Explaining the forms of Witr regarding the number of rak'ahs, the tashahhud, and the taslim, with a mention of the evidence.
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The Shaykh : How is Witr performed if a person prays three rak'ahs? It is done in two ways. The first way is that he says the taslim after the first two rak'ahs, then he comes with the third one alone. The second way is that he prays all three consecutively with one tashahhud. This is the apparent meaning of the hadith of Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), where she said: Sunan Abi Dawud 1341Sahih (Al-Albani) Her statement that he prays three means that he prays them consecutively. Accordingly, there are two forms for performing Witr with three rak'ahs:
The first form is that he says the taslim after the two rak'ahs and performs Witr with a third. The second form is that he prays all three with one tashahhud. He does not pray the three with two tashahhuds, because if he did so, it would resemble the Maghrib prayer. It has been forbidden to make the Witr prayer resemble the Maghrib prayer. Now, if he performs Witr with five—before I move on to the hadith of Aisha—she says (may Allah be pleased with her) that he prays four. Does the meaning imply that he prays them consecutively? Some people understood that the meaning is that he prays them consecutively, so he prays four with one taslim and one tashahhud, then prays four with one tashahhud and one taslim, then prays three with one tashahhud and one taslim. Although the wording is susceptible to this interpretation, it is befitting for a student of knowledge to have broad understanding and to combine the ends of the evidence so that they do not contradict or conflict. This apparent meaning, as we said, is opposed by the statement of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) when he was asked about the night prayer, where he said: Accordingly, her statement that he prays four is understood to mean that he prays four with two taslims, but he rests after the four, then he resumes the other four, as indicated by her statement: Sunan Abi Dawud 1341Sahih (Al-Albani) And "thumma" (then) in the Arabic language implies a delay. Accordingly, the meaning is that he says the taslim after two rak'ahs, then after two rak'ahs, then he rests, then he comes with two rak'ahs, then two rak'ahs, then he rests, then he comes with the three. However, you must raise an objection to me regarding this report. The objection is in his statement: Why do we not understand his statement: then he comes with one, as we understood "he prays four" to mean that he comes with two rak'ahs then two rak'ahs? We say that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sunan Abi Dawud 1295Sahih (Al-Albani) So it was necessary for us to say that he prays four, meaning in pairs of two, two by two. As for Witr, Witr is performed with one, and it is performed with three, because three is an odd number, and it is performed with five, seven, nine, and eleven. And since we mentioned the forms of Witr, we must mention how these forms are performed. How many forms did we mention for the three? Two forms. The five has only one form, which is that he prays the five consecutively and does not say the taslim except at the end. Is this known or not? What did we say, my brother? The brother behind you, you...
The questioner : ...consecutively.
The Shaykh : Consecutively. Now, the seven are prayed consecutively with one tashahhud and one taslim. The nine are prayed consecutively with one taslim and two tashahhuds; after the eighth, he sits and recites the tashahhud without saying the taslim, then he comes with the ninth, recites the tashahhud, and says the taslim. Thus, the five, seven, and nine have only one form: one taslim. But the nine is distinguished by having two tashahhuds. The eleven: he says the taslim after every two rak'ahs and performs Witr with one.
He would pray four rak'ahs. Do not ask about their elegance and length. He then would pray for rak'ahs. Do not ask about their alegance and length. Then he would pray three rak'ahs.
كان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يصلي أربعاً فلا تسأل عن حسنهن وطولهن ، ثم يصلي أربعاً فلا تسأل عن حسنهن وطولهن ثم يصلي ثلاثاًThe first form is that he says the taslim after the two rak'ahs and performs Witr with a third. The second form is that he prays all three with one tashahhud. He does not pray the three with two tashahhuds, because if he did so, it would resemble the Maghrib prayer. It has been forbidden to make the Witr prayer resemble the Maghrib prayer. Now, if he performs Witr with five—before I move on to the hadith of Aisha—she says (may Allah be pleased with her) that he prays four. Does the meaning imply that he prays them consecutively? Some people understood that the meaning is that he prays them consecutively, so he prays four with one taslim and one tashahhud, then prays four with one tashahhud and one taslim, then prays three with one tashahhud and one taslim. Although the wording is susceptible to this interpretation, it is befitting for a student of knowledge to have broad understanding and to combine the ends of the evidence so that they do not contradict or conflict. This apparent meaning, as we said, is opposed by the statement of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) when he was asked about the night prayer, where he said:
Two by two
مثنى مثنىHe would pray four rak'ahs. Do not ask about their elegance and length. He then
يصلي أربعاً فلا تسأل عن حسنهن وطولهن ثم يصليthen he prays three
ثم يصلي ثلاثاًthen he prays three, as if he bows two rak'ahs
ثم يصلي ثلاثاً على أنه يركع ركعتينPrayer by night and day should consist of pairs of rak'ahs.
صلاة الليل والنهار مثنى مثنىThe questioner : ...consecutively.
The Shaykh : Consecutively. Now, the seven are prayed consecutively with one tashahhud and one taslim. The nine are prayed consecutively with one taslim and two tashahhuds; after the eighth, he sits and recites the tashahhud without saying the taslim, then he comes with the ninth, recites the tashahhud, and says the taslim. Thus, the five, seven, and nine have only one form: one taslim. But the nine is distinguished by having two tashahhuds. The eleven: he says the taslim after every two rak'ahs and performs Witr with one.