The Ruling on Witr and Its Time
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The first and third questions of Fatwa No. ( 16044 )
Q1: Is it obligatory to pray witr at the end of the night, according to one's ability, as two or four rak'ahs? I should mention that I pray witr with the 'Isha' prayer. Should I make it at the end of the night or not?
A1: Witr is a confirmed recommended practice (sunnah muakkadah) based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Jami` at-Tirmidhi 453Da'if (Darussalam) It was narrated by al-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud . Its time is from after the 'Isha' prayer until the dawn breaks, and it is better to pray it at the end of the night for one who is confident that he will get up. If he is not confident that he will get up, he should pray witr at the beginning of the night. If he does get up at the end of the night, he should pray whatever is easy for him, but he should not pray witr again, because the first witr is sufficient for him. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 470Sahih (Darussalam) It was narrated by the five [Imams] except Ibn Majah . The minimum that suffices for witr is one rak'ah, the least of perfection is three rak'ahs, and the most is eleven or thirteen rak'ahs, saying taslim after every two rak'ahs and completing with one, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): Sunan Abi Dawud 1326Sahih (Al-Albani) It is agreed upon that it is authentic.
Q1: Is it obligatory to pray witr at the end of the night, according to one's ability, as two or four rak'ahs? I should mention that I pray witr with the 'Isha' prayer. Should I make it at the end of the night or not?
A1: Witr is a confirmed recommended practice (sunnah muakkadah) based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
Indeed Allah is Witr (One), and He loves Al-Witr, so perform Al-Witr O people of the Qur'an.
إن الله وتر يحب الوتر فأوتروا يا أهل القرآنThere are no two Witr in one night.
لا وتران في ليلةPrayer during the night should consist of pairs of rak'ahs, but if one of you fears the morning is near he should pray one rak'ah which will make his prayer an odd number for him.
صلاة الليل مثنى مثنى فإذا خشي أحدكم الصبح صلى ركعة واحدة توتر له ما قد صلى
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.