How can one reconcile the method of praying the Night Vigil (Qiyam al-Layl) two by two ( مثنى مثنى), with Aisha’s (may Allah be pleased with her) narration about the Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) prayer of four units (rak'ahs), "do not ask about their beauty," and what is the ruling on the validity of the prayer of one who prayed four rak'ahs with a single tashahhud twice, then the two rak'ahs of shaf’ and the one rak'ah of witr?

The reconciliation between the hadith "Night prayers are two rak'ahs by two rak'ahs" and Aisha's statement "He would pray four [rak'ahs]" is that the four would be two, then two, with a short rest in between. Performing voluntary prayers at night two rak'ahs by two rak'ahs was the practice of many Companions and is the view of the majority of scholars. If one stands for a third rak'ah in a supererogatory night prayer, he must return [to the sitting position], otherwise his prayer becomes void.