Outline
- Introduction
- Related Articles
- What is Witr Prayer
- The Significance of Witr Prayer
- When is Witr Prayer Performed
- How is Witr Prayer Performed
- Qunūt in Witr Prayer
- How to Make Up for Witr Prayer
Introduction
The real journey in pursuit for salvation for the son of Adam begins after he submits to Allah and embraces Islam, with its rituals, rules and principles. The most frequently observed act of worship that Allah has prescribed upon him is prayer (ṣalāh). Thus, he’s obliged to observe prayers five times a day.
However, besides the five-times daily prayers, there are supererogatory prayers that he’s strongly encouraged to observe. The most famous of them are four:
- Qiyāmullayl
- Witr Prayer
- The Sunnah of Fajr Prayer
- Ḍuḥā Prayer
This article focuses on Witr prayer. Its significance, how and when it’s done. It also shares the du’a of Qunūt and how to make up for your witr prayer when you oversleep or forget about it.
Related Articles
As for Qiyāmullayl, GSalam. Net has a few articles that comprehensively guide you to observe it… Check them out in the following:
- The Significance, Effects and Guidelines of Qiyamullail
- Qiyāmullayl… Its Enhancers, Etiquettes and Stories
- Qiyāmullayl in Ramadan… The Experience and the Lessons…
As for the Sunnah of Fajr Prayer, you can check out its article here.
And as for the Ḍuḥā Prayer, you can check out its article here.
Now, now let’s move on to the definition of witr prayer.
What is Witr Prayer
Witr is an Arabic word that literally means single/odd number. Practically, witr prayer is a single raka’ah prayer that is performed to close our night prayer. The closing raka’ah has to be a single raka’ah, which is add on to two raka‘ahs, 4 raka‘ahs, 6 raka’ah, 8 raka’ah or 10 raka‘ahs.
The minimum number of witr prayer is a single raka’ah. And the maximum number (as per the Prophet’s practice) is 11 raka‘ahs).
The Significance of Witr Prayer
Witr prayer is an emphasized sunnah. While you are not penalized for skipping it, you’re rewarded greatly in abundance when you observe it.
In a ḥadīth reported by Imām Abū Dāwūd from the narration of Sayyidunā ‘Ali ibn Abī Ṭālib, the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam says:
يَا أَهْلَ الْقُرْآنِ أَوْتِرُوا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ وِتْرٌ يُحِبُّ الْوِتْرَ
“Allah is single (witr) and loves what is single, so observe the witr, you who follow the Qur’an.”
Also, witr is one of the non-obligatory prayers which the Prophet Muhammad ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam never missed. He would observe it by all means. Whether he was at home or in a voyage.
When is Witr Prayer Performed
Witr prayer is performed between after ‘Ishā’ prayers and the arrival of Fajr prayers (between ‘Ishā’ and Fajr).
So, one can choose to perform it at the beginning of the night (after ‘Ishā’), in the middle of the night, or at the end of the night (before the adhān of Fajr).
However, witr best performed the last prayer one prays at night. That is, if you plan to wake up after sleep, before dawn to pray, then it’s better that you delay your witr prayer and perform it then. If, however, you are unsure whether you’ll be waking up at night, then it’s better that you pray your witr prayer before you go to sleep.
How is Witr Prayer Performed
If you are punctual in Qiyāmullayl or have experienced Qiyāmullayl, then you have been praying Witr prayer also.
There’re a few ways to perform the Witr Prayer.
The Single Raka’ah
You can perform your witr prayer in a single raka’ah, if that’s all you can afford. A single raka’ah will have rukū’, sujūd, and tashahhud with salām.
The Multiple Raka‘ahs with Braking Salams
Although you can perform your witr prayer in a single raka’ah, the recommended minimum of 3 raka‘ahs, while the recommended maximum is 11raka‘ahs.
When performing more than a single raka’ah, you’re encouraged to break it into two sets of raka’ah, with the last raka’ah being your witr (single raka’ah).
For instance, if you intend to pray 3 raka‘ahs, you will first perform two raka‘ahs, sit and make your salām, and then close it with a single raka’ah.
Similarly, If you intend to pray 5 raka‘ahs, you should make salām after every two raka‘ahs and then close it with the fifth raka’ah on its own.
And the same applies if you intend to pray 7, 9, or 11 raka‘ahs.
That way, if you’re praying 3 raka‘ahs, you’re going to be making two salams. If you’re praying 5 raka‘ahs, you’ll be making 3 salams, if you’re praying 7 raka‘ahs you’ll be making 5 salams, if you’re praying 9 raka‘ahs you’ll be making 7 salams and if you’re praying 11 raka‘ahs you’ll be making 9 salams. Obviously, if you’re praying a single raka’ah, you’ll be making a single salām. Is that right?
The Maghrib Style
Another way of performing it is to perform like you would perform your Maghrib prayers. Two raka‘ahs plus one, with two tashahhud and one salām.
Please note, that the recitation of Sūrah Al-Fātiḥah and the Surah in your last raka’ah in Maghrib is silent. Whereby it’s loud in the Maghrib style of your witr.
Another Way
Another way of performing it is to perform it continuously with one tashahhud and one salām, regardless of the number of raka‘ahs you’re praying. As long as you end with an odd number.
This means you can pray 3 raka‘ahs continuously, with one tashahhud and one salām. You can also pray 5 raka‘ahs, 7 raka‘ahs, 9 raka‘ahs or 11 raka‘ahs with one tashahhud in the end and salām.
Another Similar Way
Another way, similar to the one above is to pray all the raka‘ahs continuously, say 5, 7, 9, or 11, with only two tashahhud. Your first tashahhud comes before your single (last) raka’ah, and your last tashahhud comes with your witr raka’ah.
Qunūt in Witr
It’s optional to read the du’a of Qunūt in your witr. The Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam did it sometimes. He also taught his companions to read Qunūt in their witr. Click here to find the du’a of Qunūt.
If you choose to make the Qunūt in your witr prayer, then it should be in the final raka’ah (witr). You can say it before your last rukū’ or after rising from the last rukū’.
How to Make Up for Witr
Witr prayer is strongly recommended to be observed by the Muslim. So much so, that one can make up for it during daytime if he misses it.
If you oversleep, or forget to perform your witr in the night, you can make up for it the next day. Imām Abū Dāwūd reports from the narration of Sayyidunā Abū Sa’īd al-Khudrī raḍiya Allāhu ’anhu, that the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam says:
مَنْ نَامَ عَنْ وِتْرِهِ أَوْ نَسِيَهُ فَلْيُصَلِّهِ إِذَا ذَكَرَهُ
“If anyone oversleeps and misses the witr, or forgets it, he should pray when he remembers.”
However, when making up for it, you pray in even numbers, rather than odd number. In other words, if you’re used to offering 3 raka‘ahs in your witr prayers (at night), then you pray 4 instead, when making up (during daytime). If you’re used to offering 5 raka‘ahs, then you pray 6 raka‘ahs instead.
Until the next post, I leave you in Allah’s protection.
Allah knows best.
Allahu Hafiz 🙂
Masha Allah tabaraka Allah
Thanks for the lecture may Allah SWT rewards you more knowledge. Ameena yarabih
Amin… I’m glad you found it beneficial.
Are we going to make a Dua in the Witr Salah, or just perform it without Dua?
You may say your du’a at during your witr prayer. You can do it on alternate days. You can do it daily. But you shouldn’t abandon it altogether.
I mean the important of sha’i and witr