✍ Written by: Maqbool Ahmad Salafi | Jeddah Da’wah Center, Hayy as-Salamah – Saudi Arabia
According to the correct opinion, Witr is a Sunnah Mu’akkadah (emphasized Sunnah). It is the last prayer of the night.
The Prophet ﷺ instructed that the final prayer of the night should be Witr.
عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا، قَالَ: قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ: اجْعَلُوا آخِرَ صَلَاتِكُمْ بِاللَّيْلِ وِتْرًا
“Make Witr your last prayer at night.”
This was also the frequent practice of the Prophet ﷺ, as narrated by ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها:
كَانَ يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ، حَتَّى يَكُونَ آخِرَ صَلَاتِهِ الْوِتْرُ
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would perform night prayers, and his final prayer would be Witr.”
At the same time, the Prophet ﷺ prohibited offering Witr more than once in a night:
لَا وِتْرَانِ فِي لَيْلَةٍ
“There are no two Witrs in one night.”
Despite Witr being the final prayer, there are authentic reports that the Prophet ﷺ offered two rak‘ahs after Witr. Here are a few examples:
كَانَ يُصَلِّي ثَلَاثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً... يُوتِرُ، ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ...
“He would pray thirteen rak‘ahs—eight rak‘ahs, then Witr, then two rak‘ahs while sitting, and then two rak‘ahs between the call and iqamah of Fajr.”
كَانَ يُوتِرُ بِتِسْعِ رَكَعَاتٍ، ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ...
“The Prophet ﷺ would pray nine rak‘ahs for Witr and then pray two rak‘ahs while sitting. When he became weak, he offered seven for Witr and then two while sitting.”
فَإِذَا أَوْتَرَ أَحَدُكُمْ فَلْيَرْكَعْ رَكْعَتَيْنِ...
“When one of you offers Witr, let him offer two rak‘ahs afterward. If he rises (again) in the night, fine; otherwise, these two will suffice.”
Some scholars interpret this hadith as advising two rak‘ahs before Witr, particularly for travelers. However, it also supports the legitimacy of two rak‘ahs after Witr.
From these narrations, it is established that:
✔ It is permissible to offer two rak‘ahs after Witr, following the Prophet ﷺ's practice.
✔ However, this should not become a regular habit, as the Prophet ﷺ predominantly made Witr the final prayer of the night.
If someone plans to pray Qiyām al-Layl, they should not offer Witr immediately after ʿIshā’, but instead pray at the end of the night. However:
✔ If one has already prayed Witr and then wakes up for night prayer, he may offer nafl prayers,
✔ But must not repeat Witr, as it should be offered only once per night.
He once led his household in night prayer during Ramadan and offered Witr. Later, at a local mosque, he had already offered Witr, so he appointed someone else to lead Witr for others and said:
“فَإِنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ، يَقُولُ: لَا وِتْرَانِ فِي لَيْلَةٍ”
“I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: ‘There is no second Witr in the same night.’”
① The ideal and superior practice is to offer Witr as the last prayer of the night.
② Offering two rak‘ahs after Witr is permissible, as the Prophet ﷺ did it occasionally.
③ If one prays Qiyām al-Layl after Witr, he may do so but must not repeat Witr.
④ It is proven from the Sunnah and the practice of the Companions.
⑤ A Muslim should strive to follow the balanced practice of the Prophet ﷺ.
❖ Ruling on Offering Two Rak‘ahs After Witr Prayer in Light of Authentic Evidence
◈ The Status of Witr Prayer
According to the correct opinion, Witr is a Sunnah Mu’akkadah (emphasized Sunnah). It is the last prayer of the night.
The Prophet ﷺ instructed that the final prayer of the night should be Witr.
عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا، قَالَ: قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ: اجْعَلُوا آخِرَ صَلَاتِكُمْ بِاللَّيْلِ وِتْرًا
“Make Witr your last prayer at night.”
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 998
This was also the frequent practice of the Prophet ﷺ, as narrated by ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها:
كَانَ يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ، حَتَّى يَكُونَ آخِرَ صَلَاتِهِ الْوِتْرُ
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would perform night prayers, and his final prayer would be Witr.”
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 740
At the same time, the Prophet ﷺ prohibited offering Witr more than once in a night:
لَا وِتْرَانِ فِي لَيْلَةٍ
“There are no two Witrs in one night.”
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Abī Dāwūd: 1439
❖ Reports of Praying Two Rakʿahs After Witr
Despite Witr being the final prayer, there are authentic reports that the Prophet ﷺ offered two rak‘ahs after Witr. Here are a few examples:
✿ ʿĀ’ishah’s Report:
كَانَ يُصَلِّي ثَلَاثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً... يُوتِرُ، ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ...
“He would pray thirteen rak‘ahs—eight rak‘ahs, then Witr, then two rak‘ahs while sitting, and then two rak‘ahs between the call and iqamah of Fajr.”
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 738
✿ Another Report from ʿĀ’ishah:
كَانَ يُوتِرُ بِتِسْعِ رَكَعَاتٍ، ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ...
“The Prophet ﷺ would pray nine rak‘ahs for Witr and then pray two rak‘ahs while sitting. When he became weak, he offered seven for Witr and then two while sitting.”
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Nasā’ī: 1721
✿ Report from Thawbān رضي الله عنه:
فَإِذَا أَوْتَرَ أَحَدُكُمْ فَلْيَرْكَعْ رَكْعَتَيْنِ...
“When one of you offers Witr, let him offer two rak‘ahs afterward. If he rises (again) in the night, fine; otherwise, these two will suffice.”
Reference: Sunan al-Dārimī; authenticated by al-Albānī in Hidāyat al-Ruwāt: 1238
Some scholars interpret this hadith as advising two rak‘ahs before Witr, particularly for travelers. However, it also supports the legitimacy of two rak‘ahs after Witr.
❖ Conclusion on the Two Rakʿahs After Witr
From these narrations, it is established that:
✔ It is permissible to offer two rak‘ahs after Witr, following the Prophet ﷺ's practice.
✔ However, this should not become a regular habit, as the Prophet ﷺ predominantly made Witr the final prayer of the night.
❖ Witr & Qiyām al-Layl (Night Prayer)
If someone plans to pray Qiyām al-Layl, they should not offer Witr immediately after ʿIshā’, but instead pray at the end of the night. However:
✔ If one has already prayed Witr and then wakes up for night prayer, he may offer nafl prayers,
✔ But must not repeat Witr, as it should be offered only once per night.
✿ Companion's Example: Ṭalq ibn ʿAlī رضي الله عنه
He once led his household in night prayer during Ramadan and offered Witr. Later, at a local mosque, he had already offered Witr, so he appointed someone else to lead Witr for others and said:
“فَإِنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ، يَقُولُ: لَا وِتْرَانِ فِي لَيْلَةٍ”
“I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: ‘There is no second Witr in the same night.’”
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Nasā’ī: 1678
Summary of the Ruling
① The ideal and superior practice is to offer Witr as the last prayer of the night.
② Offering two rak‘ahs after Witr is permissible, as the Prophet ﷺ did it occasionally.
③ If one prays Qiyām al-Layl after Witr, he may do so but must not repeat Witr.
④ It is proven from the Sunnah and the practice of the Companions.
⑤ A Muslim should strive to follow the balanced practice of the Prophet ﷺ.
