This listener asks: What is the witr, when is its time, how is it prayed, and how many rak'ahs does it consist of?
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The questioner : The listener also asks: What is the witr, when is its time, how is it prayed, and how many rak'ahs does it consist of?
The Shaykh : The witr is the conclusion of the night prayer with a single rak'ah; this is the witr.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) when he was asked about the night prayer, as narrated by Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father). The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan Abi Dawud 1326Sahih (Al-Albani) This is the witr, and its minimum is one rak'ah and its maximum is eleven rak'ahs. The evidence that its minimum is one rak'ah is what we have cited in the hadith of Ibn 'Umar: Between one and eleven are three, five, seven, and nine. As for when one prays the witr with five, he does not sit except in the last of them. And when he prays the witr with seven, he does not sit except in the last of them. And when he prays the witr with nine, he sits after the eighth, recites the tashahhud, and does not say the taslim; then he stands up for the ninth, recites the tashahhud, and says the taslim.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And when he prays the witr with three, he is given the choice between praying two rak'ahs and then saying the taslim, or praying three with a single tashahhud and a single taslim.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : This is a message we received from the listener, who says: Your brother Abu Muhammad.
The Shaykh : The witr is the conclusion of the night prayer with a single rak'ah; this is the witr.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) when he was asked about the night prayer, as narrated by Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father). The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Prayer during the night should consist of pairs of rak'ahs, but if one of you fears the morning is near he should pray one rak'ah which will make his prayer an odd number for him.
صلاة الليل مثنى مثنى، فإذا خشي أحدكم الصبح صلى واحدة فأوترت له ما صلىHe prays one rak'ah, and that makes his prayer a witr.
صلى واحدة فأوترت ما صلىThe questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And when he prays the witr with three, he is given the choice between praying two rak'ahs and then saying the taslim, or praying three with a single tashahhud and a single taslim.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : This is a message we received from the listener, who says: Your brother Abu Muhammad.