‘Abdullah b. ‘Umar reported: A person asked the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) as I stood between him (the Holy Prophet) and the inquirer and he said: Messenger of Allah, how is the night prayer? He (the Holy Prophet) said: It consists of pairs of rak’ahs, but if you apprehend morning, you should pray one rak’ah and make the end of your prayer as Witr. Then a person asked him (the Holy Prophet) at the end of the year and I was at that place near the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) ; but I do not know whether he was the same person or another person, but he (the Holy Prophet) gave him the same reply.
Hadith In Arabic Text :
وحدثني حرملة بن يحيى، حدثنا عبد الله بن وهب، أخبرني عمرو، أن ابن شهاب، حدثه أن سالم بن عبد الله بن عمر وحميد بن عبد الرحمن بن عوف حدثاه عن عبد الله بن عمر بن الخطاب، أنه قال قام رجل فقال يا رسول الله كيف صلاة الليل قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ” صلاة الليل مثنى مثنى فإذا خفت الصبح فأوتر بواحدة ” .
Chapter : The Book of Prayer (Travellers) – كتاب صلاة المسافرين وقصرها