What is the ruling on praying three rak'ahs after the 'Isha' prayer with a single taslim, meaning the Sunnah of 'Isha' and the Witr, or is it obligatory to say taslim between them? I know that I have prayed behind an imam in the tarawih prayer on multiple occasions, and he would pray three rak'ahs with a single taslim, and sometimes five rak'ahs together with a single taslim. May you be rewarded for providing the evidence.
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The questioner : What is the ruling on praying three rak'ahs after the 'Isha' prayer with a single taslim, meaning the Sunnah of 'Isha' and the Witr, or is it obligatory to say taslim between them? I know that I have prayed behind an imam in the tarawih prayer on multiple occasions, and he would pray three rak'ahs with a single taslim, and sometimes five rak'ahs together with a single taslim. May you be rewarded for providing the evidence.
The Shaykh : There is no harm in performing Witr with three rak'ahs; it is permissible to say taslim after two rak'ahs and then perform the third one alone, or to combine the three with a single tashahhud. Likewise, if one performs Witr with five rak'ahs, the Sunnah is to perform them consecutively with a single tashahhud and a single taslim. However, combining the regular voluntary prayer of 'Isha' and the Witr rak'ah with a single taslim is an error and is not valid.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : There is no harm in performing Witr with three rak'ahs; it is permissible to say taslim after two rak'ahs and then perform the third one alone, or to combine the three with a single tashahhud. Likewise, if one performs Witr with five rak'ahs, the Sunnah is to perform them consecutively with a single tashahhud and a single taslim. However, combining the regular voluntary prayer of 'Isha' and the Witr rak'ah with a single taslim is an error and is not valid.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.