13 Methods of Performing Witr and Tahajjud
Excerpt taken from: Ṣalāh Panjgānah with Rakʿāt of Witr and Tahajjud by Abū ʿAdnān Muḥammad Munīr Qamar Nawāb al-Dīn
Imām Ibn Ḥazm, in his renowned scholarly work al-Muḥallā, mentioned that there are thirteen different methods of performing Witr and Tahajjud, and any of them is valid. However, he noted which method he considered most virtuous.
✿ The 13 Methods
① First Method
Pray twelve rakʿāt in sets of two (saying salām after every two rakʿāt), and finally pray one rakʿah with salām.
As narrated in ḥadīth of Ibn ʿUmar (RA) and ʿĀ’ishah (RA) in Bukhārī, Muslim, and Abū Dāwūd.
(al-Muḥallā 42/3/2, al-Nayl 31/3/2)
② Second Method
Pray eight rakʿāt in sets of two with salām, then pray five rakʿāt continuously with one tashahhud and one salām at the end.
As mentioned in Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhārī and Muslim.
(al-Muḥallā 142/3/2, al-Nayl 36/3/2, Sharḥ al-Sunnah 774-78)
③ Third Method
Pray ten rakʿāt in sets of two with salām, then pray one rakʿah.
As narrated by ʿĀ’ishah (RA) in Bukhārī, Muslim, Abū Dāwūd, Nasā’ī, and Ibn Mājah.
(al-Muḥallā 43, al-Nayl 33)
④ Fourth Method
Pray eight rakʿāt in sets of two, then pray one rakʿah of Witr.
As narrated from ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar (RA) in al-Ṣiḥāḥ al-Sittah.
(al-Muḥallā, al-Nayl 31, Sharḥ al-Sunnah 4/85)
⑤ Fifth Method
Pray eight rakʿāt continuously without sitting for tashahhud. After completing eight, sit for tashahhud but do not end with salām. Instead, stand for the ninth rakʿah, then sit for tashahhud, send ṣalāt and duʿā’, and finally say salām.
As narrated by ʿĀ’ishah (RA) in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Abū Dāwūd, Nasā’ī, and Musnad Aḥmad.
(al-Muḥallā 144, al-Nayl 37, Sharḥ al-Sunnah 4/80)
⑥ Sixth Method
Pray six rakʿāt in sets of two with salām, then pray one rakʿah.
Based on the narration of Ibn ʿUmar (RA) in al-Ṣiḥāḥ al-Sittah.
(al-Muḥallā 145, al-Nayl 31, Sharḥ al-Sunnah 4/78)
⑦ Seventh Method
Pray seven rakʿāt: do not sit for tashahhud before the sixth. After the sixth rakʿah, sit for tashahhud, then rise for the seventh without salām. Complete the prayer with tashahhud, ṣalāt, duʿā’, and salām.
As narrated by ʿĀ’ishah (RA) in Abū Dāwūd, Nasā’ī, and Musnad Aḥmad.
(al-Muḥallā 45, al-Nayl 371312, Sharḥ al-Sunnah 4/80)
⑧ Eighth Method
Pray seven rakʿāt continuously without sitting for tashahhud until the last rakʿah. End with tashahhud, ṣalāt, duʿā’, and salām.
As narrated by ʿĀ’ishah (RA) in Sunan al-Nasā’ī.
(al-Muḥallā 35–36, al-Nayl 37–38)
⑨ Ninth Method
Pray four rakʿāt in sets of two with salām, then pray one rakʿah of Witr.
Based on narration of Ibn ʿUmar (RA) in al-Ṣiḥāḥ al-Sittah.
(al-Muḥallā 136, al-Nayl 31)
⑩ Tenth Method
Pray five rakʿāt continuously without tashahhud in between, and after completing the fifth rakʿah, sit for tashahhud, ṣalāt, duʿā’, and salām.
As narrated by ʿĀ’ishah (RA) in Bukhārī, Muslim, and Nasā’ī.
(al-Muḥallā 46, al-Nayl 36, Sharḥ al-Sunnah 4/78)
⑪ & ⑫ Eleventh and Twelfth Methods
These concern three rakʿāt of Witr, with some detailed variations.
⑬ Thirteenth Method
Pray only one rakʿah with tashahhud, ṣalāt, duʿā’, and then salām.
As narrated in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim and Musnad Aḥmad from Ibn ʿAbbās (RA) and Ibn ʿUmar (RA):
«الوتر ركعة من آخر الليل»
"Witr is one rakʿah at the end of the night."
(al-Muḥallā 48, al-Nayl 33)
✿ Note
These thirteen forms are the combined methods of performing Witr and Tahajjud, also referred to as Qiyām al-Layl or Ṣalāt al-Layl. It is specifically called Ṣalāt al-Witr, not merely taʿlīqan (commentary).
(Sharḥ al-Sunnah 4/85)
