Source: Fatāwā Muḥammadiyyah, Vol. 1, p. 514
❖ Questions
① Is it permissible to perform only one rak‘ah of Witr?
② What is the method of performing three rak‘āt of Witr?
③ Is Du‘ā’ al-Qunūt to be recited in every rak‘ah?
✿ Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
① Ruling on Performing One Rak‘ah of Witr
◈ Performing a single rak‘ah of Witr is absolutely permissible.
◈ In Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī, under the chapter “Bāb al-Witr bi-Rakʿah,” this is mentioned.
◈ It is established from Sayyidunā Jābir رضي الله عنه that he prayed one rak‘ah.
◈ In Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, and likewise from Sayyidunā Muʿāwiyah رضي الله عنه, evidence is found of performing one rak‘ah of Witr.
Sunnah Method
◈ The Sunnah method of performing one rak‘ah of Witr is to first pray two rakʿāt nafl, then end with salām, and afterward perform one rak‘ah of Witr.
◈ In Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, it is narrated from Sayyidah ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها that the Prophet ﷺ prayed eleven rakʿāt with six taslīms.
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Vol. 1, p. 252)
Meaning: He ﷺ prayed ten rakʿāt in sets of two and then prayed one rakʿah of Witr.
② Method of Performing Three Rakʿāt of Witr
◈ Another method is to pray three rakʿāt of Witr with only one tashahhud.
◈ That is, unlike other farḍ, sunnah, or nafl prayers, one should not sit for tashahhud after the second rakʿah.
◈ This method is authentically reported in aḥādīth.
◈ The narration that mentions “two tashahhuds” is not ṣaḥīḥ.
ھذا ما عندي واللہ تعالیٰ أعلم بالصواب
③ Ruling on Reciting Du‘ā’ al-Qunūt
◈ Du‘ā’ al-Qunūt is to be recited only in the final rakʿah of Witr.
◈ Reciting it in every rakʿah is not only impermissible but is an innovation (bidʿah).
◈ It has never been established from the Prophet ﷺ or the Companions رضي الله عنهم that Du‘ā’ al-Qunūt was recited in every rakʿah of Witr.
May Allah grant us the ability to act upon the Sunnah.
ھذا ما عندي واللہ أعلم بالصواب
