The Sunnah Method of Performing Witr Prayer: Correct Ways of Offering Three Rak‘ahs
Source: Fatāwā Muḥammadīyyah, Vol. 1, p. 500
❖ Question:
What is the Sunnah method of performing Witr prayer?
For example, some people pray one rak‘ah, some two, and some three together just like Maghrib. If three rak‘ahs are to be prayed together, then what is the Sunnah method?
✿ Answer:
Al-ḥamdulillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
There exist differences regarding Witr prayer in several aspects:
① How many rak‘ahs are in Witr?
② Which number is most beloved?
③ Is it obligatory (farḍ) or voluntary (nafl)?
④ Can Witr be made up (qaḍā’) if missed?
⑤ Can it be repeated in the same night?
⑥ Is it permissible to pray nafl after Witr?
⑦ What is the best time for Witr?
⑧ Is Witr permissible on a journey (while riding)?
⑨ Which sūrahs are Sunnah to recite in Witr?
⑩ At which times did the Messenger of Allah ﷺ perform it?
⑪ Are three rak‘ahs permissible? If yes, should they be prayed together or with two separate salāms? And if together, is the middle tashahhud required or not?
After understanding all these matters, the issue becomes clear. In short, Witr consists of three rak‘ahs. They may be prayed connectedly or separately. It is also permissible to pray only one rak‘ah, as this is established from the Salaf al-Ṣāliḥīn.
◈ Three Rak‘ahs of Witr
Ḥadīth:
عَنْ أُبَيِّ بْنِ كَعْبٍ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ يُوتِرُ بِثَلَاثِ رَكَعَاتٍ
(النسائي، ج۱ ص۲۰۱)
“ʿUbayy ibn Kaʿb رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to pray three rak‘ahs of Witr.”
◈ Prohibition of Resembling Maghrib
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
لا توتِرُوْا بِثَلاثِ أَوتروا بِخَمسٍ أو سبع لَا تَشبَّھُوْا بِصَلوۃِ الْمَغرب
(الدارقطني، فتح الباري 5/539، نيل الأوطار 6/281)
“Do not pray Witr as three (like Maghrib); instead pray five or seven. Do not resemble the prayer of Maghrib.”
This narration, taken collectively, is authentic, and scholars have affirmed its reliability. Apparently, this seems to contradict the earlier narration, but the scholars reconciled them.
◈ Clarification by Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar رحمه الله
He explained:
أَنَّ النَّهْيَ عَنِ الثَّلَاثِ إِذَا كَانَ يَقْعُدُ لِلتَّشَهُّدِ الْأَوْسَطِ لِأَنَّهُ يُشْبِهُ الْمَغْرِبَ وَأَمَّا إِذَا لَمْ يَقْعُدْ إِلَّا فِي آخِرِهَا فَلَا يُشْبِهُ الْمَغْرِبَ وھو جمع حسن
(سبل السلام، ج۲ ص۷)
“The prohibition of three rak‘ahs applies when the middle tashahhud is observed, as that makes it resemble Maghrib. But if one sits only in the final tashahhud, then it does not resemble Maghrib. This is a good reconciliation.”
◈ Supporting Narrations
In Fatḥ al-Bārī (1/536), it is mentioned that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ prayed three rak‘ahs of Witr with only the final tashahhud.
Imām Muḥammad ibn Ismāʿīl al-Amīr also clarified:
«كان رسول الله ﷺ يوتر بثلاث لا يجلس إلا في آخرهن»
(سبل السلام، ج۲ ص۷)
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ prayed three rak‘ahs of Witr with only one sitting in the last rak‘ah.”
◈ Reports from the Companions
✿ ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها:
In Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (1/204), she reported that the Prophet ﷺ prayed four rak‘ahs in Ramadan and outside it, then concluded with three rak‘ahs (Witr).
✿ Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما said:
"الوِترُ كصَلوة المغْرِبِ اِلَّا انه لا یقعد الا فِی الثَّالِثَة”
(المحلى لابن حزم، 3/46)
“Witr is like Maghrib, except that one does not sit until the third rak‘ah.”
◈ Practice of the Salaf
✿ ʿUmar al-Fārūq رضي الله عنه used to pray three rak‘ahs with one tashahhud. (ʿAwn al-Maʿbūd 1/535)
✿ Tāwūs, ʿAṭā ibn Abī Rabāḥ, and Ayyūb رحمه الله also prayed three rak‘ahs of Witr with only one tashahhud.
◈ Alternative View of Scholars
Some scholars considered it better to pray three rak‘ahs with two separate salāms.
Imām Nawawī رحمه الله said:
“When intending three rak‘ahs, it is better to end with two salāms, as many authentic ḥadīths support this.”
(Sharḥ al-Muhadhdhab)
Evidences:
- Ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنه reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ separated Shafʿ and Witr with salām. (Talkhīṣ al-Ḥabīr 2/16)
- ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها reported similarly. (Musnad Aḥmad)
Imām al-Tirmidhī also mentioned that some Companions and Tābiʿīn prayed two rak‘ahs with salām, then one rak‘ah separately. (Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī with Tuḥfat al-Aḥwadhī)
◈ Summary of Opinions
◈ Some Companions prayed only one rak‘ah.
◈ Some prayed three rak‘ahs with two salāms.
◈ Some prayed three rak‘ahs with one salām.
All methods are established in authentic narrations and thus permissible.
◈ Preferred Practice According to Scholars
The leading scholars concluded that the better way is:
✿ Either pray three rak‘ahs of Witr with two salāms (2 + 1).
✿ Or pray three rak‘ahs with one tashahhud at the end only, so that it does not resemble Maghrib.
◈ Fatwā of Shaykh Muḥammad Muḥaddith Gondalvī رحمه الله
He explained that both methods are authentically proven from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ:
① Three rak‘ahs with one tashahhud and one salām.
② Two rak‘ahs with salām, then one rak‘ah separately.
And the second method (2 + 1) is superior to avoid resemblance with Maghrib.
Conclusion
◈ Witr consists of three rak‘ahs.
◈ It is permissible to pray them with one salām and one tashahhud.
◈ It is better to pray them with two salāms (2 + 1).
◈ Praying a single rak‘ah of Witr is also permissible.
◈ All forms are Sunnah and established from the Salaf.
