What is the ruling on one who concludes his prayer with a single rak'ah?
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The questioner : May the Shaykh be respected, what is the validity of the prayer of one who concludes his prayer with a single taslim?
The Shaykh : Which prayer?
The questioner : He concluded his prayer with a single taslim.
The Shaykh : The obligatory prayer cannot be a single rak'ah, for it is well known. The voluntary prayer of witr is a single rak'ah, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sunan Abi Dawud 1326Sahih (Al-Albani). As for voluntary prayers other than witr, some scholars have held it valid for a person to offer a voluntary prayer of one rak'ah, but with it being disliked.
And what appears to me is that it is not valid to offer a voluntary prayer of one rak'ah. What is reported from some of the Salaf is like other instances of independent legal reasoning (ijtihad) that may be wrong or may be right. The evidence for this is the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sunan Ibn Majah 1319Sahih (Darussalam), and in another narration: Sunan Abi Dawud 1295Sahih (Al-Albani).
And this indicates that a person does not offer a voluntary prayer of one rak'ah. Yes.
The Shaykh : Which prayer?
The questioner : He concluded his prayer with a single taslim.
The Shaykh : The obligatory prayer cannot be a single rak'ah, for it is well known. The voluntary prayer of witr is a single rak'ah, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
Prayer 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 واحدة فأوترت له ما صلىAnd what appears to me is that it is not valid to offer a voluntary prayer of one rak'ah. What is reported from some of the Salaf is like other instances of independent legal reasoning (ijtihad) that may be wrong or may be right. The evidence for this is the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
The night prayer is (to be offered) two by two.
صلاة الليل مثنى مثنىPrayer by night and day should consist of pairs of rak'ahs.
صلاة الليل والنهار مثنى مثنىAnd this indicates that a person does not offer a voluntary prayer of one rak'ah. Yes.