"Moderation upon Sunnah is better than exerting oneself upon Bid'ah."

-------------------------------------------------------------- THE DIFFERENT METHODS OF OFFERING THE NIGHT PRAYER There are several ways by which a person is allowed to offer the night prayer; all of which have been reported from the Prophet ﷺ: The First method consists of a single rak’ah, as proven by the saying of the Prophet ﷺ: ((الوتر ركعة من آخر الليل)) "Witr is a rak'ah at the end of the night." [Reported by Muslim on the authority of Ibn 'Umar -raḍhiyallāhu 'anhu-] As well as the ḥadīth of Ḥudhayfah -raḍhiyallāhu 'anhu- wherein the Prophet ﷺ demonstrated this method practically; see link: https://sunnah.com/muslim/6/242 The second method consists of eleven rak'ahs, wherein a person does not sit for tashahhud except in the eighth rak’ah. After this tashahhud, they stand up without making taslīm and offer one more rak’ah. Then after completing nine rak'ahs and saying taslīm, they pray an extra two rak’ahs while seated. See link: https://sunnah.com/muslim/6/168 The third method consists of nine rak'ahs, wherein a person does not sit for tashahhud except in the sixth rak'ah. After this tashahhud, they stand up without making taslīm and offer one more rak’ah. Then after completing seven rak'ahs and saying taslīm, they pray an extra two rak’ahs while seated. NOTE: this method occurred when the Prophet ﷺ grew old. See previous link. The fourth method consists of eleven rak’ahs, wherein a person says taslīm after every two rak’ahs and finishes with one rak’ah Witr. And this is the most common method, as proven by the statement of Prophet ﷺ: ((‏صلاة الليل مثنى مثنى، فإذا خفت الصبح فأوتر بواحدة‏)) "The night prayers consist of pairs, but if you fear that morning is near, then pray one Rak'ah as Witr." [Bukhāri and Muslim] The fifth method consists of thirteen rak’ahs, wherein a person says taslīm after every two rak’ahs during the first eight rak’ahs. After that, they offer Witr as five consecutive rak’ahs with one taslīm at the end. See the link: https://sunnah.com/muslim/6/149 NOTE: The two extra rak’ahs at the beginning of this method are either the two voluntary rak’ahs after ‘Ishā, or they are two specific rak’ahs with which a person begins the Night Prayer; as stated by Sheikh Albāni -raḥimahullāh. Similarly, Sheikh Muḥammad Ibn Hizām mentioned that these two rak’ahs could possibly be the two voluntary rak’ahs for Fajr, as mentioned in some of the narrations. [Fat-ḥul 'Allām Vol. 2, Pg. 644] See link: https://sunnah.com/bulugh/2/282 The sixth method consists of eleven rak’ahs, wherein a person prays four consecutive rak’ahs with one taslīm, then another four rak’ahs in the same manner with one taslīm. After that they pray three rak’ahs Witr with one taslīm at the end. See link: https://sunnah.com/bulugh/2/281 NOTE: in the last two methods (5 & 6), a person is allowed to offer the final three/five rak’ahs with one taslīm, or they can say taslīm after every two rak’ahs; and this is more preferable. ___ These are the methods which have been reported from the Prophet ﷺ, although it's permissible for a person to pray any odd number of rak'ahs between one to 11/13; and the more the better, as An-Nawawi mentioned: «قد سبق أن مذهبنا أن أقله ركعة، وأكثره إحدى عشرة، وفي وجه ثلاث عشرة، وما بين ذلك جائز، وكلما قرب من أكثره كان أفضل، وبهذا قال جمهور العلماء من الصحابة والتابعين» [Sharḥul Muhadh-dhab (4/21)] One should not pray more than eleven rak'ahs because Ā'ishah -raḍhiyallāhu 'anhā- said: The Prophet ﷺ did not offer more than eleven rak'ah (during the night prayer) in Ramaḍhān or in any other month." [Reported by Bukhāri & Muslim] ✍🏽 Abu Ishaq Muhammad Ibn Ahmad __ REFERENCES: (1) https://t.me/A_lzoukory/33543 (2) 'Salātu-Tarāwīḥ' of Sheikh Albāni (3) sunnah.com •═ᴊᴏɪɴ-🅻🅴🅰🆁🅽-sʜᴀʀᴇ═•