Ibn ‘Umar reported: A person called (the attention) of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) as he was in the mosque, and said: Messenger of Allah, how should I make the rak’ahs of the night prayer an odd number? Upon this the Messenger of Allah (way peace he upon him) said: He who prays (night prayer) he should observe it in pairs, but if he apprehends the rise of morning, he should observe one rak’ah; that would make the number odd (for the rak’ahs) observed by him. This was narrated by Abd Kuraib ‘Ubaidullah b. ‘Abdullah and Ibn ‘Umar did not make mention of it.
Hadith In Arabic Text :
وحدثني زهير بن حرب، حدثنا عبد الصمد، حدثنا همام، حدثنا قتادة، عن أبي مجلز، قال سألت ابن عباس عن الوتر، فقال سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول ” ركعة من آخر الليل ” . وسألت ابن عمر فقال سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول ” ركعة من آخر الليل ” .
Chapter : The Book of Prayer (Travellers) – كتاب صلاة المسافرين وقصرها