❀ Permission and Preference of Nafl After Witr Prayer ❀
✍ Answered by: Shaykh Saeed Mujtaba Saeedi حفظه الله & Researcher Dawood Ismail حفظه الله
❖ Question:
If someone performs the Witr prayer in the early part of the night and later wakes up during the last part of the night, can he offer Nafl prayers?
Because a Hadith states that the last prayer of the night should be Witr, and another Hadith says:
“لَا وِتْرَانِ فِي لَيْلَةٍ“
(There is no two Witrs in one night.)
❖ Answer:
Yes, Nafl prayers can be offered after Witr.
If someone has already performed Witr in the earlier part of the night, he may still offer optional prayers later in the night.
❖ Principle of Preference:
It is preferred that the Witr prayer be the last prayer of the night, as the Prophet ﷺ instructed:
“اجْعَلُوا آخِرَ صَلَاتِكُمْ بِاللَّيْلِ وِتْرًا”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 998]
“Make Witr the last of your prayers at night.”
However, this instruction indicates preference (استحباب), not obligation (وجوب), as the Prophet ﷺ himself sometimes performed Nafl prayers even after Witr.
❖ Practice of the Prophet ﷺ:
It is narrated from Sayyidah ‘Ā’ishah رضي الله عنها:
“كَانَ يُصَلِّي ثَلاَثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً، يُصَلِّي ثَمَانَ رَكَعَاتٍ، ثُمَّ يُوتِرُ، ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ”
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 738]
“The Prophet ﷺ used to perform thirteen rak‘ahs (at night): he would perform eight rak‘ahs of Tahajjud, then Witr, and then he would pray two rak‘ahs while sitting.”
❖ Summary of Ruling and Practice:
✔ Witr as the last prayer:
– This is the Sunnah and preferred practice.
– Based on the direct instruction of the Prophet ﷺ.
✔ Permissibility of Nafl after Witr:
– It is allowed to perform Nafl prayers after Witr.
– This is supported by the practice of the Prophet ﷺ.
✔ Meaning of “لَا وِتْرَانِ فِي لَيْلَةٍ”:
– The Hadith means Witr should not be performed twice in one night.
– It does not prohibit performing Nafl prayers after Witr.
❖ Conclusion:
① It is preferable to make Witr the last prayer of the night.
② If Witr has been offered earlier, one may still pray Nafl afterward.
③ Witr should not be repeated within the same night.
