَرَ بِوَضُوئِهِ وَ سِوَاكِهِ يُوضَعُ عِنْدَ رَأْسِهِ مُخَمَّراً فَيَرْقُدُ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ يَقُومُ فَيَسْتَاكُ وَ يَتَوَضَّأُ وَ يُصَلِّي أَرْبَعَ رَكَعَاتٍ ثُمَّ يَرْقُدُ ثُمَّ يَقُومُ فَيَسْتَاكُ وَ يَتَوَضَّأُ وَ يُصَلِّي أَرْبَعَ رَكَعَاتٍ ثُمَّ يَرْقُدُ حَتَّى إِذَا كَانَ فِي وَجْهِ الصُّبْحِ قَامَ فَأَوْتَرَ ثُمَّ صَلَّى الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘The Messenger of Allah, after performing ‘Isha’ al- Akhirah (the late evening Salah (prayer)) would ask that water for his Wudu’ and toothbrush be placed near his pillow under a cover. He then would sleep as long as Allah willed then he would wake up, brush, make Wudu’ and perform fou

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ ثَلَاثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً مِنْهَا الْوَتْرُ وَ رَكْعَتَا الْفَجْرِ فِي السَّفَرِ وَ الْحَضَرِ.

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah would perform thirteen Rak‘at at night of which one Rak‘at was al-Witr and two Rak‘at of the morning whether on a journey or at home.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ صَلَاةُ النَّهَارِ سِتَّ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً ثَمَانٌ إِذَا زَالَتِ الشَّمْسُ وَ ثَمَانٌ بَعْدَ الظُّهْرِ وَ أَرْبَعُ رَكَعَاتٍ بَعْدَ الْمَغْرِبِ يَا حَارِثُ لَا تَدَعْهُنَّ فِي سَفَرٍ وَ لَا حَضَرٍ وَ رَكْعَتَانِ بَعْدَ الْعِشَاءِ الْآخِرَةِ كَانَ أَبِي يُصَلِّيهِمَا وَ هُوَ قَاعِدٌ وَ أَنَا أُصَلِّيهِمَا وَ أَنَا قَائِمٌ وَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يُصَلِّي ثَلَاثَ عَشْرَةَ رَك

“I heard abu ‘Abd Allah, saying, ‘During the day there are sixteen Rak‘ats Salah (prayer). There are eight after the sun declines to the west at noon, eight after Dhuhr Salah (prayer), four Rak‘at after Maghrib (soon after sunset) - O Harith do not miss them at home or on a journey- and two Rak‘at after the ‘Isha’ al-A

قُلْتُ لِلرِّضَا ع كَمِ الصَّلَاةُ مِنْ رَكْعَةٍ فَقَالَ إِحْدَى وَ خَمْسُونَ رَكْعَةً. - مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى‌ مِثْلَهُ.

“I asked al-Rida (a.s.), ‘Of how many Rak‘at does Salah (prayer) consist?’ He replied, ‘There are fifty-one Rak‘at (every day).”’ Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa a similar Hadith.

يَعْنِي بِقَوْلِهِ- وَ أَقْوَمُ قِيلًا قِيَامَ الرَّجُلِ عَنْ فِرَاشِهِ يُرِيدُ بِهِ اللَّهَ لَا يُرِيدُ بِهِ غَيْرَهُ.

“About the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, ‘nightly initiation is of strong impression and of strongest words’ (73:7) abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, “‘strongest words” means a man’s getting up from his bed just for the sake of Allah and for no other considerations.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ يُوقَظُ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَقُمْ أَتَاهُ الشَّيْطَانُ فَبَالَ فِي أُذُنِهِ قَالَ وَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- كانُوا قَلِيلًا مِنَ اللَّيْلِ ما يَهْجَعُونَ‌[2] قَالَ كَانُوا أَقَلَّ اللَّيَالِي تَفُوتُهُمْ لَا يَقُومُونَ فِيهَا.

“I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘A servant (of Allah) wakes up three times at night and if he still is not up (for Salah (prayer)) Satan comes and urinates in his ears.’ I then asked about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, ‘They would sleep very little at night’. (51:18) The Imam replied

أَصْلَحَكَ اللَّهُ فَأَيُّ سَاعَةٍ هِيَ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ قَالَ إِذَا مَضَى نِصْفُ اللَّيْلِ فِي السُّدُسِ الْأَوَّلِ مِنَ النِّصْفِ الْبَاقِي.

“I heard abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘In the night there is an hour in which if a Muslim performs Salah (prayer) and appeals before Allah for a wish; his prayer is answered every night. I (the narrator) then asked saying, ‘I pray to Allah to keep you well, which hour is it?’ The Imam replied, ‘It is in the first one-si

قُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّ رَجُلًا مِنْ مَوَالِيكَ مِنْ صُلَحَائِهِمْ شَكَا إِلَيَّ مَا يَلْقَى مِنَ النَّوْمِ وَ قَالَ إِنِّي أُرِيدُ الْقِيَامَ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ بِاللَّيْلِ فَيَغْلِبُنِي النَّوْمُ حَتَّى أُصْبِحَ وَ رُبَّمَا قَضَيْتُ صَلَاتِيَ الشَّهْرَ مُتَتَابِعاً وَ الشَّهْرَيْنِ أَصْبِرُ عَلَى ثِقَلِهِ فَقَالَ قُرَّةُ عَيْنٍ لَهُ وَ اللَّهِ قَالَ وَ لَمْ يُرَخِّصْ لَهُ فِي الصَّلَاةِ فِي أَوَّلِ اللَّيْلِ وَ قَالَ الْقَ

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘A man of your followers, of their virtuous ones complained before me against sleep. He said that he wants to get up for the nightly optional Salah (prayer) but sleep overcomes him until it is morning. Sometimes he performs the compensatory prayer for a whole month of missed Salah

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ مَا كَانَ يُحْمَدُ الرَّجُلُ أَنْ يَقُومَ مِنْ آخِرِ اللَّيْلِ فَيُصَلِّيَ صَلَاتَهُ ضَرْبَةً وَاحِدَةً ثُمَّ يَنَامَ وَ يَذْهَبَ.[2]

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘A man who gets up in the end of the night to perform his nightly optional Salah (prayer), all of them at one time and goes away to sleep, is not very praiseworthy.”

قُلْتُ لَهُ الرَّجُلُ يُصَلِّي الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ مِنَ الْوَتْرِ ثُمَّ يَقُومُ فَيَنْسَى التَّشَهُّدَ حَتَّى يَرْكَعَ وَ يَذْكُرُ وَ هُوَ رَاكِعٌ قَالَ يَجْلِسُ مِنْ رُكُوعِهِ فَيَتَشَهَّدُ ثُمَّ يَقُومُ فَيُتِمُّ قَالَ قُلْتُ أَ لَيْسَ قُلْتَ فِي الْفَرِيضَةِ إِذَا ذَكَرَهُ بَعْدَ مَا رَكَعَ مَضَى ثُمَّ سَجَدَ سَجْدَتَيِ السَّهْوِ بَعْدَ مَا يَنْصَرِفُ وَ يَتَشَهَّدُ فِيهِمَا قَالَ لَيْسَ النَّافِلَةُ مِثْلَ الْفَرِيضَ

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who performs two Rak‘at of al-Witr, then stands up and forgets saying Tashahhud (testimonies of belief) until he performs Ruku‘ (bowing down on one’s knees), then remembers when he is in Ruku‘. He (the Imam) said, ‘He is required to sit down from Ruku‘, say Tashahhud,

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ أَفْضَلِ سَاعَاتِ الْوَتْرِ فَقَالَ الْفَجْرُ أَوَّلُ ذَلِكَ‌[1].

‘Dawn is the beginning of it.”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَيَّةَ سَاعَةٍ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يُوتِرُ فَقَالَ عَلَى مِثْلِ مَغِيبِ الشَّمْسِ إِلَى صَلَاةِ الْمَغْرِبِ.

“I once asked abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), ’What time did the Messenger of Allah perform al- Witr?’ He (the Imam) said, ’Within a time like from sunset to al-Maghrib Salah (prayer).’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع الرَّكْعَتَانِ اللَّتَانِ قَبْلَ الْغَدَاةِ أَيْنَ مَوْضِعُهُمَا فَقَالَ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الْفَجْرِ فَإِذَا طَلَعَ الْفَجْرُ فَقَدْ دَخَلَ وَقْتُ الْغَدَاةِ.

’It is before dawn. When it is dawn, it becomes time for the morning.’”

صَلَّيْتُ خَلْفَ الرِّضَا ع فِي الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ صَلَاةَ اللَّيْلِ فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ جَعَلَ مَكَانَ‌ الضَّجْعَةِ سَجْدَةً[1].

“I performed my Salah (prayer), in Masjid al-Haram. Al-Rida’ ‘Alayhi al-Salam, led the Salah (prayer). It was Salah (prayer) of night. When he (the Imam) completed, he (the Imam) made his sleep (instead of sleeping after Salah (prayer)) into a Sajdah (prostration).”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنِّي أَقُومُ آخِرَ اللَّيْلِ وَ أَخَافُ الصُّبْحَ قَالَ اقْرَأِ الْحَمْدَ وَ اعْجَلْ وَ اعْجَلْ‌[2].

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘I get up in the end of the night and I fear (of the coming of dawn before completing).’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Recite just al-Fatihah, and make it faster and faster.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَقُومُ مِنْ آخِرِ اللَّيْلِ وَ هُوَ يَخْشَى أَنْ يَفْجَأَهُ الصُّبْحُ أَ يَبْدَأُ بِالْوَتْرِ أَوْ يُصَلِّي الصَّلَاةَ عَلَى وَجْهِهَا حَتَّى يَكُونَ الْوَتْرُ آخِرَ ذَلِكَ قَالَ بَلْ يَبْدَأُ بِالْوَتْرِ وَ قَالَ أَنَا كُنْتُ فَاعِلًا ذَلِكَ.

“I once asked abu Ja’far (a.s.), about a man who gets up in the end of the night and he is afraid of coming of dawn (before completing). Should he begin with al-Witr or perform Salah (prayer) as normal so that al-Witr becomes the last item?’ He (the Imam) said, ’He begins with al-Witr.’ He (the Imam) said, ’I have done

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ التَّسْلِيمِ فِي رَكْعَتَيِ الْوَتْرِ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ وَ إِنْ كَانَتْ لَكَ حَاجَةٌ فَاخْرُجْ وَ اقْضِهَا ثُمَّ عُدْ وَ ارْكَعْ رَكْعَةً.

‘Yes, if you may need something, you can go out and when you are prepared, then come back to perform one Rak’at.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الْوَتْرِ مَا يُقْرَأُ فِيهِنَّ جَمِيعاً قَالَ بِ قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ قُلْتُ فِي ثَلَاثِهِنَّ قَالَ نَعَمْ.

‘Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad is recited.’ I then asked, ‘Is it read in all three of them?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, it is read in all three of them.’”

لَا أَثْنِ عَلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ صَلِّ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ص وَ اسْتَغْفِرْ لِذَنْبِكَ الْعَظِيمِ ثُمَّ قَالَ كُلُّ ذَنْبٍ عَظِيمٌ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked about Qunut (supplication after recitation) in al-Witr: if there is a definite reading for it which is followed and recited. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, there is no definite reading for it. Praise Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, and say, ‘O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and h

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ الْقُنُوتُ فِي الْوَتْرِ الِاسْتِغْفَارُ وَ فِي الْفَرِيضَةِ الدُّعَاءُ.

“Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Qunut (supplication after recitation) in al-Witr is asking for forgiveness and in obligatory Salah (prayer) it is to ask for your wishes.’”

اسْتَغْفِرِ اللَّهَ فِي الْوَتْرِ سَبْعِينَ مَرَّةً.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that in al-Witr, ask forgiveness from Allah seventy times.” (Ahadith 20-34 are best explained in the form of fatwa.)

جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ ص فَقَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِنِّي قَدْ حُرِمْتُ الصَّلَاةَ بِاللَّيْلِ فَقَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع أَنْتَ رَجُلٌ قَدْ قَيَّدَتْكَ ذُنُوبُكَ.

“A man came to Amir al-Mu’minin Ali, ibn abu Talib (a.s.), and said, ’O Amir al- Mu’minin, I am deprived of Salah (prayer) at night.’ Amir al-Mu’minin said, ‘Your sins have tied you down.’”

قَرَأْتُ فِي كِتَابِ رَجُلٍ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌[1] الرَّكْعَتَانِ اللَّتَانِ قَبْلَ صَلَاةِ الْفَجْرِ مِنْ صَلَاةِ اللَّيْلِ هِيَ أَمْ مِنْ صَلَاةِ النَّهَارِ وَ فِي أَيِّ وَقْتٍ أُصَلِّيهَا فَكَتَبَ بِخَطِّهِ احْشُهَا فِي صَلَاةِ اللَّيْلِ حَشْواً[2].

“I have read in a letter of a man to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and it says, ‘Are the two Rak‘at before Salah (prayer) of dawn of Salah (prayer) during the night? Or it is of Salah (prayer) during the day and when should I perform them?’ With his handwriting he (the Imam) had written, ‘Fill them in Salah (prayer) of night