How do we pray the witr prayer?
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Question:
A listener (S. A. 'A) from Jordan sent a message containing several questions, one of which asks: How do we pray the witr prayer? May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
The witr prayer is a recommended practice (sunnah) established by the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) in both word and deed. He used to pray witr at night (peace and blessings be upon him) and guided the people to do so. He said (peace and blessings be upon him):Sunan Abi Dawud 1326Sahih (Al-Albani) It is agreed upon that it is authentic. He also said (peace and blessings be upon him): Sunan Abi Dawud 1422Sahih (Al-Albani).
He (peace and blessings be upon him) used to pray witr every night, and it was the norm that he would pray eleven units, saying the closing salam after every two, and then praying one unit for the witr. Sometimes he would pray thirteen, sometimes nine, and sometimes less than that.
So the recommended practice (sunnah) for the believing man and woman is to pray tahajjud at night, and to pray witr in the first part of the night, or in the middle, or in the last part. The best time is in the last part of the night, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): Narrated by Muslim in his Sahih.
He said (peace and blessings be upon him):Sunan Abi Dawud 4733Sahih (Al-Albani) It is agreed upon that it is authentic.
This descent is befitting of Allah; this descent is befitting of Allah. None knows its modality except He , just as with rising above the Throne, laughing, being pleased, and being angry; they are all attributes befitting Allah, in which He does not resemble His creation. They must be taken as they came, without distortion, denial of the divine attributes, asking how an attribute is, or comparing Allah to creation, as Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) said: [Surah al-Shura: 11]. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: : [Surah al-Ikhlas: 4]. So His descent is not like our descent, His anger is not like our anger, His laughter is not like our laughter, and His hearing is not like our hearing, and so on with the rest of the attributes. He has absolute perfection in everything. [Surah al-Shura: 11].
So praying witr in the last part of the night is better, even if it is just one unit. But if one prays three, five, or more, that is better: saying the closing salam after every two, and then praying one unit for the witr. If one prays witr in the first part of the night before sleeping, there is no harm if one fears not being able to get up. Or in the middle of the night, it is all good. But the best of that is the last part of the night, in the final third. That is the best. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
A listener (S. A. 'A) from Jordan sent a message containing several questions, one of which asks: How do we pray the witr prayer? May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
The witr prayer is a recommended practice (sunnah) established by the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) in both word and deed. He used to pray witr at night (peace and blessings be upon him) and guided the people to do so. He said (peace and blessings be upon him):
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 ركعة واحدة، توتر له ما قد صلىThe witr is a duty for every Muslim so if anyone wishes to observe it with five rak'ahs, he may do so; if anyone wishes to observe it with three, he may do so, and if anyone wishes to observe it with one, he may do so.
الوتر حق، فمن أحب أن يوتر بخمس؛ فليفعل، ومن أحب أن يوتر بثلاث؛ فليفعل، ومن أحب أن يوتر بواحدة؛ فليفعلHe (peace and blessings be upon him) used to pray witr every night, and it was the norm that he would pray eleven units, saying the closing salam after every two, and then praying one unit for the witr. Sometimes he would pray thirteen, sometimes nine, and sometimes less than that.
So the recommended practice (sunnah) for the believing man and woman is to pray tahajjud at night, and to pray witr in the first part of the night, or in the middle, or in the last part. The best time is in the last part of the night, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
Whoever fears that he will not get up in the last part of the night, let him perform witr in the first part of the night. And whoever hopes to get up in the last part of the night, let him perform witr in the last part of the night, for the prayer of the last part of the night is witnessed, and that is better.
من خاف ألا يقوم من آخر الليل؛ فليوتر أوله، ومن طمع أن يقوم آخر الليل؛ فليوتر آخر الليل، فإن صلاة آخر الليل مشهودة، وذلك أفضلHe said (peace and blessings be upon him):
Our lord gets down every night to the heaven of this world when a third night remains and says: (Is there anyone) who prays to Me so that I may accept his prayer? (Is there anyone) who asks of Me so that I may give him? (Is there anyone) who asks for my forgiveness so that I may forgive him?
ينزل ربنا إلى سماء الدنيا كل ليلة حين يبقى ثلث الليل الآخر، فيقول: من يدعوني؛ فأستجيب له، من يسألني؛ فأعطيه، من يستغفرني؛ فأغفر له حتى يطلع الفجرThis descent is befitting of Allah; this descent is befitting of Allah. None knows its modality except He , just as with rising above the Throne, laughing, being pleased, and being angry; they are all attributes befitting Allah, in which He does not resemble His creation. They must be taken as they came, without distortion, denial of the divine attributes, asking how an attribute is, or comparing Allah to creation, as Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) said:
There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the Hearing, the Seeing.
لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ البَصِيرُNor is there to Him any equivalent."
وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌThere is nothing like unto Him, and He is the Hearing, the Seeing.
لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ البَصِيرُSo praying witr in the last part of the night is better, even if it is just one unit. But if one prays three, five, or more, that is better: saying the closing salam after every two, and then praying one unit for the witr. If one prays witr in the first part of the night before sleeping, there is no harm if one fears not being able to get up. Or in the middle of the night, it is all good. But the best of that is the last part of the night, in the final third. That is the best. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.