The Witr Prayer: Rulings and Method

The Witr prayer holds a special place among the voluntary prayers in Islam. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Allah is Witr (One) and He loves the Witr, so perform the Witr prayer, O people of the Quran" (Sunan Abu Dawud). The word "witr" means "odd," and this prayer ensures that the Muslim's nightly prayers end on an odd number. While the scholars differ on its exact legal status, all agree on its great importance and the Prophet's consistent performance of it throughout his life.

Legal Status

The Hanafi school considers Witr to be wajib (obligatory), a category between the five fard prayers and the sunnah mu'akkadah prayers. This is based on hadiths such as: "Witr is a duty, so whoever does not pray Witr is not one of us" (Sunan Abu Dawud), though this hadith's chain is discussed. The Maliki, Shafi'i, and Hanbali schools consider it a confirmed sunnah (sunnah mu'akkadah), the strongest category of voluntary prayer. Regardless of classification, all scholars agree that a Muslim should not habitually abandon Witr.

Timing and Number of Rak'ahs

The time for Witr begins after Isha prayer and extends until the Fajr adhan. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Perform Witr before dawn" (Sahih Muslim). The minimum is one rak'ah, though the Hanafi school requires three rak'ahs as the minimum. The maximum is eleven rak'ahs. The most common practice is three rak'ahs: the Hanafi method prays all three connected (like Maghrib but with Surah al-Fatiha and another surah in all three rak'ahs), while the Shafi'i and Hanbali methods either pray two rak'ahs with salam then one separate rak'ah, or pray three rak'ahs with only one tashahhud at the end (not sitting after the second rak'ah).

Qunut Supplication

The Qunut is a supplication made during Witr. The Hanafi school performs Qunut before the ruku of the third rak'ah, raising the hands and saying the takbir before reciting the du'a. The well-known Hanafi Qunut begins: "Allahumma inna nasta'inuka wa nastaghfiruka..." The Shafi'i and Hanbali schools perform Qunut after rising from ruku in the last rak'ah, particularly in the second half of Ramadan. The Maliki school does not consider Qunut in Witr to be established. The Prophet (peace be upon him) taught al-Hasan ibn Ali (may Allah be pleased with them) a Qunut supplication: "Allahumma-hdini fi man hadayt..." (O Allah, guide me among those You have guided...) (Sunan Abu Dawud).