The Prophet's (peace and blessings be upon him) prayer of two rak'ahs after the witr while sitting: Does this indicate the recommended status of these two rak'ahs?
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The questioner : Your Eminence, what is your opinion regarding what is reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he prayed two rak'ahs after the witr while sitting? Are they a recommended practice to be performed regularly?
The Shaykh : I mean, what is my opinion on reconciling the hadiths, not on the hadiths themselves, for we have no opinion on the hadiths themselves. But regarding the reconciliation of hadiths that appear to contradict each other, and likewise verses that appear to contradict each other, a person should ask about it if doubt arises in his mind, because if a person does not know how to reconcile verses or hadiths that appear to contradict each other, he remains anxious.
And we must know that it is impossible for there to be a contradiction between the speech of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), nor between the authentic Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). It is impossible for there to be a contradiction. For example, if someone were to say: Allah says in the Qur'an:[An-Nisa 4:42] This verse indicates that they are what?
They do not conceal from Allah any speech. And in another verse, Allah (Mighty and Majestic) says:[Al-An'am 6:23]: So here, did they conceal or did they not conceal?
They concealed. How can this be?
One verse denies that they conceal from Allah any speech, and another verse affirms that they conceal from Allah speech?
We say: The reconciliation between them is that they have different states. In some states, they conceal from Allah speech, and in some states, they do not conceal.
Likewise, regarding the witr, it is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:Sahih Muslim 751b, and it is established in Sahih Muslim: , so how can his action and his statement be reconciled?
We say: The truth is that there is no contradiction:
First: The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not consistently perform these two rak'ahs, but he would perform them occasionally.
Second: Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said: These two rak'ahs are not independent, but they are attached to the witr. So they are to the witr like the regular voluntary prayers attached to the obligatory prayer. Therefore, this does not contradict his statement:Sahih Muslim 751b.
The Shaykh : I mean, what is my opinion on reconciling the hadiths, not on the hadiths themselves, for we have no opinion on the hadiths themselves. But regarding the reconciliation of hadiths that appear to contradict each other, and likewise verses that appear to contradict each other, a person should ask about it if doubt arises in his mind, because if a person does not know how to reconcile verses or hadiths that appear to contradict each other, he remains anxious.
And we must know that it is impossible for there to be a contradiction between the speech of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), nor between the authentic Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). It is impossible for there to be a contradiction. For example, if someone were to say: Allah says in the Qur'an:
That Day, those who disbelieved and disobeyed the Messenger will wish they could be covered by the earth. And they will not conceal from Allah a [single] statement.
يَوْمَئِذٍ يَوَدُّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَعَصَوُا الرَّسُولَ لَوْ تُسَوَّى بِهِمُ الْأَرْضُ وَلا يَكْتُمُونَ اللَّهَ حَدِيثاًThey do not conceal from Allah any speech. And in another verse, Allah (Mighty and Majestic) says:
Then there will be no [excuse upon] examination except they will say, "By Allah, our Lord, we were not those who associated."
ثُمَّ لَمْ تَكُنْ فِتْنَتُهُمْ إِلَّا أَنْ قَالُوا وَاللَّهِ رَبِّنَا مَا كُنَّا مُشْرِكِينَThey concealed. How can this be?
One verse denies that they conceal from Allah any speech, and another verse affirms that they conceal from Allah speech?
We say: The reconciliation between them is that they have different states. In some states, they conceal from Allah speech, and in some states, they do not conceal.
Likewise, regarding the witr, it is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:
Make Witr the end of your night prayer.
اجعلوا آخر صلاتكم بالليل وتراًThat he used to pray two rak'ahs after the witr while sitting.
أنه كان يصلي ركعتين بعد الوتر جالساًWe say: The truth is that there is no contradiction:
First: The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not consistently perform these two rak'ahs, but he would perform them occasionally.
Second: Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said: These two rak'ahs are not independent, but they are attached to the witr. So they are to the witr like the regular voluntary prayers attached to the obligatory prayer. Therefore, this does not contradict his statement: