Witr
Encyclopedia
Witr is an Islam
ic prayer (salah) that is performed at night after isha'a
(night-time prayer) and before fajr
(dawn prayer). There are a few distinguishing factors of the witr prayer that sets it apart from the fard
(mandatory) and sunnah
(recommended) prayers. Witr has an odd number of rakat
prayed in pairs, with the final raka'ah prayed separately. Therefore, as little as one rakat can be prayed, and eleven at most. This differs from the usual trend of two and four rakat of the fard and sunnah prayers.
According to `Abd Allah ibn `Umar
, Muhammad
said, "The night prayer is offered as two rakat followed by two rakat and so on and if anyone is afraid of the approaching dawn (fajr prayer) he should pray one raka'ah and this will be a witr for all the rakat which he has prayed before."Summarized Sahih Al-Bukhari (Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan
translation of Zubidi's Mukhtasar Sahih Bukhari) Hadith 539, pg. 282
In a hadith
transmitted by Abu Darda
, he states that Muhammad enjoined to him three things: to fast three days every month, to offer the Witr salah before sleep, and to offer two rakat sunnah of fajr. From Al-Tabarani
and Majma al-Zawa'id
.
The hadith also clearify it
"Narrated 'Aisha:
Allah's Apostle offered Witr prayer at different nights at various hours extending (from the 'Isha' prayer) up to the last hour of the night." (Sahih Bukhari Volume 2, Book 16, Number 110).
But there are many aḥādīth that shows the best time for the witr salah is at night. If someone fears that he would not be able to awake, or may die in their sleep, then the prayer should be performed before sleeping.
Hadith about this is given below:
Narrated `Abdullah bin `Umar: The Prophet said,"Make witr as your last prayer at night." (Bukhari Volume 2 Book 16 112).
Also,
"Narrated 'Aisha :
The Prophet used to offer his night prayer while I was sleeping across in his bed. Whenever he intended to offer the Witr prayer, he used to wake me up and I would offer the Witr prayer too." (Sahih Bukhari Volume 2, Book 16, Number 111).
Therefore he who performs tahajjud
(night prayer) regularly should perform witr after tahajjud.
It is recorded that Ali bin Abu Talib ra said, "The Witr prayer is not required like your obligatory prayers but Mohamed would perform the Witr prayer and say, 'O you people of the Quran, perform the Witr prayer, for Allah
is One and He Loves the Witr.'" This is related by Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal, Nasa'i, Abu Dawud, ibn Majah and Tirmidhi, who calls is hasan, and Al-Hakim who grades it sahih.
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
ic prayer (salah) that is performed at night after isha'a
Isha'a
The Isha prayer is the night-time daily prayer recited by practising Muslims. It is the fifth of the five daily prayers– [islamic evening begins at maghrib]. The five daily prayers collectively are one pillar of the Five Pillars of Islam, in Sunni Islam, and one of the ten Practices of the...
(night-time prayer) and before fajr
Fajr
The Fajr prayer is the first of the five daily prayers offered by practising Muslims. The five daily prayers collectively form one pillar of the Five Pillars of Islam, in Sunni Islam, and one of the ten Practices of the Religion according to Shia Islam.The Fajr prayer is mentioned by name in the...
(dawn prayer). There are a few distinguishing factors of the witr prayer that sets it apart from the fard
Fard
also is an Islamic term which denotes a religious duty. The word is also used in Persian, Turkish, and Urdu in the same meaning....
(mandatory) and sunnah
Sunnah
The word literally means a clear, well trodden, busy and plain surfaced road. In the discussion of the sources of religion, Sunnah denotes the practice of Prophet Muhammad that he taught and practically instituted as a teacher of the sharī‘ah and the best exemplar...
(recommended) prayers. Witr has an odd number of rakat
Raka'ah
Rakaʿah are the prescribed movements and words followed by Muslims during salah .After turning to God in mind and ritual cleansing , the worshipper will stand quietly while reciting the first verses of the Qur'an. The second part of the rak'ah involves bowing low with hands on knees, as if...
prayed in pairs, with the final raka'ah prayed separately. Therefore, as little as one rakat can be prayed, and eleven at most. This differs from the usual trend of two and four rakat of the fard and sunnah prayers.
According to `Abd Allah ibn `Umar
`Abd Allah ibn `Umar
Abdullah ibn Umar was the son of the second Caliph Umar ibn Khattab. He was a prominent authority in hadith and law, and was known for his neutrality toward factions engaged in the first civil war within the Muslim community ....
, Muhammad
Muhammad
Muhammad |ligature]] at U+FDF4 ;Arabic pronunciation varies regionally; the first vowel ranges from ~~; the second and the last vowel: ~~~. There are dialects which have no stress. In Egypt, it is pronounced not in religious contexts...
said, "The night prayer is offered as two rakat followed by two rakat and so on and if anyone is afraid of the approaching dawn (fajr prayer) he should pray one raka'ah and this will be a witr for all the rakat which he has prayed before."Summarized Sahih Al-Bukhari (Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan
Muhammad Muhsin Khan
Muhammad Muhsin Khan born 1345 Al-Hijri is a contemporary Islamic scholar of ethnic Afghan origin, most notable for his renowned English translations of Sahih Bukhari and the Qur'an, entitled The Noble Qur'an, which he completed along with Muhammad Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali.-Biography:Muhammad Muhsin...
translation of Zubidi's Mukhtasar Sahih Bukhari) Hadith 539, pg. 282
In a hadith
Hadith
The term Hadīth is used to denote a saying or an act or tacit approval or criticism ascribed either validly or invalidly to the Islamic prophet Muhammad....
transmitted by Abu Darda
Abu Darda
- Biography :Abu Darda was a trader in Medina and belonged to the al-Ḥārith clan of the Banu Khazraj tribe. He converted to Islam after the Battle of Badr...
, he states that Muhammad enjoined to him three things: to fast three days every month, to offer the Witr salah before sleep, and to offer two rakat sunnah of fajr. From Al-Tabarani
Al-Tabarani
Abu al-Qasim Sulaiman ibn Ahmad ibn Al-Tabarani was born sometime in 260 AH and lived until 360 AH . He narrated numerous aḥadīth.-Students:...
and Majma al-Zawa'id
Majma al-Zawa'id
Majma' al-Zawa'id wa Manba' al-Fawa'id is a secondary hadith collection written by Ali ibn Abu Bakr al-Haythami . It compiles the 'unique' hadith of earlier primary collections-Al-Zawa'id:...
.
The hadith also clearify it
"Narrated 'Aisha:
Allah's Apostle offered Witr prayer at different nights at various hours extending (from the 'Isha' prayer) up to the last hour of the night." (Sahih Bukhari Volume 2, Book 16, Number 110).
But there are many aḥādīth that shows the best time for the witr salah is at night. If someone fears that he would not be able to awake, or may die in their sleep, then the prayer should be performed before sleeping.
Hadith about this is given below:
Narrated `Abdullah bin `Umar: The Prophet said,"Make witr as your last prayer at night." (Bukhari Volume 2 Book 16 112).
Also,
"Narrated 'Aisha :
The Prophet used to offer his night prayer while I was sleeping across in his bed. Whenever he intended to offer the Witr prayer, he used to wake me up and I would offer the Witr prayer too." (Sahih Bukhari Volume 2, Book 16, Number 111).
Therefore he who performs tahajjud
Tahajjud
Tahajjud , also known as the "night prayer" is a voluntary prayer, performed by followers of Islam. It is not one of the five obligatory prayers required of all Muslims, yet still, the Islamic prophet, Muhammad has been recorded as performing the tahajjud prayer regularly and encouraging his...
(night prayer) regularly should perform witr after tahajjud.
It is recorded that Ali bin Abu Talib ra said, "The Witr prayer is not required like your obligatory prayers but Mohamed would perform the Witr prayer and say, 'O you people of the Quran, perform the Witr prayer, for Allah
Allah
Allah is a word for God used in the context of Islam. In Arabic, the word means simply "God". It is used primarily by Muslims and Bahá'ís, and often, albeit not exclusively, used by Arabic-speaking Eastern Catholic Christians, Maltese Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox Christians, Mizrahi Jews and...
is One and He Loves the Witr.'" This is related by Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal, Nasa'i, Abu Dawud, ibn Majah and Tirmidhi, who calls is hasan, and Al-Hakim who grades it sahih.