What is the meaning of al-shaf' and al-witr after the 'Isha' prayer?
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He says: Some people say that when I pray the 'Isha' prayer, I must pray three rak'ahs: two rak'ahs, then I pray one rak'ah. They call the first part al-shaf' and the last one al-witr. Is what they said correct, and how do you guide me?
Answer: This is recommended (mustahabb) and not obligatory. This is called al-witr. It is recommended for the believing man and woman to perform al-witr every night, after the 'Isha' prayer, and it continues until the dawn breaks. If the Muslim man or woman prays the two rak'ahs of the 'Isha' sunnah and wishes to perform al-witr before sleeping, he or she performs al-witr with two rak'ahs then one rak'ah. Al-shaf' and al-witr are two rak'ahs then one single rak'ah. If he or she performs al-witr with just one rak'ah, that suffices after the 'Isha' sunnah. If he or she performs al-witr with five, seven, or more, all of it is good. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) mostly performed al-witr with eleven rak'ahs, and sometimes he performed it with thirteen, and sometimes with less than that. He would say the closing salam after every two rak'ahs and perform al-witr with one rak'ah, in which he would recite: and [Al-Ikhlas 112:1]. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sunan Abi Dawud 1326Sahih (Al-Albani). This is the sunnah of al-witr, and it is recommended, not obligatory. It is recommended for all Muslims, male and female, between the 'Isha' prayer and the breaking of dawn. Whoever wishes to stand in prayer at the end of the night, that is better. And whoever fears that he will not be able to get up at the end of the night, he performs al-witr after the 'Isha' prayer and before sleeping, based on his (peace and blessings be upon him) saying in the authentic hadith narrated by Muslim in his Sahih: Sahih Muslim 755a, .... ..... And the meaning of "witnessed" (mashhudah) is that which is witnessed by the angels of the night and the angels of the day. And success is from Allah. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Answer: This is recommended (mustahabb) and not obligatory. This is called al-witr. It is recommended for the believing man and woman to perform al-witr every night, after the 'Isha' prayer, and it continues until the dawn breaks. If the Muslim man or woman prays the two rak'ahs of the 'Isha' sunnah and wishes to perform al-witr before sleeping, he or she performs al-witr with two rak'ahs then one rak'ah. Al-shaf' and al-witr are two rak'ahs then one single rak'ah. If he or she performs al-witr with just one rak'ah, that suffices after the 'Isha' sunnah. If he or she performs al-witr with five, seven, or more, all of it is good. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) mostly performed al-witr with eleven rak'ahs, and sometimes he performed it with thirteen, and sometimes with less than that. He would say the closing salam after every two rak'ahs and perform al-witr with one rak'ah, in which he would recite:
All praise
الحمدSay, "He is Allah, [who is] One,
قل هو الله أحدPrayer 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 صلىIf anyone is afraid that he may not get up in the latter part of the night, he should observe Witr in the first part of it; and if anyone is eager to get up in the last part of it, he should observe Witr at the end of the night, for prayer at the end of the night is witnessed (by the angels) and that is preferable.
من خاف أن لا يقوم من آخر الليل فليوتر أوله، ومن طمع أن يقوم آخر الليل فليوتر آخر الليل فإن صلاة آخر الليل مشهودة وذلك أفضلThe presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
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