The Best Time for Witr Prayer in Light of Authentic Aḥādīth
Excerpt taken from: Abū ʿAdnān Muḥammad Munīr Qamar Nawāb ad-Dīn’s book: “Namāz Panjgānah kī Rakʿatein Maʿa Namāz Witr wa Tahajjud”
◈ The Time for Witr Prayer
The time for Witr begins after ʿIshāʾ and lasts until the appearance of Fajr.
- The Prophet ﷺ said:
«فصلوها فيما بين العشاء إلى طلوع الفجر»
“Pray it between ʿIshāʾ and the rising of Fajr.”
(Abū Dāwūd, Tirmidhī, Ibn Mājah, Dāraqutnī, Bayhaqī, Mustadrak Ḥākim – al-Irwāʾ 2/156–157) - ʿĀ’ishah (رضي الله عنها) said:
«من كل الليل قد أوتر أوله وأوسطه وآخره»
“The Prophet ﷺ prayed Witr in every part of the night – at its beginning, middle, and end.”
And she added:
«فانتهى وتره حين مات فى السحر»
“But by the time of his death, his Witr was in the last part of the night (sahar time).”
(Al-Bukhārī, Muslim, Tirmidhī) - The Prophet ﷺ said:
«أوتروا قبل أن تصبحوا»
“Pray Witr before morning arrives.”
(Muslim, Tirmidhī, Nasā’ī, Ibn Mājah – al-Irwāʾ 2/152)
◈ Which Time is Best?
- Best: The last part of the night, near Fajr.
- For those fearing they won’t wake up: After ʿIshāʾ, in the earlier part of the night.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«ومن خاف ألا يقوم آخر الليل فليوتر أوله ومن طمع أن يقوم آخره فليوتر آخره، فإن صلاة آخر الليل مشهودة وذلك أفضل»
“Whoever fears he will not wake in the last part of the night should pray Witr in the first part; and whoever hopes to wake should pray it in the last part, for the last part of the night is witnessed (by the angels), and that is best.”
(Muslim, Tirmidhī, Ibn Mājah, Musnad Aḥmad)
The Prophet ﷺ also advised:
«وأن أوتر قبل أن أنام»
“…and to pray Witr before sleeping.”
(Al-Bukhārī, Muslim – narration of Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه)
◈ Breaking and Repeating Witr (Naqd al-Witr)
- Some Ṣaḥābah (ʿUmar, ʿUthmān, ʿAlī, Ibn Masʿūd, Ibn ʿUmar, Abū Hurayrah, etc.) allowed breaking the first Witr (by adding one rakʿah), then praying Witr again at the end.
- Others (Abū Bakr, ʿĀ’ishah, Saʿd ibn Abī Waqqāṣ, etc.) held that once Witr is prayed, it is not repeated, and only more nawāfil should be added.
The stronger and majority opinion (including the Four Imāms) is: Do not break Witr; continue praying nawāfil without repeating Witr.
◈ Qadāʾ of Witr
- If Witr is missed due to sleep or forgetfulness, it may be made up.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«ومن نام عن الوتر أو نسيه فليصل إذا أصبح أو ذكره»
“Whoever sleeps through Witr or forgets it, let him pray it in the morning when he remembers.”
(Tirmidhī, Abū Dāwūd, Musnad Aḥmad, Ḥākim – al-Irwāʾ 2/153)
Conclusion
- Time of Witr: After ʿIshāʾ until Fajr.
- Best Time: The last third of the night, before Fajr.
- For those fearing sleep: After ʿIshāʾ.
- If missed: It may be made up in the morning.
- Ruling on repetition: Majority of scholars hold Witr is prayed once; no repetition is required if one prays more nawāfil later.
