Correct Way of Three Witr: Middle Tashahhud Explained

❖ Correct Method of Performing Three Rak‘āt Witr: The Issue of the Middle Tashahhud


Source: Fatāwā Muḥammadiyyah, Volume 1, Page 508

❖ Question:​

While performing three Rakʿāt of Witr, should one recite the middle Tashahhud (sitting after the second Rakʿah), or not?

❖ Answer:​

الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله، أما بعد:


Three Rakʿāt Witr are authentically reported from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ through two methods, both supported by sound chains of narration:

① First Method: Three Rakʿāt with Only One Tashahhud (at the end)​

❖ Sayyidah ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها narrated:


وَعَن عَائشة قَالتْ كَان رسول اللہﷺ يوترُ بثلاثٍ لا يفصلُ بينَهن


“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to pray three Rakʿāt of Witr and did not sit (for Tashahhud) in between them.”
(Reported by Aḥmad and al-Nasāʾī – Nayl al-Awṭār, Vol. 3, p. 25)


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❖ Another narration from ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها:


عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ … إِلَّا فِي آخِرِهِن


“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would perform thirteen Rakʿāt at night, including five for Witr, and he would not sit in any of them except in the last.”
(Muttafaq ʿalayh – Nayl al-Awṭār, Vol. 3, p. 36)


This proves the practice of praying Witr as three connected Rakʿāt with only one final sitting.

② Second Method: Two Rakʿāt with Salām, Then One Rakʿah Separately​

❖ This method was deemed strong by Imām Aḥmad. It was also narrated by Ibn Ḥibbān, Ibn Sakan, and al-Ṭabarānī.
(Fatāwā ʿUlamāʾ al-Ḥadīth, Vol. 4, p. 239)


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❖ Practice of ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما:


وَعن ابن عمر انه کان یسلم بین الرکعة والرکعتین فی الوتر حتی کان یأمر ببعض حاجته
“Ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما would give salām after two Rakʿāt and then pray one Rakʿah separately. He would even instruct someone regarding a need in between.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Book of Witr)


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Another narration:


وَعن ابن عمر انه کان یسلم بین الرکعة والرکعتین فی الوتر حتی یأمر ببعض حاجته
“He would separate the Shafʿ (two Rakʿāt) from the Witr (one Rakʿah) and said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to do the same.”
(Isnād is strong – Nayl al-Awṭār, Vol. 3, p. 33)

Both Methods Are Authentic and Valid​

From these ḥadīths, we learn:


◈ Praying three Rakʿāt of Witr with one Tashahhud only is permissible.
◈ It is also valid to pray two Rakʿāt, make salām, and then pray one Rakʿah separately.

❖ Ḥanafī Practice and Its Criticism​

◈ The Ḥanafīs perform Witr as three Rakʿāt with two Tashahhuds — like Maghrib prayer.


◈ However, this method is not supported by any authentic narration.


◈ In fact, the following narration contradicts it:


عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ … وَلَا تَشَبَّهُوا بِصَلَاةِ الْمَغْرِبِ
“Do not pray Witr as three (like Maghrib). Pray five or seven, but do not make it resemble Maghrib.”
(Reported by al-Dāraquṭnī – Nayl al-Awṭār, Vol. 3, pp. 35–36)


Meaning: One should not pray Witr with two Tashahhuds to avoid resembling Maghrib, which is a farḍ prayer.
(Ref: Fatḥ al-Bārī)

❖ Is One Rakʿah of Witr Permissible?​

Yes, one Rakʿah of Witr is permissible and authentic.


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◈ Narration from ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنه:


عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ سِيرِينَ … وَيُوتِرُ بِرَكْعَةٍ الاَخ
(Reported by al-Tirmidhī, Vol. 1, p. 86; Tuḥfat al-Aḥwadhī, Vol. 1, p. 340)


◈ According to the four Imāms (Mālik, al-Shāfiʿī, Aḥmad, and Isḥāq), one Rakʿah is valid provided that it is preceded by two Nawāfil.


◈ However, according to Ahl al-Ḥadīth, a single Rakʿah Witr is valid even without two Rakʿāt before it.


—


عَنْ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ الْأَنْصَارِيِّ … وَمَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يُوتِرَ بِوَاحِدَةٍ فَلْيَفْعَل
“Witr is obligatory upon every Muslim. Whoever wants to pray five, let him do so; whoever wants to pray three, let him do so; and whoever wants to pray one, let him do so.”
(ʿAwn al-Maʿbūd, Vol. 1, p. 535)


◈ Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar رحمه الله regarded this ḥadīth as mawqūf, but explained that it carries the ruling of marfūʿ because there is no scope for ijtihād in the number of Rakʿāt of Witr.

❖ More Supporting Narrations​

◈ From ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها:


عَنْ عَائِشَةَ … فَأَوْتَرَتْ
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would stand in night prayer, and when one Rakʿah of Witr remained, he would awaken ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها and she would pray Witr.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim with al-Nawawī’s commentary, Vol. 1, p. 255)


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◈ Statement of Imām al-Khaṭṭābī:


ذَهَبَ جَمَاعَةٌ مِنَ السَّلَفِ … وَغیرھم
“A group from the Salaf held the opinion of one Rakʿah Witr, including: ʿUthmān, Saʿd ibn Abī Waqqāṣ, Zayd ibn Thābit, Abū Mūsá al-Ashʿarī, Ibn ʿAbbās, ʿĀʾishah, and Ibn al-Zubayr رضي الله عنهم.”
(ʿAwn al-Maʿbūd, Vol. 1, p. 522)


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◈ Sayyidunā Muʿāwiyah رضي الله عنه also held this view.

Summary:​

◈ Three Rakʿāt of Witr can be prayed in two valid ways:


➊ With only one final Tashahhud (like a continuous three Rakʿāt).
➋ With two Rakʿāt, then salām, and one Rakʿah separately.


◈ Praying Witr like Maghrib with two Tashahhuds is not authentically proven.


◈ One Rakʿah of Witr alone is also valid and permissible.


ھٰذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب