Are the two rak'ahs that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed after the witr an independent sunnah or attached to the witr?
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The questioner : Regarding the two rak'ahs, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) used to pray them after the witr, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : After what?
The questioner : After the witr.
The Shaykh : After what?
The questioner : After the witr.
The Shaykh : Yes, indeed.
The questioner : At the end of the night.
The Shaykh : Yes, he sometimes prayed two rak'ahs while sitting.
The questioner : Yes, while sitting.
The Shaykh : After the witr, but he said:Sahih Muslim 751b So, whoever prioritizes his saying over his doing, we do not follow the example of these two rak'ahs, because when the saying of the Messenger and his doing conflict, we prioritize his saying. Accordingly, we do not pray them. And whoever says that they are two rak'ahs attached to the witr, and that the Messenger does not always perform them, says that there is no harm in performing them sometimes. For this reason, the Prophet (may Allah's prayer and peace be upon him) placed them below the witr. The witr is performed standing, and this is performed sitting, so that it serves the witr in the capacity of the rawatib for the obligatory prayer. So, if a person performs them sometimes, there is no harm, and if he leaves them, there is no harm.
The questioner : Okay, and if he prays two rak'ahs, does he also pray two rak'ahs before the Fajr prayer?
The Shaykh : No, no. The two rak'ahs before the Fajr prayer are the rawatib of Fajr; they have no connection to the witr and are not performed except after the dawn has appeared. The two rak'ahs after the witr, performed sitting, are before Fajr.
The Shaykh : After what?
The questioner : After the witr.
The Shaykh : After what?
The questioner : After the witr.
The Shaykh : Yes, indeed.
The questioner : At the end of the night.
The Shaykh : Yes, he sometimes prayed two rak'ahs while sitting.
The questioner : Yes, while sitting.
The Shaykh : After the witr, but he said:
Make Witr the end of your night prayer.
اجعلوا آخر صلاتكم بالليل وتراThe questioner : Okay, and if he prays two rak'ahs, does he also pray two rak'ahs before the Fajr prayer?
The Shaykh : No, no. The two rak'ahs before the Fajr prayer are the rawatib of Fajr; they have no connection to the witr and are not performed except after the dawn has appeared. The two rak'ahs after the witr, performed sitting, are before Fajr.