Some do not intend the witr until after the imam recites Surat al-Sabih; what are the implications of this, especially if the imam does not conclude the prayer until the end of the witr of three?
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The questioner : Some do not intend the witr until after the imam recites Surat al-Sabih. What are the implications of this, especially if the imam does not conclude the prayer until the end of the witr, meaning of three? And what is the way for the follower to arrange his witr? Most of the general public are unaware of this.
The Shaykh : The way to this is that I urge my brothers, the students of knowledge, to tell the general public that the shaf' they call shaf' is part of the witr. For this reason, the scholars said that performing the witr with three rak'ahs has two forms.
The first form is to conclude the prayer after two rak'ahs and then perform the third.
The second form is to perform all three rak'ahs consecutively.
Accordingly, you, the follower, from the moment the imam completes eight rak'ahs and says takbir for the ninth, you intend the witr. You do not intend the shaf' which is cut off from the witr. Intend the witr from the moment he says takbir. As for the one who says takbir with the imam thinking it is tarawih, and then when he recites al-Sabih he intends the witr, this intention does not benefit him, because "A specific act of worship must be intended from its beginning". Yes, the important thing is that I want the students of knowledge to alert the general public that the three rak'ahs, whether combined or separated, are all witr. So a person intends the witr from the beginning. Yes, and it is amazing that I was asked about an imam who, after praying the eight rak'ahs and standing for the ninth, concluded the prayer. They said to him, how is this? Glory be to Allah, you did not pray but one and did not intend it to be witr. He said, "Intend it to be witr now." When? After he had already concluded the prayer. This is not valid and does not stand. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: And this is what he did not intend, but some people, may Allah guide them, issue rulings without knowledge. Yes.
The Shaykh : The way to this is that I urge my brothers, the students of knowledge, to tell the general public that the shaf' they call shaf' is part of the witr. For this reason, the scholars said that performing the witr with three rak'ahs has two forms.
The first form is to conclude the prayer after two rak'ahs and then perform the third.
The second form is to perform all three rak'ahs consecutively.
Accordingly, you, the follower, from the moment the imam completes eight rak'ahs and says takbir for the ninth, you intend the witr. You do not intend the shaf' which is cut off from the witr. Intend the witr from the moment he says takbir. As for the one who says takbir with the imam thinking it is tarawih, and then when he recites al-Sabih he intends the witr, this intention does not benefit him, because "A specific act of worship must be intended from its beginning". Yes, the important thing is that I want the students of knowledge to alert the general public that the three rak'ahs, whether combined or separated, are all witr. So a person intends the witr from the beginning. Yes, and it is amazing that I was asked about an imam who, after praying the eight rak'ahs and standing for the ninth, concluded the prayer. They said to him, how is this? Glory be to Allah, you did not pray but one and did not intend it to be witr. He said, "Intend it to be witr now." When? After he had already concluded the prayer. This is not valid and does not stand. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: