Is praying two rak'ahs after the witr prayer part of the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)?
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The questioner : O Shaykh, this is a question: In the book *Zad al-Ma'ad* by Ibn al-Qayyim, the Shaykh Ibn al-Qayyim mentioned in the course of his discussion on the night prayer that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to pray two rak'ahs after the witr while sitting. Is this part of the Sunnah that was reported from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)?
The Shaykh : Yes
The questioner : And a question that follows this: What is the description of the witr prayer?
The Shaykh : Yes, we can give you two answers. In any case, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sometimes used to pray two rak'ahs after the witr while sitting. The scholars differed in deriving the ruling from this. How does he say:Sahih Muslim 751b then he prays two rak'ahs after the witr while sitting?
So some scholars said: We take his statement, we take the statement of the Messenger, but his action is specific to him. Because if we face Allah (Mighty and Majestic) on the Day of Resurrection and say: We pray two rak'ahs after the witr because your Prophet prayed them, Allah (Mighty and Majestic) will say: Did not my Prophet say to you:Sahih Muslim 751b? And did he say: Pray two rak'ahs after the witr while you are sitting? Follow the statement. And on this basis, there is no problem if they say: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed these two rak'ahs, and we do not know whether they are a legislation for the Ummah, or whether they are among his specific characteristics.
And some scholars said: These two rak'ahs do not contradict the statement of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih Muslim 751b because these two rak'ahs are in the position of the rawatib for the obligatory prayer. So they are lower in rank than the witr. For this reason, he prays them while sitting, not standing. So they are to the witr in the position of what? The rawatib for the obligatory prayer.
And on this basis, there is no contradiction in the hadith with his statement:Sahih Muslim 751b. And this is what Ibn al-Qayyim and a group of the people of knowledge held.
The questioner : O Shaykh! Do we act upon this Sunnah?
The Shaykh : That is it. Act upon it sometimes. Who is next? ... Defend yourselves. May Allah guide you. Good.
The Shaykh : Yes
The questioner : And a question that follows this: What is the description of the witr prayer?
The Shaykh : Yes, we can give you two answers. In any case, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sometimes used to pray two rak'ahs after the witr while sitting. The scholars differed in deriving the ruling from this. How does he say:
Make Witr the end of your night prayer.
اجعلوا آخر صلاتكم بالليل وتراًSo some scholars said: We take his statement, we take the statement of the Messenger, but his action is specific to him. Because if we face Allah (Mighty and Majestic) on the Day of Resurrection and say: We pray two rak'ahs after the witr because your Prophet prayed them, Allah (Mighty and Majestic) will say: Did not my Prophet say to you:
Make Witr the end of your night prayer.
اجعلوا آخر صلاتكم بالليل وتراًAnd some scholars said: These two rak'ahs do not contradict the statement of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
Make Witr the end of your night prayer.
اجعلوا آخر صلاتكم بالليل وتراًAnd on this basis, there is no contradiction in the hadith with his statement:
Make Witr the end of your night prayer.
اجعلوا آخر صلاتكم بالليل وتراًThe questioner : O Shaykh! Do we act upon this Sunnah?
The Shaykh : That is it. Act upon it sometimes. Who is next? ... Defend yourselves. May Allah guide you. Good.