The odd-numbered prayer after 'Isha' and its relationship to witr
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner:
She says: Likewise, regarding the shaf' prayer after 'Isha', is it a rawatib prayer, or is it necessary to pray something else?
The Shaykh:
It is recommended that before the rak'ah of witr, one performs two rak'ahs called shaf'. This is the minimum of perfection; the minimum of perfection is three rak'ahs, shaf' and witr. The maximum of perfection is eleven rak'ahs, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to do. Yes.
The questioner:
By intending the excellence of Allah toward you. Four with one, so that it becomes the witr, or is something else required?
The Shaykh:
The 'Isha' prayer is independent; its rawatib is two rak'ahs, and witr is not included with them. If she wants to pray witr, the best is that she prays two rak'ahs of shaf' that are not the rawatib of 'Isha', then she prays one rak'ah after them, which is the witr.
She says: Likewise, regarding the shaf' prayer after 'Isha', is it a rawatib prayer, or is it necessary to pray something else?
The Shaykh:
It is recommended that before the rak'ah of witr, one performs two rak'ahs called shaf'. This is the minimum of perfection; the minimum of perfection is three rak'ahs, shaf' and witr. The maximum of perfection is eleven rak'ahs, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to do. Yes.
The questioner:
By intending the excellence of Allah toward you. Four with one, so that it becomes the witr, or is something else required?
The Shaykh:
The 'Isha' prayer is independent; its rawatib is two rak'ahs, and witr is not included with them. If she wants to pray witr, the best is that she prays two rak'ahs of shaf' that are not the rawatib of 'Isha', then she prays one rak'ah after them, which is the witr.
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، نور على الدرب 129 من المجموعة الثانية للشيخ صالح الفوزان — youtube.com (6:32)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.