WITR DESCRIBED; What is the Witr prayer? The Witr prayer is the last prayer of the night. The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, said: The Witr prayer is offered in units of 2 rakaat. If you fear that dawn is near, conclude with a single rakah so the night prayer will be of an odd number. 1 It can be offered at any time after the Isha prayer and before the Fajr prayer. Why is it important? The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, strongly emphasised the importance of this prayer, and he, himself, did not leave this prayer even if he was on a journey or on his mount. Due to the very firm nature of the Prophets emphasis some scholars have classed this prayer as wajib (compulsory) but, in reality, it is a strongly encouraged action of the Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. How is it prayed? The Witr prayer is commonly 3, 5, 7 or 9 rakaat but can also be just the single rakah. It is authentically related that the Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, prayed it in a number of different ways, so the worshipper can choose to pray it in any of the following ways: By praying two rakaat at a time (i.e. completely with the salam at the end of each pair) to the desired number and then a single complete rakah; By praying all the rakaat together but without sitting in any rakah (i.e. without the julus in which the tashahhud is recited) except for in the final rakah; or By praying all the rakaat together and sitting only in the unit before the final rakah and then in the final rakah again. So, for example, a worshipper praying 5 rakaat would only sit and recite tashahhud in the 4th rakah and then complete the prayer with a single complete unit (including another recitation of the tashahhud). When praying 3 rakaat it is preferable to use method 1 or 2 above as the Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, said: Do not pray Witr with three rakaat that resemble Maghrib. 2 Is there any recommended method of performance? The Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, would recite the following chapters when praying Witr in 3 rakaat: after reciting Al-Fatihah, he would recite Al-Ala (87) in the first rakah, Al-Kafirun (109) in the second and Al-Ikhlas (112) in the third. 3 Sometimes, he would additionally recite Al-Falaq (113) and An-Nas (114) in the final rakah also. 4 Whilst this is what the Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, performed on occasion it is acceptable to recite any part of the Quran in the Witr prayer. What about reciting dua in the qunut (standing)? It is a sunnah action of the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, to recite the dua of qunut in the final (odd) rakah of the Witr prayer either before going into ruku (having recited Al-Fatihah and some other verses) or after ruku during itidal. A worshipper may raise his hands in supplication to his Lord whilst making this dua. It is reported that the Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, prayed the following dua at this time: The Dua for the Witr Prayer O Allah! guide me among those whom You have guided; and pardon me among those who You have pardoned; and turn on me in friendship among those on whom You have turned in friendship; and bless me in what You have bestowed; and save me from the evil of what You have decreed; [for] indeed You decree, and none can influence You; [and] he is not humiliated whom You have befriended; [nor is he honoured who is Your enemy.] Blessed are You, O Lord, and Exalted. [There is no place of safety from You except towards You.] Whilst it is preferred to use this supplication, you are free to make or add any supplication in the qunut including reciting verses of the Quran that are supplications. 5 And Allah knows best. Sources A Guide to Prayer in Islam by M. A. K. Saqib The Path to Prayer by Umm Muhammad The Prophets Prayer Described by Muhammad Nasir ud-Din al-Albani Islam-QA Copyright Notice © SunnahOnline - all of our Simple Guides are constantly reviewed and checked for accuracy and completeness. We therefore ask that you link to this article rather than distribute in the manner normally allowed by us.
Posted on: Fri, 15 Nov 2013 17:41:48 +0000
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