Explain how to pray witr prayer rakahs.
Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,
As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
(May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)
One of our brothers/sisters has asked
this question:
As
saalam likum brother
got
pls
make it simpler and explain
jazakalah
Nature
and number of rak`at for witr
It is
permissible to perform the witr by praying two rak`at [and concluding them] and
then praying one rak`ah with one tashahud and taslim. Likewise, it is allowed
to pray all the rak`at with two tashahuds and one taslim. One may pray a number
of rak`at, one after another, without making any tashahud, save in the one
before the last rak`ah in which case one makes the tashahud and then stands to
perform the last rak`ah wherein one will make another tashahud and end the
prayer with the taslim. One may also make only one tashahud and the taslim, in
the last rak`ah of witr. All of that is permissible and can be traced to the
Prophet (saws).
(There may be some grammatical and spelling
errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from
questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in
confidentiality.)
Answer:
Explain how to pray
witr prayer rakahs
In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His
help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide,
and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear
witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear
witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His
Messengers.
Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 2.13
It is permissible to perform the witr prayers
by praying two rak'at combinations[and concluding each of them with a tashahud
and the tasleems] and then praying one rak'ah with a tashahud and taslim. Likewise, it is allowed to pray all the
rak'at with two tashahuds and one taslim. One may pray an even number of rak'ats,
one after another, without making any tashahud, save in the one before the last
rak'ah in which case one makes the tashahud and then stands to perform the last
rak'ah wherein one will make another tashahud and end the prayer with the
taslim. One may also make only one tashahud and the taslim, in the last rak'ah
of witr. All of that is permissible and
can be traced to the Prophet (saws).
Al-Bukhari and Muslim quote 'Aishah saying
that the Prophet (saws) would perform thirteen rak'at during the night and
would make the witr prayer, and he would not 'sit' except in the last rak'ah of
them. In another hadith, 'Aishah reports
that the Prophet (saws) would perform nine rak'at during the night and that he
would not sit during them until the eighth rak'ah in which he would make
remembrance of Allah, praising Him, and would make supplication. Then, he would
stand without making the taslim and pray the ninth rak'ah, after which he would
sit, make the tashahud and make the taslim in such a manner that we could hear
him.
The Prophet (saws) said: 'The night prayer is
sets of two rak'at. If one fears the
coming of the dawn, he should perform one rak'ah, thereby making all of them
odd [witr].'
Respected brother, we sincerely and humbly seek your
forgiveness and above all the forgiveness of Allah Subhanah if what was not
quoted by us verbatim from the authentic records of ‘Fiqh-us-Sunnah’ was not
clear or not understood. The shortcoming
is indeed ours, and if Allah Wills and Helps us, we will try to clarify the
issue of praying the ‘tahajjud’ (late night) and ‘witr’ prayers in accordance
with the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws).
Firstly, allow us to clarify a few points:
It is reported that Hadrat Ali (r.a.) said:
"The witr prayer is not required like your obligatory prayers, but the
Prophet (saws) would perform the witr prayer and say: 'O you people [followers]
of the Qur'an, perform the witr prayer,
for Allah is One and He loves the witr.'"
The Prophet (saws) said: 'The night prayer is
sets of two rak'at. If one fears the
coming of the dawn, he should perform one rak'ah, thereby making all of them
odd [witr].'
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 2.112 Narrated by Abdullah bin Umar
The Prophet (saws) said, "Make Witr as
your last prayer at night."
The ‘tahajjud’ or ‘qiyaam-ul-layl’ or the late night
optional prayers can be offered in any one of these following ways, each of
which have evidence in the established Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws).
Option-1:
It is permissible to perform the witr prayers
by praying two rak'at combinations[and concluding each of them with a tashahud
and the tasleems] and then praying one rak'ah with a tashahud and taslim.
One may offer as many even number of rakahs as one wills
in two rakah combinations, and conclude each set of two-rakahs with a
‘tashahud’ and a set of ‘tasleems’. When
one has finished offering their optional night prayers, one should stand up and
offer one-rakah of ‘witr’ prayer, and conclude that ‘witr’ prayer with a
‘tashahud’ and a set of ‘tasleems’.
For example one wishes to offer 10-rakahs of ‘tahajjud’;
thus after every two-rakahs, one would sit and recite a ‘tashahud’ and a set of
‘tasleems’. After one has done this five
times (2x5=10), one would get up and offer only one single rakah (of witr),
then sit and recite the ‘tashahud’ and a set of ‘tasleems’; and thus conclude
his optional night prayers with the ‘witr’ (odd number of rakahs).
Option-2:
Likewise, it is allowed to pray all the
rak'at with two tashahuds and one taslim. One may pray an even number of
rak'ats, one after another, without making any tashahud, save in the one before
the last rak'ah in which case one makes the tashahud and then stands to perform
the last rak'ah wherein one will make another tashahud and end the prayer with
the taslim.
One may offer as many even number of rakahs as one wills
without sitting for ‘tashahud’ until the penultimate rakah; then sit and offer
the ‘tashahud’ only, then get up again and offer one-rakah of witr, then sit
and offer another ‘tashahud’ and a set of ‘tasleems’ to end the prayer.
For example one wishes to offer 10-rakahs in their optional
late night prayers; thus one would offer 10-rakahs one after another without
sitting for ‘tashahud’ until one has finished all the 10-rakahs in one
stretch. At the end of the 10th
rakah, one would sit and recite the ‘tashahud’ only, then get up and offer one
more rakah of witr, then sit and recite the ‘tashahud’ and one set of
‘tasleems’ to end the prayer.
Option-3:
One may also make only one tashahud and the
taslim, in the last rak'ah of witr.
One may offer as many odd-number rakahs as one wills without
sitting for the ‘tashahud’ until the very end of the prayer, and concluding the
prayer with a set of ‘tasleems’.
For example one wishes to offer a total of 11 rakahs (10
rakahs of optional prayer + 1 rakah of witr).
One would recite all the eleven rakahs one after another in one
stretch. When one has finished the 11th
rakah, one would sit and recite the ‘tashahud’ and a set of ‘tasleems’ and thus
conclude their prayer.
If one offers their optional late night prayers in any one
of the above mentioned 3-formats, they would be in accordance with the Sunnah
of the Messenger of Allah (saws), Insha Allah.
Respected brother in Islam, if the matter of ‘tahajuud’ or
‘witr’ prayers is still not clear, please do write back to us and if Allah
Wills and Helps us, we will try our best to clarify any questions, queries, or
clarifications which might arise.
In all sincerity and humility brother, we again apologize
for our shortcomings in properly explaining the guidance and do hope and pray
that you will forgive us.
Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only
due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me
alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is
the Only Source of Strength.
Your brother and
well wisher in Islam,
Burhan