Is the Witr prayer obligatory?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The first message in this episode is from listener Abdul-Wadud Abdullah Naji Mujahid al-Tamimi from Yemen. He has a number of questions, one of which is: Is the Witr prayer obligatory? And did the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) command the people of the Qur'an to perform Witr?
Answer: In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy. Praise be to Allah, and may Allah send prayers and peace upon the Messenger of Allah, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon whoever follows his guidance.
As for what follows: The Witr prayer is a recommended practice (sunnah) according to the scholars, and this is the position of the majority of scholars that it is a recommended practice, not obligatory. For this reason, Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said:As-Sunan al-Kubra lil-Nasa'i 6:94. And among the evidence for this is his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): When he was asked about what is in addition to the five prayers, the questioner said to him: Sunan an-Nasa'i 458Sahih (Darussalam). When he asked about prayer, he informed him about the five prayers, then the questioner said: Sunan an-Nasa'i 458Sahih (Darussalam).
So Witr is a confirmed recommended practice (sunnah muakkadah) between the 'Isha' prayer and the dawn, and its minimum is one unit (rak'ah). If one increases it, that is better, such as three or five or more than that. Its best form is eleven or thirteen, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did. If one performs Witr with more than that, there is no blame on him. And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Bulugh al-Maram 2:286. This command is for emphasis, not for obligation; rather, it is for emphasis according to the scholars. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Answer: In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy. Praise be to Allah, and may Allah send prayers and peace upon the Messenger of Allah, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon whoever follows his guidance.
As for what follows: The Witr prayer is a recommended practice (sunnah) according to the scholars, and this is the position of the majority of scholars that it is a recommended practice, not obligatory. For this reason, Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
Witr is not a fixed obligation like a written verse, but it is a recommended practice (sunnah) established by the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).
ليس الوتر حتماً كآية مكتوبة، ولكنها سنة سنها رسول الله ﷺDo I have to do anything else?' He said: 'No, unless you do it voluntarily.'
هل علي غيرها؟ قال: لا، إلا أن تطوعDo I have to do anything else?' He said: 'No, unless you do it voluntarily.'
هل علي غيرها؟ قال: لا، إلا أن تطوعSo Witr is a confirmed recommended practice (sunnah muakkadah) between the 'Isha' prayer and the dawn, and its minimum is one unit (rak'ah). If one increases it, that is better, such as three or five or more than that. Its best form is eleven or thirteen, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did. If one performs Witr with more than that, there is no blame on him. And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
O people of the Qur'an! Offer Witr (prayer), because Allah is Witr (One) and loves Witr.
أوتروا يا أهل القرآن، فإن الله وتر يحب الوترThe presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.