How to Make Up the Witr Prayer

Question:
A message from one of the female listeners, who calls herself Ummah of Allah, Umm 'Abd al-Rahman, from the Eastern Region, asking about how to make up the witr during the day if one slept through it; because it has reached us that some scholars say the witr should be made up? May Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
The Sunnah is to make up the witr. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), if illness or sleep prevented him from his witr at night, would pray from the day. Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said: "The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), if illness or sleep prevented him from his witr, would pray twelve rak'ahs from the day." And his witr was usually eleven rak'ahs, so if something prevented him from it, he would pray twelve, adding one. This is the Sunnah: that it is made up from the day, but in an even number, not an odd one, adding one rak'ah following the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). So if his custom at night was three rak'ahs with one taslim, he would pray four rak'ahs with two taslims from the day. And if his custom was five rak'ahs, he would pray six rak'ahs with three taslims from the day. And if his custom was seven rak'ahs at night, he would pray eight rak'ahs with four taslims from the day, and so on. And if his custom was eleven, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did, he would pray twelve rak'ahs with six taslims from the day. And if his custom was thirteen, he would pray fourteen with seven taslims from the day. This is the best, and it is a recommended voluntary prayer, not obligatory. Yes.

The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.