❀ The Complete Sunnah Method of Performing Qiyām al-Layl and Witr ❀
The Prophet’s Practice of Witr
Eleven Rak‘ahs of Qiyām al-Layl
Umm al-Mu’minīn ʿĀ’ishah (رضي الله عنها) said:
"The Messenger of Mercy ﷺ would pray eleven rak‘ahs from ʿIshā’ until Fajr, saying salām after every two rak‘ahs, and then praying one rak‘ah of Witr."
(Muslim, Ṣalāt al-Musāfirīn, Bāb Ṣalāt al-Layl wa ʿAdad Rakʿāt al-Nabī fī al-Layl, 736)
General Instruction for Night Prayer
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"The night prayer is offered two by two (rakʿahs). When you fear that dawn is approaching, then pray one rakʿah, which will make the number odd for what you have prayed."
(al-Bukhārī, al-Witr, Bāb Mā Jā’a fī al-Witr, 990; Muslim, 749)
How to Begin Qiyām al-Layl
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"When one of you begins the night prayer, let him start with two light rakʿahs."
(Muslim, Ṣalāt al-Musāfirīn, 768)
Detailed Description of the Prophet’s Night Prayer
The Prophet ﷺ would begin with two light rakʿahs, then two long rakʿahs, then two shorter ones, followed again by two long ones, and so on, until ending with two rakʿahs and then one rakʿah of Witr.
(Muslim, Ṣalāt al-Musāfirīn, Bāb al-Duʿā’ fī Ṣalāt al-Layl, 765)
Variation in Number of Rakʿahs
ʿĀ’ishah (رضي الله عنها) said:
"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would sometimes pray seven rakʿahs, sometimes nine, and sometimes eleven at night."
(al-Bukhārī, al-Tahajjud, Bāb Kayfa Ṣalāt al-Nabī, 1139)
ʿĀ’ishah’s Detailed Description of the Prophet’s Witr
When Saʿd ibn Hishām asked about the Prophet’s Witr, ʿĀ’ishah (رضي الله عنها) said:
"I would prepare his siwāk and water for wuḍū’. When Allah willed, he would wake up, use the siwāk, perform wuḍū’, and pray nine rakʿahs. He would sit for tashahhud after the eighth rakʿah, then stand without salām to pray the ninth, complete it with supplication and tashahhud, and then say salām. In old age, he prayed seven rakʿahs."
(Muslim, Ṣalāt al-Musāfirīn, 746)
Different Valid Forms of Witr
Five, Three, or One Rakʿah Witr
Abū Ayyūb (رضي الله عنه) reported the Prophet ﷺ said:
"Witr is a duty upon every Muslim. Whoever wishes may pray five rakʿahs of Witr, whoever wishes may pray three, and whoever wishes may pray one."
(Abū Dāwūd, al-Witr, Bāb Kam al-Witr?, 1419; Ibn Mājah, 1169 – authenticated by al-Ḥākim, al-Dhahabī, and Ibn Ḥibbān)
Five Rakʿah Witr
The Prophet ﷺ prayed five rakʿahs of Witr without sitting except in the last rakʿah.
(Muslim, Ṣalāt al-Musāfirīn, 737)
Recitation in Three Rakʿah Witr
ʿĀ’ishah (رضي الله عنها) said:
"In Witr, the Prophet ﷺ would recite Sabbih isma rabbika al-aʿlā in the first rakʿah, Qul yā ayyuhā al-kāfirūn in the second, and Qul huwa Allāhu aḥad with al-Falaq and al-Nās in the third."
(al-Tirmidhī, al-Ṣalāh, Bāb Mā Jā’a fī Mā Yaqra’ fī al-Witr, 463 – authenticated by al-Dhahabī and Ibn Ḥibbān)
Avoiding Resemblance to Maghrib
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Do not pray Witr as three rakʿahs like Maghrib. Pray five or seven, but avoid resembling Maghrib."
(al-Dāraquṭnī, al-Witr, 2/152 – authenticated by al-Ḥākim, al-Dhahabī, and Ibn Ḥibbān)
Two Plus One Method
Ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنهما) reported:
"The Prophet ﷺ would pray two rakʿahs of Witr and say salām, then pray one rakʿah separately."
(Ibn Ḥibbān, 2768 – graded strong by Ibn Ḥajar)
One Rakʿah Witr
ʿĀ’ishah (رضي الله عنها) said:
"He ﷺ would say salām after every two rakʿahs, then pray one rakʿah of Witr."
(Ibn Mājah, 1177 – authenticated by al-Būṣayrī)
She also said:
"Between the two rakʿahs and Witr, he would sometimes speak to us."
(al-Albānī, al-Silsilah al-Ṣaḥīḥah, 2692)
Ibn ʿAbbās (رضي الله عنهما) said when Muʿāwiyah prayed one rakʿah of Witr:
"He has done the right thing—he is a jurist and a Companion."
(al-Bukhārī, Faḍā’il al-Ṣaḥābah, 3763)
Other Rulings Related to Witr
No Repeating Witr in One Night
Ṭalq ibn ʿAlī (رضي الله عنه) reported the Prophet ﷺ said:
"There is no two Witr prayers in one night."
(Abū Dāwūd, al-Witr, Bāb fī Naqḍ al-Witr, 1439 – authenticated by Ibn Khuzaymah, Ibn Ḥibbān, and graded ḥasan by Ibn Ḥajar)
Making Up Missed Witr
If someone forgets or sleeps through Witr, the Prophet ﷺ said:
"Whoever sleeps and misses his Witr or forgets it should pray it when he remembers or wakes up."
(Abū Dāwūd, al-Witr, 1431 – authenticated by al-Ḥākim and al-Dhahabī)
Reward for Making Up Missed Night Prayers
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Whoever misses his regular prayer or portion (of the night) and makes it up between Fajr and Ẓuhr will have it recorded as if he prayed it at night."
(Muslim, Ṣalāt al-Musāfirīn, 747)
The Prophet’s Own Practice
ʿĀ’ishah (رضي الله عنها) said:
"If he missed night prayer due to sleep or illness, he would pray twelve rakʿahs during the day."
(Muslim, Ṣalāt al-Musāfirīn, 746)
Consistency in Night Prayer
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"The most beloved deeds to Allah are those done consistently, even if they are few."
(al-Bukhārī, al-Riqāq, 6464; Muslim, Ṣalāt al-Musāfirīn, 782)
Warning Against Abandoning Night Prayer
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"O ʿAbdullāh! Do not be like the one who used to stand for the night prayer but then abandoned it."
(al-Bukhārī, al-Tahajjud, 1152; Muslim, al-Ṣiyām, 1159)
