Salat Sunnah - Witr

Witir prayer is one of the greatest: Prayers in Islam

Praise be to Allah SWT.

Witir prayer is one of the greatest acts of worship that would draw one closer to Allah SWT. It is the most highly regarded Sunnah [Sunnah Mu’akadah] and was enjoined by Rasulullah ﷺ in more than one hadith.

Illustration Only: One of the Qiyam Al Lail - Solat Witr.

Some of the scholars view since it is one of the Sunnah Mu’akadah the Muslim should observe regularly and not to neglect it whether travelling or not, as Rasulullah ﷺ used to do.

Abu Sa’id RA reported that Rasulullah ﷺ said:

“Perform Witir before morning comes.”

[Muslim (754)]

‘Saidina Ali RA said: Rasulullah ﷺ said:

“O people of the Qur’an, pray Witir, for Allah is One and loves that which is odd-numbered.”

[Sunan Abi Dawud].

Ibn ‘Umar RA reported:

“Rasulullah ﷺ was on a journey, atop his mount, whichever direction it was facing, gesturing the motions of the night prayer, except the obligatory prayer, and he prayed Witir atop his mount.”

 [Al-Bukhari (1000) and Muslim (700)].

Ibn Qudamah RA said:

Witir is not obligatory. This is the view of Malik and Al-Shafie. Abu Hanifah said: it is obligatory. Then he said: Ahmad said: Whoever omits to pray Witir deliberately is a bad man, whose testimony should not be accepted. He wanted to emphasize that it is confirmed because of the Ahadith which say that it is enjoined and encouraged.

[Al-Mughni, 1/827]

Selected Hadith about Sunnah Mu’akadah of Salat Witr.

1. It is one of the confirmed Sunnah (Mu’akadah) having a great virtue because of the evidences:

Saidina Ali Ibn Abu Talib RA reported:

The Witr prayer is not obligatory as the prescribed Salat (fardh prayers), but Rasulullah ﷺ observed it as his regular practice (Sunnah).

 Rasulullah ﷺ said;

"Allah is Witr (single, odd) and loves what is Witr. So perform Witr prayer. O followers of Qur'an, observe Witr (prayer)."

[Ref: Riyad us saaliheen, Book no. 9 hadith no. 1132] / [Ref: Sunan Al Nisai, Vol. 2 Book 10 hadith no. 1677]

[Ref: At-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud].

We may also refer to hadith narrated by Yahya:

Yahya related to me from Malik Ra that he had heard that a man asked Abdullah ibn Umar RA whether the Witr was obligatory and Abdullah ibn Umar said;

“Rasulullah ﷺ prayed Witr, and the Muslims prayed Witr." The man began repeating his question, and Abdullah ibn Umar RA kept saying;

“Rasulullah ﷺ prayed Witr, and the Muslims prayed Witr.

[Ref : Muwatta Imam Malik, Book 7 hadith 17]

2. It is a prayer which is better than the best of things which we can love

Narrated Kharijah ibn Hudayfah al-Adawi RA:

Rasulullah ﷺ came out to us and said;

”Allah the Exalted has given you "AN EXTRA PRAYER" which is better for you then the red camels (i.e. better than even the most beloved thing to you ). This is the Witr which Allah has appointed for you between the night prayer (Isha ‘a) and the daybreak (Fajr)”

[Ref: Sunnan Abu Dawud, Kitab Al salah - Book 8, Number 1413]

Note that the above hadith is da'if but the context "extra prayer" is Sahih because of the hadiths above it and also because of other proofs from Quran and Sunnah that Witr is a great Sunnah but does not fall under the obligatory category. Another reference for the above hadith is:

Kharijah bin Hudayfah RA narrated:

Rasulullah ﷺ came out to us and he said:

“Indeed Allah has assisted you with a Salat (that is better for you than red camels): Al-Witr which Allah made for you between the Isha prayers till Al-Fajr has begun”

[Ref: Sunan Al Tirmidhi Vol. 1, Book 3, Hadith 452]

In the above hadith, the wordings between the brackets are Da’if as classified by some scholars but apart the words in the bracket the hadith is acceptable and the wordings - Allah has "Assisted" you with means Allah has given us an extra prayer that will assist us in drawing close to Allah or increase the rewards and etc.

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْعَبَّاسِ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَعْقُوبَ إِمْلَاءً، ثنا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سِنَانٍ الْقَزَّازُ، ثنا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ حَمْدَانَ، ثنا عَبْدُ الْحَمِيدِ بْنُ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي جَعْفَرُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي عَمْرَةَ النَّجَّارِيِّ، أَنَّهُ سَأَلَ عُبَادَةَ بْنَ الصَّامِتِ عَنِ الْوِتْرِ، فَقَالَ: أَمْرٌ حَسَنٌ، «عَمِلَ بِهِ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَالْمُسْلِمُونَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ وَلَيْسَ بِوَاجِبٍ» هَذَا حَدِيثٌ صَحِيحٌ عَلَى شَرْطِ الشَّيْخَيْنِ، وَلَمْ يُخَرِّجَاهُ وَلَهُ شَوَاهِدُ، فَمِنْهَا مَا "

[التعليق - من تلخيص الذهبي] 1117 - على شرطهما

`Abdur Rahman ibn Abi `Amratan-Najjari RA asked `Ubadah ibn Samit RA regarding Witr so he answered; “Witr is a beautiful (or good) matter. We performed it with Rasulullah ﷺ and with the Muslimin after him (Rasulullah ﷺ) and it is not wajib"

[Ref: Mustadrak Hakim who said this is a Sahih hadiths upon the conditions of the two shuyukh and they did not write this down and it has corroborating evidence. - 1117]

3. This prayer is beloved to Allah (i.e. Allah - the exalted -loves this prayer)

It was narrated that Saidina Ali Ibn Abu Talib RA said:

 " Rasulullah ﷺ said:

"O people of the Qur'an, pray Witr, for Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, is Witr (One) and loves Al-Witr (the odd numbered).

[Ref: Sunan Al Nasai, Vol. 2 Book 10 hadith 1676]

[Ref: A similar narration is also found in Sunan Abu Dawud 1416]

And also narrated by the notable narrator of hadiths;

Narrated Abu Hurairah RA:

“Allah has ninety-nine Names, i.e., one hundred minus one, and whoever believes in their meanings and acts accordingly, will enter Paradise; and Allah is Witr (one) and loves 'the Witr' (i.e., odd numbers).

[Ref: Sahih Al Bukhari, Vol. 8, Book no. 75, Hadith 419]

Illustration Only: Witr a sunnah muakadah.

HOW TO PRAY ISH'A WITR

When is the right time to perform Salat Witr?

The Isyak Witr can be prayed any time after the Isyak salat until the dawn (Fajr) breaks. This is indicated by the hadith of Rasulullah ﷺ.

Rasulullah ﷺ said:

“Allah has prescribed for you a prayer (by which He may increase your reward), which is Witr; Allah has enjoined it for you during the time between ‘Isyak prayer until dawn begins.”

[Ref: Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 425]

Rasulullah ﷺ said:

“Whoever fears that he will not get up at the end of the night, let him pray Witr at the beginning of the night, but whoever thinks that he will be able to get up at the end of the night, let him pray Witr at the end of the night, for prayer at the end of the night is witnessed (by the angels) and that is better.”

[Ref:  Narrated by Muslim, 755 ]

It was narrated that Sayyidah Aisyah RA said:

“Rasulullah ﷺ prayed Witr at the beginning (of the night) and at the end, and in the middle. And toward the end of his life, he settled on performing Witr at the end of the night”

[Ref: Sunan Al Nasai, Vol. 2, Book no. 10]

HOW MANY RAKA'AH WITR CAN WE PRAY?

1. أَخْبَرَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عُثْمَانَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا بَقِيَّةُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي ضُبَارَةُ بْنُ أَبِي السَّلِيلِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي دُوَيْدُ بْنُ نَافِعٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي ابْنُ شِهَابٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عَطَاءُ بْنُ يَزِيدَ، عَنْ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ الْوِتْرُ حَقٌّ فَمَنْ شَاءَ أَوْتَرَ بِسَبْعٍ وَمَنْ شَاءَ أَوْتَرَ بِخَمْسٍ وَمَنْ شَاءَ أَوْتَرَ بِثَلاَثٍ وَمَنْ شَاءَ أَوْتَرَ بِوَاحِدَةٍ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

Duwaid bin Nafi’ RA said: " Ibn Shihab informed me, saying: 'Ata bin Yazid RA narrated to me from Abu Ayub RA:

Rasulullah ﷺ said:

“Witr is a duty, and whoever wants to pray Witr with seven (Raka’ah), let him do so; whoever wants to pray Witr with five, let him do so, whoever wants to pray Witr with three, let him do so; and whoever wants to pray Witr with one, let him do so.'

[Ref: Sunan Al Nasai, Vol. 2, Book 10, Hadith 1711]

2. أَخْبَرَنَا الْعَبَّاسُ بْنُ الْوَلِيدِ بْنِ مَزِيدٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي أَبِي قَالَ، حَدَّثَنَا الأَوْزَاعِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي الزُّهْرِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَطَاءُ بْنُ يَزِيدَ، عَنْ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ الْوِتْرُ حَقٌّ فَمَنْ شَاءَ أَوْتَرَ بِخَمْسٍ وَمَنْ شَاءَ أَوْتَرَ بِثَلاَثٍ وَمَنْ شَاءَ أَوْتَرَ بِوَاحِدَةٍ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

Al-Awza'I said: "Az-Zuhri narrated to me, he said: 'Ata bin Yazid RA, from Abu Ayub RA: Rasulullah ﷺ said:

“Witr is a duty, and whoever wants to pray Witr with seven (Raka’ah), let him do so; whoever wants to pray Witr with five, let him do so, whoever wants to pray Witr with three, let him do so; and whoever wants to pray Witr with one, let him do so.'"

[Ref: Sunan Al Nasai, Vol. 2, Book 10, Hadith 1712]

From other Ahadith we learn that along with the above mentioned, Rasulullah ﷺ also prayed 9 Raka’ah Witr and they will be discussed further below.

DIFFERENT METHODS OF PRAYING WITR AS PER THE SUNNAH:

Rasulullah ﷺ prayed Witr in different styles and in different no. of Raka’ah. To summarize, Witr can be prayed as "One Raka’ah" or as "three Raka’ah" or as "five Raka’ah" or as "seven Raka’ah" or as "nine Raka’ah" or as "eleven Raka’ah". The methods for each are discussed as follows:

ONE RAKA’AH WITR:

1. أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي لَبِيدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ يُسْأَلُ عَنْ صَلاَةِ اللَّيْلِ فَقَالَ ‏ "‏ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى فَإِذَا خِفْتَ الصُّبْحَ فَأَوْتِرْ بِرَكْعَةٍ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

It was narrated that Ibn Umar said:

"I heard Rasulullah ﷺ on the minbar, when Rasulullah ﷺ was asked about prayers at night, say: "Two by two, then if you fear that dawn will come, pray Witr with one rakaah.'" (Sahih)

[Ref: Al Nasai, Vol. 2, Book 10, Hadith 1670]

2. أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا ابْنُ الْقَاسِمِ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مَخْرَمَةُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، عَنْ كُرَيْبٍ، أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَبَّاسٍ، أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّهُ، بَاتَ عِنْدَ مَيْمُونَةَ أُمِّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ - وَهِيَ خَالَتُهُ - فَاضْطَجَعَ فِي عَرْضِ الْوِسَادَةِ وَاضْطَجَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَهْلُهُ فِي طُولِهَا فَنَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَتَّى إِذَا انْتَصَفَ اللَّيْلُ أَوْ قَبْلَهُ قَلِيلاً أَوْ بَعْدَهُ قَلِيلاً اسْتَيْقَظَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَجَلَسَ يَمْسَحُ النَّوْمَ عَنْ وَجْهِهِ بِيَدِهِ ثُمَّ قَرَأَ الْعَشْرَ الآيَاتِ الْخَوَاتِيمَ مِنْ سُورَةِ آلِ عِمْرَانَ ثُمَّ قَامَ إِلَى شَنٍّ مُعَلَّقَةٍ فَتَوَضَّأَ مِنْهَا فَأَحْسَنَ وُضُوءَهُ ثُمَّ قَامَ يُصَلِّي قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبَّاسٍ فَقُمْتُ فَصَنَعْتُ مِثْلَ مَا صَنَعَ ثُمَّ ذَهَبْتُ فَقُمْتُ إِلَى جَنْبِهِ فَوَضَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَدَهُ الْيُمْنَى عَلَى رَأْسِي وَأَخَذَ بِأُذُنِي الْيُمْنَى يَفْتِلُهَا فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ أَوْتَرَ ثُمَّ اضْطَجَعَ حَتَّى جَاءَهُ الْمُؤَذِّنُ فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ خَفِيفَتَيْنِ

It was narrated from Kuraib RA that 'Abdullah bin 'Abbas RA told him: He slept at the house of Maimunah the wife of Rasulullah ﷺ who was his maternal aunt. 'Abdullah bin 'Abbas RA said: "I lay down across the mattress and Rasulullah ﷺ and his wife lay along it. Rasulullah ﷺ) slept until midnight, or a little before or a little after. Rasulullah ﷺ woke up and began to rub the sleep from his face with his hand. Then he recited the last ten verses of Surah Al Imran. Then he got up and went to a water skin that was hanging up and performed wudu from it, and Rasulullah ﷺ performed wudu well, then Rasulullah ﷺ stood up and prayed." Abdullah bin 'Abbas RA said: "I stood up and did what he had done, then I went and stood beside Rasulullah ﷺ. Rasulullah ﷺ put his right hand on my neck, and took hold of my right hand and tweaked it. Then Rasulullah ﷺ prayed two Rakaahs, then two Rakaahs, then two Rakaahs, then two Rakaahs, then two Rakaahs, then two Rakaahs, then he prayed Witr (one rakaah ) .Then Rasulullah ﷺ lay down until the Mu'adhdhin came to him and he prayed two brief Rakaahs."

[Ref:  Sunan Al Nasai, Vol. 2, Book 10, Hadith 1621]

Saad bin Abi Waqqas RA prayed one rakaah Witr.

(Sahih Bukhari 6356; its chain is Sahih)

Muawiyah bin Abi Sufyan RA offered one rakaah after Isha’ a prayers.

(Sahih Bukhari: 3764; its chain is Sahih)

Saidina Uthman Ibn Affan RA offered one rakaah Witr and said: "This is my Witr".

(As-Sunnah al-Kubraa by al-Bayhaqee 3/25; its chain is Hassan)

Ibn Hajar said:

“It is authentically reported that a number of the Companions prayed one rakaah for Witr, without praying any Nafl prior to it. It is recorded in Muhammad Ibn Nasr’s book and others, with an authentic isnaad from As-Saa’ib Ibn Yazid that ‘Saidina Uthman Ibn Affan RA recited Quran one night in just one rakaah; and he did not pray anything else.

We will also cite in the chapter of Al-Maghazi the report of ‘Abdullah Ibn Tha’labah RA that Saad Ibn Abi Waqqas RA prayed one rakaah for Witr and in Al-Manaaqib the report that Muawiyah RA prayed one rakaah for Witr, which was approved by Ibn ‘Abbās RA”.

[Fath Al-Baari]

Hence the above Ahadith teach us that praying Witr as one rakaah alone is fine. You can either pray one rakaah after your Isha' fardh salah or you can pray as many nafils (2 by 2) as you want before the one rakaah Witr:

THREE RAK'AT WITR:

Rasulullah ﷺ used to pray 3 rakaah Witr by 2 methods. One of which wherein he prayed 3 rakaah back to back (continuously) without sitting (for Tashahhud) in between except in the last (3rd) rakaah.

The second method reported is where he would pray 3 rakaah as 2+1. Meaning, Rasulullah ﷺ prayed 2 rakaah, then said the tasleem and ended the 2 rakaah prayer and then he prayed one rakaah Witr separately (thus making it a total of 3 rakaah Witr)

METHOD 1: PRAYING 3 RAK'AH CONTINUOUSLY WITH 1 TASHAHUD ONLY (In other words, praying 3 rakaah & sitting only in the last rakaah)

1. أَخْبَرَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ مُوسَى، قَالَ: أَنْبَأَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ خَالِدٍ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ أَبِي عَرُوبَةَ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ عَزْرَةَ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبْزَى، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أُبَيِّ بْنِ كَعْبٍ قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقْرَأُ فِي الْوِتْرِ بِسَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الْأَعْلَى، وَفِي الرَّكْعَةِ الثَّانِيَةِ بِقُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا الْكَافِرُونَ، وَفِي الثَّالِثَةِ بِقُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ، وَلَا يُسَلِّمُ إِلَّا فِي آخِرِهِنَّ، وَيَقُولُ ـ يَعْنِي بَعْدَ التَّسْلِيمِ ـ: «سُبْحَانَ الْمَلِكِ الْقُدُّوسِ»، ثَلَاثًا

Narrated on the authority of Ubayy ibn Ka’b RA who said: Rasulullah ﷺ used to recite in Witr Sabbih isma rabbika al-‘a’la (“Glorify the name of your Lord, the Most High” – Surat al-A’la 87), Qul yaa ayyuha’l-kaafirun (“Say: O disbeliever…” – Surat al-Kafirun 109) and Qul Huwa Allahu ahad (“Say: He is Allah, the One” – Surat al-Ikhlaas 112) and he did not say tasleem except in the last Raka’ah and after tasleem Rasulullah ﷺ said "Subhana malikil Quddusi" thrice.  

[Ref: Sunan Nasai, book: Qiyam ul Layl WA ta'too an nahar, hadith no. 1701, or vol. 2 book 10]

2.  أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو عَبْدِ اللهِ الْحَافِظُ، أنبأ أَبُو نَصْرٍ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ سَهْلٍ الْفَقِيهُ بِبُخَارَى، ثنا صَالِحُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ حَبِيبٍ الْحَافِظُ، ثنا شَيْبَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، ثنا أَبَانُ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ زُرَارَةَ بْنِ أَوْفَى، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ هِشَامٍ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ: " كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُوتِرُ بِثَلَاثٍ لَا يَقْعُدُ إِلَّا فِي آخِرِهِنَّ "

Said ibn Hisham RA on the authority of Saidatuna Aisyah RA said; “Rasulullah ﷺ prayed 3 rakaats Witr and did not sit (for Tashahhud) except in the last Raka’ats

[Ref: Sunan al Bayhaqi Kubraa, Book Main title : Kitabus Salah, Subtitle :  Jamaa'a al Abwaab Salah al ta'atu, wa Qiyam shahar Ramadan ,hadith no. 4803  v3 pg. 41]

3.  أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو عَبْدِ اللهِ الْحَافِظُ، وَأَبُو سَعِيدِ بْنُ أَبِي عَمْرٍو قَالَا: ثنا أَبُو الْعَبَّاسِ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَعْقُوبَ ثنا يَحْيَى بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ، أنبأ عَبْدُ الْوَهَّابِ بْنُ عَطَاءٍ، ثنا سَعِيدٌ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ زُرَارَةَ بْنِ أَوْفَى، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ هِشَامٍ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهَا أَنَّهَا قَالَتْ: " كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَا يُسَلِّمُ فِي رَكْعَتَيِ الْوِتْرِ " كَذَا رَوَاهُ عَبْدُ الْوَهَّابِ عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي عُرْوَةَ، وَقَالَ أَبَانُ عَنْ قَتَادَةَ: يُوتِرُ بِثَلَاثٍ لَا يَقْعُدُ إِلَّا فِي آخِرِهِن

Qatadah RA said “He used to pray Witr with three Rakaahs and he did not sit except in the last (rakaah) of them.”

[Ref: Sunan Al Bayhaqi hadith no. 4814, pg 45 v3]

4. وَرُوِيَ عَنْ عَطَاءٍ، أَنَّهُ كَانَ يُوتِرُ بِثَلَاثٍ  «لَا يَجْلِسُ فِيهِنَّ وَلَا يَتَشَهَّدُ إِلَّا فِي آخِرِهِنَّ»

Narrated by Ata' RA that Rasulullah ﷺ did not sit in BETWEEN and did not do Tashahhud except in the last rakaah.

[Ref: Sunan Al Sagheer – by Imam Al Bayhaqi – vol. 1 page 281, hadith no. 777]

5. Saidatuna Aisyah RA narrated: " Rasulullah ﷺ used to read three Witr and he would not sit except in the last rakaah"

[Ref: Mustadrak al-Hakīm: 1/304]

[Ref: Aynee al-Hanafi said: "This hadith is Sahih according to the conditions of Shaikhain"

(Umdat ul-Qaari: 4/203)]

Another Hadith states that “Rasulullah ﷺ would not say the 2 tasleem in 3 Rakaahs”

[Sunan Nasa’i (3/234), Daraqutni no.175, Tahaawee no.1/280, Hakīm 1/304, Bayhaqee 3/31 the chain is authentic)

Hence the Above Ahadith teach us that if we want to pray 3 rakaah Witr, then one method of praying it is - wherein we pray 3 rakaah back to back (one after the another) and sit (for Tashahhud) only in the last (3rd) rakaah of our Witr salah.

METHOD 2: PRAYING 3 RAK'AH WITR BY SAYING THE TASLEEM AFTER 2 RAK'AH AND THEN PRAYING 1 RAK'AH ON ITS OWN

5. أَخْبَرَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ سُفْيَانَ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الدَّوْرَقِيُّ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا عَتَّابُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو حَمْزَةَ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الصَّائِغِ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ: «كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَفْصِلُ بَيْنَ الشَّفْعِ وَالْوِتْرِ بِتَسْلِيمٍ يُسْمِعُنَاهُ».

Narrated by Abdullah Ibn Umar RA that he said “Rasulullah ﷺ used to separate the two Rakaahs from the single rakaah with a tasleem”

[Ref: Sahih ibn Hibban, book: Bab al Witr hadith no. 2435 and Ibn Hajar said in al-Fath (2/482): its isnaad is qawiy aka strong]

Another hadith states: “Rasulullah ﷺ would say Salam in between the second and third rakaah which we would hear.”

 [Sahih Ibn Hibban (6/191 no.2435)]

Abdullah bin Umar RA offered tasleem after two rakaah and said: “Bring my she-camel" and then he got up and offered one rakaah.

(Musannaf ibn Abi Shaybah 2/292 h.6806;its chin is Sahih)

Also see Sahih Bukhari (601) & Sahih Ibn Hibban (al-Ihsaan 4/70 h.2426)

Imam Tirmidhi said that (Imam) Malik, Shafie, Ahmed bin Hanbal and Ishaq bin Rahawiyyah that one should say tasleem after two Rakaahs and offer one rakaah after that. (Sunan at-Tirmidhi: 461)

FIVE (5) RAK'AT WITR :

1. أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يُوتِرُ بِخَمْسٍ وَلاَ يَجْلِسُ إِلاَّ فِي آخِرِهِنَّ ‏.‏

Hisham bin Urwah narrated from his father, from Saidatuna Aisyah RA, that: Rasulullah ﷺ used to pray Witr with five and he did not sit except in the last (Rakaahs) of them.

[Ref: Sunan Nasai, Vol. 2, Book 10, Hadith 1718]

2. وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَأَبُو كُرَيْبٍ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ نُمَيْرٍ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ نُمَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ ثَلاَثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً يُوتِرُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ بِخَمْسٍ لاَ يَجْلِسُ فِي شَىْءٍ إِلاَّ فِي آخِرِهَا ‏.‏

Saidatuna Aisyah RA reported: Rasulullah ﷺ used to observe thirteen rakaah of the night prayer. Five out of them consisted of Witr, and he did not sit in anything (any Rakaah), but at the end (last Raka’ah)

[Ref: Sahih Muslim: English reference: Book 4, Hadith 1604, Arabic reference: Book 7, Hadith 1754]

3. أَخْبَرَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَحْيَى، أنا أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَعْقُوبَ الْحَافِظُ، نا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْوَهَّابِ، أنا جَعْفَرُ بْنُ عَوْنٍ، أنا هِشَامُ بْنُ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ،: أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ «كَانَتْ صَلَاتُهُ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ ثَلَاثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً، يُوتِرُ بِخَمْسٍ وَلَا يُسَلِّمُ فِي شَيْءٍ مِنَ الْخَمْسِ حَتَّى يَجْلِسَ فِي الْآخِرَةِ وَيُسَلِّمَ»

Narrated by Saidatuna Aisyah RA : Rasulullah ﷺ prayed thirteen Rakaahs of the night prayer. Five out of them consisted of Witr and he did not say the tasleem in any of the five Rakaahs until he sat in the last Rakaah and did the tasleem

[Ref: Sunan al Bayhaqi sagira , book : salah , hadith no. 774]

4.  أَخْبَرَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ سُفْيَانَ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ مُوسَى الْحَادِي، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ، وَحَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، «أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ يُوتِرُ بِخَمْسِ رَكَعَاتٍ لَا يَقْعُدُ إِلَّا فِي آخِرِهِنَّ».

Narrated by Saidatuna Aisyah RA that Rasulullah ﷺ prayed five Rakaahs Witr and he did not sit except in the last rakaah.

[Ref : Sahih ibn Hibban – vol. 6 page 194 hadith no.2439]

NINE (9) & SEVEN (7) RAK'AT WITR:

1. أَخْبَرَنَا زَكَرِيَّا بْنُ يَحْيَى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُعَاذُ بْنُ هِشَامٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ زُرَارَةَ بْنِ أَوْفَى، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ هِشَامٍ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا أَوْتَرَ بِتِسْعِ رَكَعَاتٍ لَمْ يَقْعُدْ إِلاَّ فِي الثَّامِنَةِ فَيَحْمَدُ اللَّهَ وَيَذْكُرُهُ وَيَدْعُو ثُمَّ يَنْهَضُ وَلاَ يُسَلِّمُ ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي التَّاسِعَةَ فَيَجْلِسُ فَيَذْكُرُ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَيَدْعُو ثُمَّ يُسَلِّمُ تَسْلِيمَةً يُسْمِعُنَا ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ فَلَمَّا كَبِرَ وَضَعُفَ أَوْتَرَ بِسَبْعِ رَكَعَاتٍ لاَ يَقْعُدُ إِلاَّ فِي السَّادِسَةِ ثُمَّ يَنْهَضُ وَلاَ يُسَلِّمُ فَيُصَلِّي السَّابِعَةَ ثُمَّ يُسَلِّمُ تَسْلِيمَةً ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ ‏.‏

Mu'adh bin Hisham RA said: "My father narrated to me, from Qatadah RA, from Zurarah bin Awfa RA, from Saad bin Hisham RA, that Saidatuna Aisyah RA  said: 'When Rasulullah ﷺ prayed Witr with nine Rakaahs, Rasulullah ﷺ did not sit until (except in) the eighth rakaah. Then Rasulullah ﷺ would praise Allah (SWT) and remember Him and supplicate, then Rasulullah ﷺ would get up and he wouldn't say the taslim, then Rasulullah ﷺ prayed the ninth, then Rasulullah ﷺ sat and remembered Allah (SWT) and supplicated. Then he said a taslim that we could hear. Then he prayed two Rakaahs sitting down. When he grew older and weaker, Rasulullah ﷺ prayed Witr with seven Rakaahs and did not sit except in the sixth. Then he got up and did not say the taslim, and prayed the seventh, then he said the taslim, and then Rasulullah ﷺ prayed two Rakaahs sitting down.'"

[Ref: Sunan Al Nasai English reference: Vol. 2, Book 10, Hadith 1720, Arabic reference: Book 20, Hadith 1730]

2. أَخْبَرَنَا زَكَرِيَّا بْنُ يَحْيَى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ زُرَارَةَ بْنِ أَوْفَى، أَنَّ سَعْدَ بْنَ هِشَامِ بْنِ عَامِرٍ، لَمَّا أَنْ قَدِمَ، عَلَيْنَا أَخْبَرَنَا أَنَّهُ، أَتَى ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ فَسَأَلَهُ عَنْ وَتْرِ، رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ أَلاَ أَدُلُّكَ أَوْ أَلاَ أُنَبِّئُكَ بِأَعْلَمِ أَهْلِ الأَرْضِ بِوَتْرِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏.‏ قُلْتُ مَنْ قَالَ عَائِشَةُ ‏.‏ فَأَتَيْنَاهَا فَسَلَّمْنَا عَلَيْهَا وَدَخَلْنَا فَسَأَلْنَاهَا فَقُلْتُ أَنْبِئِينِي عَنْ وِتْرِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏.‏ قَالَتْ كُنَّا نُعِدُّ لَهُ سِوَاكَهُ وَطَهُورَهُ فَيَبْعَثُهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ مَا شَاءَ أَنْ يَبْعَثَهُ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَيَتَسَوَّكُ وَيَتَوَضَّأُ ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي تِسْعَ رَكَعَاتٍ وَلاَ يَقْعُدُ فِيهِنَّ إِلاَّ فِي الثَّامِنَةِ فَيَحْمَدُ اللَّهَ وَيَذْكُرُهُ وَيَدْعُو ثُمَّ يَنْهَضُ وَلاَ يُسَلِّمُ ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي التَّاسِعَةَ فَيَجْلِسُ فَيَحْمَدُ اللَّهَ وَيَذْكُرُهُ وَيَدْعُو ثُمَّ يُسَلِّمُ تَسْلِيمًا يُسْمِعُنَا ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ فَتِلْكَ إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً يَا بُنَىَّ فَلَمَّا أَسَنَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَخَذَ اللَّحْمَ أَوْتَرَ بِسَبْعٍ ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ بَعْدَ مَا يُسَلِّمُ فَتِلْكَ تِسْعًا أَىْ بُنَىَّ وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا صَلَّى صَلاَةً أَحَبَّ أَنْ يُدَاوِمَ عَلَيْهَا ‏.‏

It was narrated from Zurarah bin Awfa RA: "When Saad bin Hisham bin Amir RA came to visit us, he told us that he came to Ibn Abbas RA and asked him about the Witr of Rasulullah ﷺ.

He said: 'Shall I not tell you of the most knowledgeable person on Earth about the Witr of Rasulullah ﷺ ' I said: 'Who?' He said: 'Saidatuna Aisyah RA.' So we went to her and greeted her with Salam and entered and asked her. I said: 'Tell me about the Witr of Rasulullah ﷺ.' She said: 'We used to prepare for Rasulullah ﷺ his siwak and water for wudu, then Allah (SWT) would wake him when He willed to wake him at night. Rasulullah ﷺ would clean his teeth and perform wudu, and then Rasulullah ﷺ would pray nine Rakaahs, during which Rasulullah ﷺ would not sit until the eighth. Then Rasulullah ﷺ would praise Allah (SWT) and remember Him and supplicate, and then Rasulullah ﷺ would get up and not say the taslim. Then Rasulullah ﷺ would pray the ninth, then sit and praise Allah (SWT) and remember Him and supplicate, then Rasulullah ﷺ would say a taslim that we could hear. Then he prayed two Rakaahs sitting, and that was eleven Rakaahs, O my son. When Rasulullah ﷺ grew older and put on weight, Rasulullah ﷺ prayed Witr with seven, then he prayed two Rakaahs sitting after saying the taslim, and that was nine, O my son. And when Rasulullah ﷺ offered a prayer, he liked to persist in offering it.'" (Sahih)

[Ref: Sunan Al Nasai: English reference: Vol. 2, Book 10, Hadith 1722, Arabic reference: Book 20, Hadith 1732]

CAN WE PRAY NAFIL SALAH AFTER PRAYING WITR?

A) It was narrated that ‘Abd-Allah ibn ‘Umar said: Rasulullah ﷺ said: “Make the last of your prayer at night Witr.”

[Ref: Bukhari, 998; Muslim, 749]

B) Saidatuna Aisyah RA said "When Rasulullah ﷺ grew older and put on weight, Rasulullah ﷺ prayed Witr with seven, then he prayed two Rakaahs sitting after saying the taslim, and that was nine"

[Ref: Sunan Al Nasai: English reference: Vol. 2, Book 10, Hadith 1722, Arabic reference: Book 20, Hadith 1732]

C) Umm Salamah narrated:” Rasulullah ﷺ would pray two Rakaah after Al-Witr."

[Ref: Sunan Al Tirmidhi Vol. 1 Book 3 Hadith 471]

Shaykh Al-Albani said in his book, Qiyam Ramadan:

One may offer two rakaah voluntary prayers after Witr prayer because they are affirmed by the action of Rasulullah ﷺ. Rather, he commanded his Ummah with it, saying:

آن هذا السفر جهد و ثقل، فإذا أوتر أحدكم فليركع ركعتين، فان استيقظ و الا كانت له

"This journey is strenuous and exhausting. If you pray Witr, offer two rakaah afterwards if you wake up, otherwise they will be written for you"

[Ref: Reported by Ibn Khuzayma in his Sahih, ad-Daarimi and others, it is verified in as-Sahiha)]

 Regarding the hadith in which Rasulullah ﷺ said:

اجعلوا آخر صلاتكم بالليل وترا

"Make your last prayer of the night Witr."

(Muslim)

The command in this hadith serves as an option and not an obligation.

The Sunnah is to recite Surah Zalzalah and Surah Al-Kafirun in these two rak'ahs

Reconciling the above hadiths, scholars said:

Ibn Hazm said in al-Muhalla, 2/92, 93:

Witr at the end of the night is better, but whoever prays Witr at the beginning of the night, that is fine. It is permissible to pray (nafils or etc.) after Witr

Al-Nawawi said in al-Majmu, 3/512: said:

From the hadith of Al Nasai and etc., we learn that since Rasulullah ﷺ prayed 2 rakaah after Witr, hence we have the permission to pray after Witr if we want. But it is better to make Witr as the last part of the night prayer.

CAN WE PRAY WITR TWICE IN ONE NIGHT?

It was narrated that that Talq ibn ‘Ali said: I heard Rasulullah ﷺ say, “There should not be two Witr in one night.”

[Ref: Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 470; al-Nasa’i, 1679; Abu Dawud, 1439. Classed as Sahih by Shaykh al-Albani in Sahih al-Jami’, 7567 ]

RECITATION OF SURAH IN EVERY RAKAT (OF A WITR)

In Witr, we have to recite Surat ul Fatihah and another surah (after al Fatiha) in all the rakaah and we may recite any surah that we like. However we have hadiths informing us the Sunnah regarding what Rasulullah ﷺ used to recite in a 3 rakaah Witr and those surah's were:

Narrated By Ubayy ibn Ka’b RA who said: Rasulullah ﷺ used to recite in Witr Sabbih isma rabbika al-‘a’la (“Glorify the name of your Lord, the Most High” – Surat al-A’la 87), Qul yaa ayyuha’l-kaafirun (“Say: O disbeliever…” – Surat al-Kafirun 109) and Qul Huwa Allahu ahad (“Say: He is Allah, the One” – Surat al-Ikhlaas 112).

[Ref: Al-Nasa’i (1729) Sahih al-Nasa’i]

HOW IS THE DUA QUNUT TO BE RECITED AND ITS RULINGS?

Dua Qunut and its Rulings

DUAS THAT RASULLULAH ﷺ USED TO SAY AFTER PRAYING THE WITR

It was narrated from Saidina Ali bin Abi Talib RA that: Rasulullah ﷺ used to say at the end of Witr: “Allahumma inni audhu bi ridaka min sakhatika wa bi mu’afatika min uqubatika, wa audhu bika minka la uhsi thana’an ‘alayka, anta kama athwart ala nafsik”

 (O Allah, I seek refuge in Your pleasure from Your wrath and in Your forgiveness from Your punishment. And I seek refuge in You from You; I cannot praise You enough; You are as You have praised Yourself.).

[Ref: Sunan Nasai Vol. 2, Book 10, Hadith 1748]

[Ref: Sunan Abu Dawud Book #8, Hadith #1422]

Also it is reported that Rasulullah ﷺ sometimes said “SUBHANAL MALIKIL QUDDUS (three times).

[Ref: Sunan Al Nasai, Vol. 2, Book 10, Hadith 1733, 1734,1735,1737,1741 and 1742]

Hence the above described methods are how Rasulullah ﷺ prayed Witr and taught us to pray. We are supposed to follow Rasulullah ﷺ for Allah says “Obey Allah and his messenger" and Also Allah says "Indeed in Muhammad is a good example for you to follow".

The below section will refute all those claims which propagate the wrong method of praying Witr. Those interested may proceed whereas those who are looking for the authentic way to pray Witr as taught by Rasulullah ﷺ may refer to the above details.

SECTION B - REFUTE TO THE WEAK METHODS OF PRAYING ISHA'A WITR

It is a wide misconception among Muslims that the 3 rakaats Isha ‘a Witr is prayed with 2 sittings (i.e. 2 Tashahhud) like Maghrib with the exception that we recite a surah after Al Fatiha in the third rakaah of Witr and the dua e qunut. This method is absolutely wrong. They put forward certain lame excuses to support their wrong methodology of Isha Witr but their reasoning and excuses are refuted below one by one.

Before we begin the refute please note the below Ahadith:

It was proven that Rasulullah ﷺ prayed Witr in different ways. Rasulullah ﷺ prayed one rakaah, and three, and five, and seven, and nine. And he prayed three Rakaahs in two different ways, either continuously with one Tashahhud, or saying salaam after two Rakaahs and praying one rakaah and saying salaam after it but Rasulullah ﷺ did not pray it like Maghrib, with two Tashahhud and one salaam.

Rather he forbade doing that, and said:

، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم «لَا تُوتِرُوا بِثَلَاثٍ تَشَبَّهُوا بِصَلَاةِ الْمَغْرِبِ،

“Do not pray Witr with three Rakaahs like Maghrib”

[Ref:” Narrated by al-Haakim, 1/403 or al Mustadrak Ala sahiheen al haakim , Kitab al Witr , hadith no.1137]

[Ref: Al-Bayhaqi, 3/31 or Sunan Al Bayhaqi hadith no. 4814, pg 45 v3]

[Ref: Al-Daaraqutni, p. 172 or Sunan Al daraqutni, kitab ul witr hadith no. 1650 & 1651]

[Ref: Al-Haafiz ibn Hajar said in Fath al-Baari (4/301)]

[Ref: Its isnaad fulfils the conditions of the two Shaykhs (al-Bukhaari and Muslim) See also ‘Awn al-Ma’bood, commentary on hadeeth no. 1423]

[Ref: Salaat al-Taraaweeh by al-Albaani, p. 97.]

[Ref: refer to Qiyaam al-Layl no.125 of Marwazee, Ibn Hibbaan no.680, Daarqutnee 2/24, Tahaawee no.177, Haakim 1/304 who authenticated it and Dhahabee agreed and Baihaqee and Daarqutnee said the narrators are trustworthy Haafidh said all the narrators are trustworthy, A’raaqee said the chain is authentic]

Now the meaning of the above command of Rasulullah ﷺ wherein Rasulullah ﷺ said "don't pray Witr resembling Maghrib" is explained by the Muhaddith mentioned above wherein they said that the meaning of the above hadith is that one should not pray 3 rakaah Witr with 2 Tashahhud, rather one should pray 3 rakaah Witr as explained in the hadith (mentioned above).

Commentary of the above hadeeth in Sharh Sunan Abi dawood, KItab 'Awn al Ma'abood Vol. 4 page 209 & 210 says :

وَحَدِيثِ النَّهْيِ عَنِ التَّشْبِيهِ بِصَلَاةِ الْمَغْرِبِ أَنْ يُحْمَلَ    النَّهْيُ عَلَى صَلَاةِ الثَّلَاثِ بِتَشَهُّدَيْنِ

وَقَدْ فَعَلَهُ السَّلَفُ أَيْضًا فَرَوَى مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ نَصْرٍ مِنْ طَرِيقِ الْحَسَنِ أَنَّ عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ كَانَ يَنْهَضُ فِي الثَّالِثَةِ مِنَ الْوِتْرِ بِالتَّكْبِيرِ يَعْنِي إِذَا قَامَ مِنْ سُجُودِهِ الرَّكْعَةَ الثَّانِيَةَ قَامَ مُكَبِّرًا مِنْ غَيْرِ جُلُوسٍ لِلتَّشَهُّد

Rough Translation: And this hadith (shows that it is) forbidden to resemble the (Isha Witr by praying it like the) Maghrib prayer of three rakaah with 2 Tashahhud and this (ruling of not resembling the Maghrib prayer) has been followed by the salaf (righteous predecessors) as well. And the narration of Muhammad Ibn Nasr on the authority of Hassan RA narrates that Saidina Umar ibn Khattab RA commenced the three rakaah prayer of Witr with takbir. Meaning (when) he arose (got up) from the Sujud of the second rakaah he (got up) saying the takbir without sitting for the Tashahhud (in the second rakaah)

Note: A similar narration of Saidina Umar Ibn Khattab RA is also found in Mustadrak Hakim Vol 1 pg 304

Further he comments stating more narration chains which support the above said:

وَمِنْ طَرِيقِ الْمِسْوَرِ بْنِ مَخْرَمَةَ أَنَّ عُمَرَ أَوْتَرَ بِثَلَاثٍ لَمْ يُسَلِّمْ إِلَّا فِي آخِرِهِنَّ ومن طريق عبد الله بن طاووس عَنْ أَبِيهِ أَنَّهُ كَانَ يُوتِرُ بِثَلَاثٍ لَا يَقْعُدُ بَيْنَهُنَّ وَمَنْ طَرِيقِ قَيْسِ بْنِ سَعْدِ بْنِ عَطَاءٍ وَحَمَّادِ بْنِ زَيْدٍ عَنْ أَيُّوبَ مثله

Sheikh Albani quotes the same ruling (as mentioned above) of Ibn Hajar Rahimullah in his book Salatul Taraweeh page 112 saying

الجمع بينهما بأن يحمل النهي عن صلاة الثلاث بتشهين لأنه في هذه الصورة يبه صلاة المغرب وأما إذا لم يقعد إلا في آخها فلا مشابهة ذكر هذا المعنى الحافظ ابن حجر في " الفتح

And this (above) saying is what the Muhaddith are agreed upon and the scholars are of the view that it is forbidden to pray 3 rakaah Witr with 2 Tashahhud resembling Maghrib.

MISCONCEPTION # 1:

Sayyidatuna Aisyah RA reports from Rasulullah ﷺ – as part of a lengthy Hadith – that Rasulullah ﷺ also said, ‘After every two Rakaats, there is ‘Attahiyyaat’.’ (Sahih Muslim). This Hadith is general and includes all salawaat as well as the Witr.

 (A’ala-us-Sunan vol.6 pg.51).

REFUTE : The complete ref of this hadith in Sahih Muslim is : Book no. 4 hadith no. 1005 and a similar hadith is in Sunan Abu Dawud , Vol. 1 hadith no. 780 with the word "Attahiyyaat" and another hadith from Tirmidhi, hadith no. 351 which doesn't say Attahiyyaat but says "Tashahhud".

The Hadith of Sahih Muslim and Abu Dawud is right {and Tirmidhi is weak, see: silsillah aahadeeth daeef wa mawdoo. vol.14 pg.107-115 hadith no.6546} but it is a general ruling applying to general cases of salah. The reason that it is a general ruling and does not apply to Witr salah is because the same narrator (Aisyah RA) also narrated that Rasulullah ﷺ didn't sit for Tashahhud or Attahiyyaat in 3 rakaah Witr, 5 rakaah and etc. (as enlisted in section A above). To explain this with proofs: According to Usul e hadith it is obvious that khaas (special) rulings overtake 'aam (general) ruling. This will be explained with an example below:

Hadith # 1 : Rasulullah ﷺ said: “The earth has been made a place of prayer and a means of purification for me, so wherever a man is when the time for prayer comes, let him pray.”

[Ref: Narrated by al-Bukhari, al-Tayammum, 323, Fiq us Sunnah Vol 2. page 67)

Hadith # 2: Rasulullah ﷺ said: “All the earth is a mosque except for graveyards and bathrooms.”

[Ref: Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, al-Salah, 291; classed as Saheeh by al-Albani in Saheeh Sunan al-Tirmidhi, 262, also reported by Ahmad, Ibn Majah, Abu Dawud]

Hadith # 1 shows that Rasulullah ﷺ generalized the entire earth area as a carpet to pray on, however in Hadith # 2 we learn that Rasulullah ﷺ excluded certain area from the total earth space , i.e. he gave a specific ruling that entire earth can be prayed on except graveyards and bathrooms. this specific (khaas) command of Rasulullah ﷺ overtakes the general ('aam) command of hadith # 1 and after knowing hadith # 2 no sane person would insists on praying in bathrooms or graveyards just because he has read hadith # 1. Hence this small example shows how a specific ruling overtakes or replaces a general ruling in specific actions of Ibadah (Witr, etc.)

The above explained, leaves no degree of doubt in understanding that indeed after every 2 rakaah there is an Attahiyyaat but Rasulullah ﷺ exempted or excused this ruling when he prayed Isha Witr of 3 rakaah (or more) as mentioned in the above section. It is not only recommended but obligatory to follow Islam the way Rasulullah ﷺ) taught. In every action, be it small or big, short or long, it is mandatory for a Muslim to first look at how Rasulullah ﷺ performed that action and thus before praying the Witr, a Muslim must look at how Rasulullah ﷺ prayed his Witr. We have crystal clear specific rulings showing how he prayed the Witr - rakaah by rakaah, step by step therefore we shouldn't follow any other opinion, method or understanding. One shouldn't argue or fight over a general ruling hadith when we have Sahih narrations showing the special (khaas) method (ruling) in special or distinguished cases of Ibadah and etc.

We also have the warning from Rasulullah ﷺ not to pray Witr like the Maghrib Salah and as shown above in reference to the proofs enlisted in Section A both showing how Rasulullah ﷺ prayed and how the muhaditheen and scholars agreed that Isha Witr should not resemble the Maghrib salah in terms of sitting.

MISCONCEPTION # 2:

Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Mas’ud RA is reported to have said, ‘Witr is 3 Rakaats like the Witr of the day, i.e. the Salat of Maghrib.’

(Tahaawee vol.1 pg.206).

Muhaddith Nimawi (RA) has declared this narration as Sahih (authentic). (Aathaarus-sunan pg.204). This narration also proves that just as one sits after the first 2 Rakaats in Maghrib Salat, similarly, one should do so in the Witr Salat.

(I’elaa-us-Sunan vol.6 pg.43-44)

REFUTE:  The hadith mentioned in the above reference has been taken originally from Muhaddith ud Dunya - Imam al Daraqutni in his book Sunan Al Daraqutni - Kitab Al Witr - hadith no. 1653 which says:

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ , قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:  «وِتْرُ اللَّيْلِ ثَلَاثٌ كَوِتْرِ النَّهَارِ صَلَاةُ الْمَغْرِبِ»

Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud RA narrates that Rasulullah ﷺ said “the night Witr of 3 rakaah is like the Witr of the day i.e. Salatul Maghrib.

Tahkeeq of this narration :

يَحْيَى بْنُ زَكَرِيَّا هَذَا يُقَالُ لَهُ: ابْنُ أَبِي الْحَوَاجِبِ ضَعِيفٌ , وَلَمْ يَرْوِهِ عَنِ الْأَعْمَشِ مَرْفُوعًا غَيْرُهُ

>> The narration of Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud RA recorded in Tahawi vol. page 206, has been strongly weakened by Imam Al Daraqutni in his book Rijaalul Hadith wa ‘ilalhu vol. 2 page no. 705, raawi no. 3830 where he has said that in this narration of Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud RA there’s a narrator by the name Yahya Bin Zakariya who is also called as Ibn Abi Hawajib and he is Da’if.(see the Arabic text above)

>> Imam Daraqutni further says that another weakness in this chain is that " Yahya Bin Zakariya aka Ibn Abi Hawajib" hasn't heard this from Al A'maash

 Imam Al Dhahabi also scrutinized and agreed to Imam Al Daraqutni’s assessment that this narration attributed to Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud is Weak because of Yahya Bin Zakariya. He has written this in his book Meezan Ul Ehtedaal Vol. 4 page 376 under raawi no. 9507

We don't need any more justification on this narration but still for the sake of conveyance, this narration has also been classed Da’if because of "Yahya ibn Abi Zakariya ibn Abil-Hawaab"

(Nasabur-Raya Vol. 2 pg.116) by Hanafi Imam i.e. Imam Zaily. So I do not need to say more on this narration.

Even if for the sake of argument we agree that the Isha ‘a Witr is like the day Witr (Maghrib) then we can say that the similarity could be in the no. of Rakaahs because it is proven that Rasulullah ﷺ has prayed Witr with 3 rakaah also. But if they (Muqallids) say that "No the similarity means with two Tashahhud also" then we refute this by saying:  "There is no Sahih marfu report which confirms the sitting, but in contrary we do have Ahadith proving that Rasulullah ﷺ didn't sit twice in 3 rakaah and also he forbade sitting twice in the 3 rakaah Witr"

Another argument which they say is “We distinguish the difference between Maghrib salah and Isha ‘a Witr with the exceptions that in the third rakaah of Witr we recite a surah after al Fatiha and also there is Qunut. We learn about these exceptions (differences) from narrations. Hence we take these (exceptions) as differences between the Isha Witr and Maghrib salah and thus our Witr doesn't resemble the Maghrib salah thereby fulfilling the order of Rasulullah ﷺ to not make the Witr like Maghrib".

The amusing reply to this is " We have narrations which prove the permissibility to recite a surah after al Fatiha both in Marfoo' and mawqoof forms and some of them are : It is permissible to recite a surah after Surah al-Fatiha in the third and fourth rakaah. This was the view of Imam ash-Shafie and Imam Ahmad. It was based on the hadith of Abu Said al Khudri RA that Rasulullah ﷺ used to recite in the first two rakaah of Zuhr prayer approximately thirty verses in each rakaah, and in the last two rakaah approximately fifteen verses, or he said: half of that. In the first two rakaah of ‘Asar he used to recite in each rakaah approximately fifteen verses, and in the last two rakaah approximately half of that.

[Muslim, 452]

Thus, the scholars mention that it is Sunnah to sometimes recite a surah (after Fatiha) in the last two rakaah and sometimes not to recite a surah (after Fatiha) in the last two rakaah. And this is how some of the scholars re-concile between the above hadith and this hadith: Abu Qatadah RA said that Rasulullah ﷺ used to recite the Opening of the Book and a surah in the first two rakaah of Zuhur and ‘Asar, and he would let us hear a verse sometimes, and in the last two rakaah he would recite al-Fatiha.

[Muslim, 451]

[Ref: Ahmad & Muslim.] 

The former hadith contains evidence that reciting more than al-Fatiha in the last two rakaah is also a sunnah, and many Companions did so, among them Saidina  Abu Bakr Siddiq RA and Abdullah Ibn Umar RA . It is also the view of Imam Shafie according to his new opinion, whether in Zuhur or others as mentioned elsewhere and in Sahih Muslim, 4/105, 106 and of our later scholars,

[Abul Hasanaat al-Lucknowi took it in Notes on Muhammad's al-Muwatta' (p. 102) and said]:

"Some of our companions take hold a very strange view in obligating a sajadah sahw (prostration for forgetfulness) for the recitation of a surah in the last two rakaah, but the commentators on al-Maniyyah, Ibrahim al-Halabi, Ibn Ameer Hajji and others, have refuted this view extremely well. There is no doubt that those who said this were unaware of the hadith, and had it reached them they would not have said so."

Apart from this, there is a hadith of Abu Hurairah RA wherein he said "The Qur'an is recited in every prayer and in those prayers in which Rasulullah ﷺ recited aloud for us, we recite aloud in the same prayers for you; and the prayers in which Rasulullah ﷺ recited quietly, we recite quietly. If you recite "Surah Al-Fatiha" only it is sufficient, but if you recite something else in addition (i.e. a surah), it is better"

[Ref: Sahih Bukhari 1.739]

Yahya related to me from Malik from Nafi that Abdullah ibn Umar used to recite in all four rakaah as when he prayed alone - in every rakaah the umm al-Qur'an and another surah from the Qur'an. Sometimes he would recite two or three surah in one rakaah in the obligatory prayer. Similarly, he recited the umm al-Qur'an and two suras in the first two rakaah of Maghrib

[Muwatta Malik, Book of Salah, Book 3, Hadith 27]

Secondly if you say since the Witr has qunoot in it therefore it cannot resemble Maghrib then we reply by saying that Rasulullah ﷺ did qunoot in all the fardh salah including al Maghrib when 70 sahabah (or qurras) whom Rasulullah ﷺ sent to teach Qur’an, were killed.  So again this difference is not really a difference anymore. So the only thing remaining is the two Tashahhud which resemble Maghrib explicitly.

Fourthly You can very well accept the khaas (exceptional) ruling of the different actions in the third rakaah of Witr and impose it on a general method (aam ruling), then why do you leave out the other khaas rulings (exceptions) such as the one wherein “Rasulullah ﷺ did not sit except in the last rakaah and etc.? Why not use these exceptions as well and reconcile them or impose them on the general method of praying the 3 rakaah Witr? Why do partiality? Why do you adopt only one part of the exceptions (reciting a surah after Al Fatiha and qunut) whereas purposely leave out the other exceptions?" How can you take a part of the exception as you desire and leave the other?

They will be left with nothing but to affirm that “even though weak, yet we use our logic and understanding as per our desires to assume that the narration of Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud RA means we could sit twice in the 3 rakaah Witr

MISCONCEPTION # 3 :

Ibn Umar RA narrated: "I prayed with Rasulullah ﷺ both, while a resident and while traveling. So I prayed four for Zuhur with Rasulullah ﷺ as a resident, and two rakaah after it. I prayed two Raka’ah for Zuhur with Rasulullah ﷺ while traveling and two rakaah after it, and two rakaah for Asar, and Rasulullah ﷺ did not pray anything after it. Maghrib while a resident and traveling is the same; three rakaah, it is not decreased as a resident nor while traveling. It is Witr of the day, and after it are two rakaah.

[Ref: Sunan Al Tirmidhi Vol. 2 Book 1, Hadith 552]

REFUTE :

The above narration has been classed as Daeef because of the weakness in its sanad wherein:

>> Atiyaah Al-Awfi is da'eef and a mudalis - See : Silsillah ahadeeth ad-daeef wal mawdoo, v1 pg:499

>> Ibn Abi Lail is da'eef and has a bad memory - See : Silsillah ahadeeth ad-daeef wal mawdoo, v3 pg:166

Even if we assume (for the sake of argument) that this isn't weak, then the same arguments (as mentioned under Misconception # 2) refute the "excuse" of using this hadith to support 2 Tashahhud (sittings) in a 3 rakaah witr.

MISCONCEPTION # 4 :

Abul-Aaliyah (Rahimallahu) – a Tabi’in – states that the companions of Rasulullah ﷺ have taught us that the Witr is just like Maghrib Salat. The only difference is that we recite Qiraat in Witr, and not in Maghrib, i.e. in the third Rakaah.

(Tahaawi vol.1 pg.293). Muhaddith Nimawi (RA) has declared it Sahih (authentic)

REFUTE:

This is not a hadith, but an Athar of a Tabi’in who is Majhool (unknown) and moreover this narration is mursal (disconnected) because of a disconnected sanad. It is a basic and well known rule that this narration falls under the mursal category, yet the Muqallids Nimawi has classed this as Sahih based on his own principles of science of hadith.

SOME OTHER OBJECTIONS RAISED BY OUR BRETHREN

MISCONCEPTION # 5:

The reason for preventing the Witr from being like Maghrib Salat is obvious, and that is because there is no Nafl Salat that precedes it (Maghrib).

(See al-Nukatu Tareefah of Allaamah al-Kawthari pg.186)

REFUTE:

This is a situation more famously known as "Lol". Without any explanation, I will only enlist the proofs to counter the claim that "there is no nafil salah before Maghrib fardh"

1)  Narrated 'Abdullah Al-Muzni:

Rasulullah ﷺ said:

“Pray before the Maghrib (compulsory) prayer. Rasulullah ﷺ (said it thrice) and in the third time, he said: Whoever wants to offer it can do so”.

[Ref: Sahih Bukhari, Volume 2, Book 21, Number 277]

2)  Narrated 'Abdullah Al Muzam:

Rasulullah ﷺ said:

“Perform (an optional) prayer before Maghrib prayer. (He repeated it thrice) and the third time he said: Whoever wants to offer it can do so”.

[Ref: Sahih Bukhari, Volume 9, Book 92, Number 465]

3)  Narrated Anas bin Malik RA:

“When the muezzin pronounced the Adhan, some of the companions of Rasulullah ﷺ would proceed to the pillars of the mosque (for the prayer) till Rasulullah ﷺ arrived and in this way they used to pray two rakaah before the Maghrib prayer”.

[Ref: Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 11, Number 598]

4)  Narrated Marthad bin 'Abdullah Al-Yazani RA:

“I went to 'Uqbah bin 'Amir Al-Juhani RA and said, "Is it not surprising that Abu Tamim offers two Rakaah before the Maghrib prayer?" 'Uqbah RA said, "We used to do so in the life-time of Rasulullah ﷺ." I asked him, "What prevents you from offering it now?" He replied, "Busyness"

[Ref: Sahih Bukhari, Volume 2, Book 21, Number 278]

5)  Shaykh ul-Hind of Hanafis says :

“Imam Sahib (Abu Haniifah) does not object on the permissibility (of these rakaah), he says that, ‘We neither forbid it nor command it’.”

[Al-Ward al-Shazi: Pg 41]

MISCONCEPTION # 6 :

This is besides the fact that Rasulullah ﷺ is reported to have prohibited from performing one Rakaah only.

(Refer al-Tamheed vol.4 pg.177; al-Nukatu Tareefah pgs.182-183).

REFUTE :

1. Saidatuna Aisyah RA, the wife of Rasulullah ﷺ, said that between the time when Rasulullah ﷺ finished the 'Isha' prayer which is called 'Atama by the people, he used to pray eleven rakaah, uttering the salutation at the end of every two rakaah, and observing the Witr with a single one.

[Ref: Sahih Muslim: Book 004, Number 1603]

2.  Narrated 'Abdullah bin Tha'laba bin Su'air RA: whose eye Rasulullah ﷺ had touched, that he had seen Saad bin Abi Waqqas RA offering one Rakaah only for the witr prayer.

[Ref: Sahih Bukhari Volume 8, Book 75, Number 367]

DOUBLE STANDARDS EXPOSED:

Imam Nasa’i (RA) has recorded (the following) on the authority of Sayyiduna Ubayy ibn Ka’ab RA that Rasulullah ﷺ used to recite Surah Sabbih isma rabbikal a’alaa in the first Rakaah of Witr, Surah al-Kafirun in the 2nd Rakaah and Surah, Qul huwallaahu Ahad in the third and that he (Rasulullah ﷺ) would not make salaam except in the last of those Rakaats.

(Hafiz Iraaqi has classified this narration as Sahih - authentic) – refer Naylul Awtaar vol.1; also see Aathaarus-sunan pg.203; I’elaa-us-sunan vol.6 pg.42.

REFUTE:

Isn't it surprising how they take this hadith which states " Rasulullah ﷺ didn't do tasleem except in the last rakaah" to establish the witr comprising of 3 rakaah in which tasleem is only at the end, but they deliberately leave out those several ahadith (mentioned in section A) wherein it is clearly stated that Rasulullah ﷺ didn't sit except in the last rakaah”?

  All good is from Allah, all the mistakes are mine. May Allah have mercy on the one who corrects me.

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