I would like clarification regarding the prayer of Tahajjud, the even-numbered units (Shaf'), and the odd-numbered unit (Witr), and is it true that there is no prayer after the Witr?
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The questioner : I would like sufficient clarification regarding the prayer of Tahajjud, especially the issue of the Shaf' and Witr, because I have heard often that there is no prayer after the Witr. Am I permitted to delay the Shaf' and Witr, or only the Witr, until after I get up? I ask the honorable Shaykh for a rewardable answer.
The Shaykh : Yes. Tahajjud at night means, as the questioner intends, standing in prayer in the last part of the night after sleeping. The Sunnah in this is that when a person gets up from his sleep, he should remember Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and say: or Sunan Ibn Majah 3880Sahih (Darussalam) Then he supplicates as much as he wishes, then he recites the words of Allah the Exalted: [Ali 'Imran 3:190-191] to the end of the surah, Surah Al-Imran. Then he performs ablution and uses the miswak during this ablution, which is a Sunnah in this ablution more emphasized than in others. Then he prays two light rak'ahs. After that, he prays the prayer of Tahajjud, in which he lengthens the prayer as much as he wishes. Then he concludes it with the Witr, one rak'ah, with which he concludes the night prayer, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) when he was asked: How is the night prayer? He said: Sahih al-Bukhari 990 This is the description of Tahajjud. As for the Witr, its minimum is one rak'ah, and the least of perfection in it is three rak'ahs. Its time is from the prayer of 'Isha' until the appearance of the dawn.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And this time from the prayer of 'Isha' includes the case where it is combined with the prayer before it. So if a person combines the prayer of 'Isha' with Maghrib and prays it in the time of Maghrib, then the time for the Witr has entered. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) indicated the recommended time for the Witr, saying (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih Muslim 755a But if a person delays the Witr based on the fact that he will get up in the last part of the night, and he does not get up until the dawn appears, then he does not make it up after the appearance of the dawn except in the daytime. When the day comes, he prays it as an even number (Shaf'), not as an odd number (Witr). If it is his habit to pray Witr with three, he prays four. If it is his habit to pray Witr with five, he prays six. If it is his habit to pray Witr with one, he prays two, based on the hadith of Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), who said: "The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), when sleep or pain overtook him regarding the night prayer, would pray twelve rak'ahs in the daytime". Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you. This questioner.
The Shaykh : Yes. Tahajjud at night means, as the questioner intends, standing in prayer in the last part of the night after sleeping. The Sunnah in this is that when a person gets up from his sleep, he should remember Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and say:
Praise be to Allah who gave me life after He caused me to die, and to Him is the resurrection.
الحمد لله الذي أحياني بعدما أماتني وإليه النشورPraise is to Allah Who has given us life after taking it from us, and unto Him is the Resurrection
أحيانا بعدما أماتنا وإليه النشور(190) Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are signs for those of understanding. (191) Who remember Allah while standing or sitting or [lying] on their sides and give thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth, [saying], "Our Lord, You did not create this aimlessly; exalted are You [above such a thing]; then protect us from the punishment of the Fire.
إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلافِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ لَآيَاتٍ لِأُولِي الأَلْبَابِ * الَّذِينَ يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ قِيَامًا وَقُعُودًا وَعَلَى جُنُوبِهِمْas two Rak`at followed by two Rak`at and so on and if anyone is afraid of the approaching dawn (Fajr prayer) he should pray one Rak`ah and this will be a Witr for all the Rak`at which he has prayed before.
مثنى مثنى، فإذا خشي أحدكم الصبح صلى واحدة فأوترت له ما قد صلىThe questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And this time from the prayer of 'Isha' includes the case where it is combined with the prayer before it. So if a person combines the prayer of 'Isha' with Maghrib and prays it in the time of Maghrib, then the time for the Witr has entered. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) indicated the recommended time for the Witr, saying (peace and blessings be upon him):
If anyone is afraid that he may not get up in the latter part of the night, he should observe Witr in the first part of it; and if anyone is eager to get up in the last part of it, he should observe Witr at the end of the night, for prayer at the end of the night is witnessed (by the angels) and that is preferable.
من خاف أن لا يقوم من ءاخر الليل فليوتر أوله، ومن طمِع أن يقوم من ءاخر الليل فليوتر ءاخره، فإن صلاة ءاخر الليل مشهودة وذلك أفضلThe questioner : May Allah bless you. This questioner.