Is witr the night prayer, or is it a single rak'ah that is called witr?
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The questioner : Is witr the night prayer, or is it a single rak'ah that is called witr? I ask for clarification on this matter. May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : Witr is a single rak'ah at the end of the night, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) when he was asked about the night prayer:Sahih al-Bukhari 990 However, witr has different forms. Sometimes a person performs witr with a single rak'ah, and sometimes with three rak'ahs. In the case of three, you may pray two rak'ahs and conclude the prayer, then come back for the third. Or you may pray them consecutively with one tashahhud and one taslim. Witr can also be five rak'ahs, prayed consecutively with one tashahhud and one taslim. It can be seven rak'ahs, also prayed consecutively like the five. It can be nine rak'ahs, prayed consecutively with one salam, except that you sit after the eighth rak'ah, recite the tashahhud, and do not conclude the prayer; then you pray the ninth. Witr can be eleven rak'ahs, where you conclude the prayer after every two rak'ahs and finish with one.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : Witr is a single rak'ah at the end of the night, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) when he was asked about the night prayer:
as two Rak`at followed by two Rak`at and so on and if anyone is afraid of the approaching dawn (Fajr prayer) he should pray one Rak`ah and this will be a Witr for all the Rak`at which he has prayed before.
مثنى مثنى، فإذا خشي أحدكم الصبح صلى واحدة فأوترت له ما صلىThe questioner : May Allah bless you.