❖ Four Islamic Guidelines Concerning Nawāfil After Witr Prayer
Source: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah, Volume 1, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Page 411
Question by: Ẓafar Iqbāl, Shakargarh
Question:
It is said that Witr should be the last prayer of the night, and the two rakʿahs offered after Witr were specific to the Prophet ﷺ. Is this correct? Also, is it permissible to perform voluntary prayers after Tarāwīḥ and Witr?
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Ammā baʿd:
➊ Ruling on Making Witr the Final Prayer of the Night
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Make Witr the last of your prayers at night."
Based on this narration, it is better and more virtuous to offer Witr as the final prayer of the night.
➋ Permission to Offer Two Rakʿahs Sitting After Witr
It is authentically established that the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ used to offer two rakʿahs sitting after Witr.
✔ This proves that offering two rakʿahs after Witr is permissible.
Therefore, it is best to act in accordance with the ḥadīth.
وَاللهُ أَعْلَم
➌ Ruling on Offering Nawāfil After Tarāwīḥ and Witr
If someone offers additional voluntary prayers after Tarāwīḥ and Witr, then:
✔ This action is neither ḥarām nor forbidden.
✦ However, the preferable practice is to make Witr the final prayer of the night.
➍ Reward for Completing Tarāwīḥ with the Imām
A person who performs Tarāwīḥ in full with the Imām will receive the reward of spending the entire night in prayer, as proven by ḥadīth:
Sunan al-Tirmidhī, Ḥadīth 806 — Chain: AuthenticImām al-Tirmidhī رحمه الله said:
"This ḥadīth is ḥasan ṣaḥīḥ."
ھذا ما عندي، واللّٰه أعلم بالصواب
This is what I hold; and Allāh knows best what is correct.
