What is the established total number of rak'ahs for the Prophet's Tahajjud prayer?
Chapter on the Times When Prayer is Prohibited
Al-Mughni
Book of Prayer
Primary text
There is a difference of opinion regarding the exact number of rak'ahs the Prophet, peace be upon him, performed for Tahajjud. Some narrations indicate thirteen rak'ahs, as supported by the reports from Ibn Abbas and the description of Zayd ibn Khalid's observation. This total includes the introductory two light rak'ahs.
Supporting text
Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, reported that the Prophet never exceeded eleven rak'ahs in Ramadan or outside of it, consisting of four rak'ahs (of unspecified length and beauty), followed by another four (similarly described), and concluding with three rak'ahs for Witr. Other narrations attributed to Aisha specify the total as eleven rak'ahs between the Isha prayer and Fajr prayer, with salutations after every two rak'ahs, and an odd number (Witr) consisting of one rak'ah. It is plausible that the disparity arises because some accounts exclude the two light opening rak'ahs, or that the Prophet prayed thirteen on some nights and eleven on others.