In the last ten nights of Ramadan in the Haram, some people do not pray at the beginning of the night; they stay in their homes and then come to the Haram at the end of the night, saying, "So that I can pray eleven [rak'ahs]."
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The questioner : Like this, in the last ten nights of Ramadan in the Haram, some people do not pray at the beginning of the night; they stay in their homes and then come to the Haram at the end of the night, saying, "So that I can pray eleven [rak'ahs]?"
The Shaykh : This person did not follow the imam; he did not stand with the imam until he finished. Therefore, standing in night prayer is forbidden for him. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Jami` at-Tirmidhi 806Sahih (Darussalam) So, without a doubt, it is better to attend both the first and second prayers. However, this is less severe than the people we mentioned earlier.
The questioner : The imam of tarawih stood up for the second [prayer], then he became alert after the taslim, and then he said the taslim. He became alert and said the taslim.
The Shaykh : How did he become alert and say the taslim? He cannot come [to the prayer] at all. He became alert but did not notice, so he leaves and sits. The ma'mum sits, recites the tashahhud, and says the taslim.
The questioner : Now, what if he was alone and did this, and then became alert and said the taslim?
The Shaykh : It is not valid. There are not two witr prayers in one night. We say, in fact, it is not possible for it to continue. If he continues after realizing that this is the third [rak'ah], his prayer is invalid. After he says the taslim, from where? The third [rak'ah] means it is not a problem that he does not come for a fourth [rak'ah] after the taslim, because he added this third [rak'ah] by mistake. So he performs the prostration for forgetfulness after the taslim. Three, yes.
So, the one who performs witr with three [rak'ahs]: we mentioned three scenarios. Two are permissible, and one is prohibited.
The Shaykh : This person did not follow the imam; he did not stand with the imam until he finished. Therefore, standing in night prayer is forbidden for him. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Indeed, whoever stands (praying) with the Imam until he finished, then it is recorded for him that he prayed the whole night.
من قام مع الإمام حتى ينصرف كتب له قيام ليلةThe questioner : The imam of tarawih stood up for the second [prayer], then he became alert after the taslim, and then he said the taslim. He became alert and said the taslim.
The Shaykh : How did he become alert and say the taslim? He cannot come [to the prayer] at all. He became alert but did not notice, so he leaves and sits. The ma'mum sits, recites the tashahhud, and says the taslim.
The questioner : Now, what if he was alone and did this, and then became alert and said the taslim?
The Shaykh : It is not valid. There are not two witr prayers in one night. We say, in fact, it is not possible for it to continue. If he continues after realizing that this is the third [rak'ah], his prayer is invalid. After he says the taslim, from where? The third [rak'ah] means it is not a problem that he does not come for a fourth [rak'ah] after the taslim, because he added this third [rak'ah] by mistake. So he performs the prostration for forgetfulness after the taslim. Three, yes.
So, the one who performs witr with three [rak'ahs]: we mentioned three scenarios. Two are permissible, and one is prohibited.