night, then when the Imam performs the Taslim, he should not perform it with him; instead, he should rise and pray another rak'ah to make his prayer with the Imam even. Ahmad has explicitly stated this (65). He said: If he wishes, he may remain on his Witr (66) and make it even when he stands. If he wishes, he may pray two by two (67). He said: "Making it even with the Imam by one rak'ah is more beloved to me." Ahmad was asked about someone who has performed Witr: "Does he pray after it two by two?" He said: "Yes, but it should be [after a rest following the Witr] (68)."
Section: It is recommended to recite in the three rak'ahs of Witr: in the first, {Sabbih}, in the second, {Qul ya ayyuhal-kafirun}, and in the third, {Qul huwallahu ahad}. This is the opinion of al-Thawri, Ishaq, and the People of Opinion (Ashab al-Ra'y). Al-Shafi'i said: One should recite in the third {Qul huwallahu ahad} and the two protective surahs (al-Mu'awwidhatayn). This is also Malik's opinion regarding Witr. Regarding the Shaf' (even) prayer, he said: Nothing certain has reached me concerning it. It has been narrated from Ahmad that he was asked: Does one recite the two protective surahs in Witr? He said: "And why would one not recite them?" That is because of what Aishah narrated, that the Messenger of Allah -peace and blessings of Allah be upon him- used to recite in the first rak'ah {Sabbih}, in the second {Qul ya ayyuhal-kafirun}, and in the third, {Qul huwallahu ahad} and the two protective surahs. Recorded by Ibn Majah (69). Our evidence is what Ubayy ibn Ka'b narrated, saying: The Messenger of Allah -peace and blessings of Allah be upon him- used to perform Witr with {Sabbih isma rabbikal-a'la}, {Qul ya ayyuhal-kafirun}, and {Qul huwallahu ahad}. Recorded by Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah (70). A similar narration is from Ibn Abbas, recorded by Ibn Majah (71). The hadith of Aishah regarding this is not established, as it is narrated by Yahya ibn Ayyub, and he is weak. Ahmad and Yahya ibn Ma'in have rejected the addition of the two protective surahs.
(65) Meaning: Ahmad. (66) In A and M: "witr". (67) Omitted from A and M. (68) In A and M: "the Witr after a rest". (69) In: The Chapter of What Has Been Said Regarding What Is Recited in Witr, from the Book of Establishing Prayer. Sunan Ibn Majah 1/371. It was also recorded by Abu Dawud, in: The Chapter of What Is Recited in Witr, from the Book of Witr. Sunan Abi Dawud 1/329. And al-Tirmidhi, in: The Chapter of What Is Recited in Witr, from the Chapters of Witr. 'Aridat al-Ahwadhi 2/250.
