It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that he spent a night in the house of the Prophet’s wife, Sayyidah Maymunah (may Allah be pleased with her), who was his maternal aunt. Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) says: I lay down across the width of the pillow, and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and his family lay down along its length. Then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) slept, until half the night had passed, or a little before or a little after. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) then woke up from sleep and began to wipe his face with both hands to remove the effects of sleep. Then he recited the last ten verses of Surah Al-Imran. Then he went to a hanging water-skin and performed a most excellent ablution from it. Then he stood up and began to pray. Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: Then I stood up and did as the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) had done. Then I stood by his side, so the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) placed his right hand on my head and took hold of my right ear (affectionately) and twisted it. Then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed two rak‘ahs, then two rak‘ahs, then two rak‘ahs, then two rak‘ahs, then two rak‘ahs, then two rak‘ahs (making a total of twelve rak‘ahs), then he prayed one witr. Then he lay down until the mu’adhdhin came. Then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) stood up and prayed two light rak‘ahs. Then he went out and led the morning prayer.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) that a man asked the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) about the night prayer. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The night prayer is in sets of two rak'ahs. Then when one of you fears that morning is approaching, he should pray one rak'ah, and that will make what he has prayed an odd number (witr) for him."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Zayd bin Khalid al-Juhani, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said: Tonight I will definitely observe how the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, performs prayer. So I lay down at his doorstep or near his tent. Then the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, prayed two light rak‘ahs, then he prayed two long rak‘ahs, then after them he prayed two rak‘ahs which were less than the first two rak‘ahs, then he prayed two rak‘ahs which were less than the first two rak‘ahs, then he prayed two rak‘ahs and they were less than the first two rak‘ahs, then he prayed two rak‘ahs which were less than the first two rak‘ahs, then he prayed witr, so these were (in total) thirteen rak‘ahs.