Source: Fatawa Ilmiyyah (Tawdih al-Ahkam)
What is the evidence for praying one rak‘ah Witr?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Ammā baʿd!
There is clear and authentic evidence that the minimum number of rak‘ahs for Witr prayer can be one. Several hadiths of the Prophet ﷺ confirm this explicitly.
The Prophet ﷺ clearly said:
«الْوِتْرُ رَكْعَةٌ مِنْ آخِرِ اللَّيْلِ»
(Sahih Muslim: 752)
Translation:
“Witr is one rak‘ah offered at the end of the night.”
✿ This hadith is an explicit proof that offering one rak‘ah for Witr is permissible.
At another instance, the Prophet ﷺ said:
«صَلَاةُ اللَّيْلِ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى، فَإِذَا خَشِيَ أَحَدُكُمُ الصُّبْحَ، صَلَّى رَكْعَةً وَاحِدَةً تُوتِرُ لَهُ مَا قَدْ صَلَّى»
(Sahih Bukhari: 911, Sahih Muslim: 749)
Translation:
“The night prayer is two rak‘ahs at a time. Then, if one of you fears that dawn is approaching, he should pray one rak‘ah, which will make odd (witr) what he has previously prayed.”
✿ This hadith clarifies that if time is short at the end of the night, one rak‘ah of Witr is sufficient.
The Prophet ﷺ also said:
«إِنَّ اللّٰهَ وِتْرٌ يُحِبُّ الْوِتْرَ»
(Sahih Muslim: 2677)
Translation:
“Indeed, Allah is One (Witr) and loves the Witr (odd number).”
✿ This hadith emphasizes the importance of Witr as a beloved Sunnah tied to the divine attribute of Allah being One.
These three noble hadiths clearly indicate that praying one rak‘ah Witr is valid, permissible, and is in accordance with the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ.
هٰذَا مَا عِندِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
❖ Question:
What is the evidence for praying one rak‘ah Witr?
❖ Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Ammā baʿd!
There is clear and authentic evidence that the minimum number of rak‘ahs for Witr prayer can be one. Several hadiths of the Prophet ﷺ confirm this explicitly.
❖ Hadith 1:
The Prophet ﷺ clearly said:
«الْوِتْرُ رَكْعَةٌ مِنْ آخِرِ اللَّيْلِ»
(Sahih Muslim: 752)
Translation:
“Witr is one rak‘ah offered at the end of the night.”
✿ This hadith is an explicit proof that offering one rak‘ah for Witr is permissible.
❖ Hadith 2:
At another instance, the Prophet ﷺ said:
«صَلَاةُ اللَّيْلِ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى، فَإِذَا خَشِيَ أَحَدُكُمُ الصُّبْحَ، صَلَّى رَكْعَةً وَاحِدَةً تُوتِرُ لَهُ مَا قَدْ صَلَّى»
(Sahih Bukhari: 911, Sahih Muslim: 749)
Translation:
“The night prayer is two rak‘ahs at a time. Then, if one of you fears that dawn is approaching, he should pray one rak‘ah, which will make odd (witr) what he has previously prayed.”
✿ This hadith clarifies that if time is short at the end of the night, one rak‘ah of Witr is sufficient.
❖ Hadith 3:
The Prophet ﷺ also said:
«إِنَّ اللّٰهَ وِتْرٌ يُحِبُّ الْوِتْرَ»
(Sahih Muslim: 2677)
Translation:
“Indeed, Allah is One (Witr) and loves the Witr (odd number).”
✿ This hadith emphasizes the importance of Witr as a beloved Sunnah tied to the divine attribute of Allah being One.
❖ Conclusion:
These three noble hadiths clearly indicate that praying one rak‘ah Witr is valid, permissible, and is in accordance with the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ.
هٰذَا مَا عِندِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
