Discussion of Witr: Its Ruling, Number, Method, Time, and Whether It Is Made Up
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The Shaykh : There are other sunnah prayers besides the rawatib, the most emphasized of which is witr. Witr is concluding the night prayer with one, three, five, seven, or nine rak'ahs. This is witr. Its maximum is eleven. This witr is a confirmed sunnah, to the point that some scholars said: "It is obligatory". Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "Whoever leaves witr is a bad man, and his testimony should not be accepted". So witr is a confirmed sunnah. But witr is not qunut, meaning the supplication where you say: Sunan an-Nasa'i 1745Sahih (Darussalam) Rather, qunut is not a sunnah all the time.
Witr is performed with one rak'ah. For example, if a person prays 'Isha and prays its rawatib of two rak'ahs, and then performs witr with one, is that permissible or not? It is permissible, and there is no obstacle. It is also permissible to perform witr with three. The method of performing witr with three is to pray two rak'ahs and say the taslim, then come with the third, or to pray three with one tashahhud and say the taslim.
Performing witr with five means praying all five with one tashahhud. Performing witr with seven means praying all seven with one tashahhud.
Performing witr with nine means praying all nine, but with two tashahhuds and one taslim. If he prays eight, he sits and recites the tashahhud, then stands and performs the ninth, recites the tashahhud, and says the taslim. So the method for five and seven is the same. The nine has its own distinct method. How is it distinct? Because he prays eight, sits, then stands and prays the ninth, sits, recites the tashahhud, then stands, prays the ninth, recites the tashahhud, and says the taslim. The three has two methods: either two rak'ahs and the taslim, then the third, or three rak'ahs with one tashahhud. As for eleven, he prays two by two and concludes with one.
Now, this is witr. So when is its time? From the 'Isha prayer until the dawn breaks, even if a person combines prayers by bringing them forward, whether traveling or resident. The time for witr begins even before the 'Isha adhan, because the criterion is what? The criterion is the 'Isha prayer. That is why we said in defining witr, what is it? What is witr? It is the rak'ah with which one concludes the night prayer, or three, or five, as you have learned now. Now, if a person asks, "Should I perform witr before I sleep, or in the last part of the night?" We said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) clarified the ruling, and that whoever fears he will not get up in the last part of the night should perform witr in the first part. And whoever hopes to get up in the last part should perform witr in the last part of the night. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih Muslim 755a
Did we make this clear? If a questioner asked: "Which is better, performing witr before I sleep or after?" Yes, we said: It depends on your situation. If you hope to get up in the last part of the night, then witr in the last part of the night is better. And if you fear you will not get up, then witr before you sleep is better. Now, if he hoped to get up in the last part of the night and delayed witr to the last part of the night, but did not get up, what does he do? We say: He makes it up, but he does not make it up as witr; he makes it up as an even number. So if his habit was to perform witr with three, he prays four. If he performs witr with five, he prays six. If he performs witr with seven, he prays eight. If he performs witr with nine, he prays ten. If he performs witr with eleven, he prays twelve, because it is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)As-Sunan al-Kubra lil-Nasa'i 2:117. Are there other sunnahs besides this? What is in it?
Allahumma ihdini fiman hadayta
اللهم اهدني فيمن هديتWitr is performed with one rak'ah. For example, if a person prays 'Isha and prays its rawatib of two rak'ahs, and then performs witr with one, is that permissible or not? It is permissible, and there is no obstacle. It is also permissible to perform witr with three. The method of performing witr with three is to pray two rak'ahs and say the taslim, then come with the third, or to pray three with one tashahhud and say the taslim.
Performing witr with five means praying all five with one tashahhud. Performing witr with seven means praying all seven with one tashahhud.
Performing witr with nine means praying all nine, but with two tashahhuds and one taslim. If he prays eight, he sits and recites the tashahhud, then stands and performs the ninth, recites the tashahhud, and says the taslim. So the method for five and seven is the same. The nine has its own distinct method. How is it distinct? Because he prays eight, sits, then stands and prays the ninth, sits, recites the tashahhud, then stands, prays the ninth, recites the tashahhud, and says the taslim. The three has two methods: either two rak'ahs and the taslim, then the third, or three rak'ahs with one tashahhud. As for eleven, he prays two by two and concludes with one.
Now, this is witr. So when is its time? From the 'Isha prayer until the dawn breaks, even if a person combines prayers by bringing them forward, whether traveling or resident. The time for witr begins even before the 'Isha adhan, because the criterion is what? The criterion is the 'Isha prayer. That is why we said in defining witr, what is it? What is witr? It is the rak'ah with which one concludes the night prayer, or three, or five, as you have learned now. Now, if a person asks, "Should I perform witr before I sleep, or in the last part of the night?" We said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) clarified the ruling, and that whoever fears he will not get up in the last part of the night should perform witr in the first part. And whoever hopes to get up in the last part should perform witr in the last part of the night. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
for prayer at the end of the night is witnessed (by the angels) and that is preferable.
فإن صلاة آخر الليل مشهودة وذلك أفضلDid we make this clear? If a questioner asked: "Which is better, performing witr before I sleep or after?" Yes, we said: It depends on your situation. If you hope to get up in the last part of the night, then witr in the last part of the night is better. And if you fear you will not get up, then witr before you sleep is better. Now, if he hoped to get up in the last part of the night and delayed witr to the last part of the night, but did not get up, what does he do? We say: He makes it up, but he does not make it up as witr; he makes it up as an even number. So if his habit was to perform witr with three, he prays four. If he performs witr with five, he prays six. If he performs witr with seven, he prays eight. If he performs witr with nine, he prays ten. If he performs witr with eleven, he prays twelve, because it is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)