Is a single rak'ah after the 'Isha' prayer considered witr, meaning after the last two rak'ahs? Is it recited aloud or silently? And is it with long surahs or short ones?
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The questioner : Noble Shaykh, is a single rak'ah after the 'Isha' prayer considered witr, meaning after the last two rak'ahs? Is it recited aloud or silently? And is it with short surahs or long surahs?
The Shaykh : The questioner is asking whether it is permissible for a person to perform witr with a single rak'ah after the rawatib of 'Isha'.
The answer is that it is permissible to perform witr with one rak'ah after the 'Isha' prayer and its rawatib, to perform witr with three rak'ahs consecutively and recite the tashahhud at the end of them, to perform witr with three rak'ahs by saying the taslim after two and then performing the third, to perform witr with five rak'ahs consecutively, and with seven likewise, and with nine consecutively by reciting the tashahhud after the eighth without saying the taslim, then performing the ninth and saying the taslim. It is also permissible to perform witr with eleven rak'ahs by saying the taslim after every two rak'ahs and performing witr with one. The matter is broad in this regard.
As for the recitation, one should recite whatever is easy for him, whether he performs witr with one, three, five, seven, nine, or eleven rak'ahs. However, if he performs witr with three, it is better to recite in the first:[Al-A'la 87:1], in the second: , and in the third: [Al-Ikhlas 112:1].
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : The questioner is asking whether it is permissible for a person to perform witr with a single rak'ah after the rawatib of 'Isha'.
The answer is that it is permissible to perform witr with one rak'ah after the 'Isha' prayer and its rawatib, to perform witr with three rak'ahs consecutively and recite the tashahhud at the end of them, to perform witr with three rak'ahs by saying the taslim after two and then performing the third, to perform witr with five rak'ahs consecutively, and with seven likewise, and with nine consecutively by reciting the tashahhud after the eighth without saying the taslim, then performing the ninth and saying the taslim. It is also permissible to perform witr with eleven rak'ahs by saying the taslim after every two rak'ahs and performing witr with one. The matter is broad in this regard.
As for the recitation, one should recite whatever is easy for him, whether he performs witr with one, three, five, seven, nine, or eleven rak'ahs. However, if he performs witr with three, it is better to recite in the first:
Exalt the name of your Lord, the Most High,
سَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الأَعْلَىSay: O you disbelievers!
قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا الْكَافِرُونَSay, "He is Allah, [who is] One,
قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌThe questioner : May Allah bless you.