Source: Fatāwā ‘Ilmiyyah (Tawdīḥ al-Aḥkām)
Evidence for offering one Witr prayer.
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh, ammā ba‘d!
Clear evidence exists that the minimum number of rak‘ahs for Witr prayer is one, and several authentic Ahadith from the Prophet ﷺ clarify that Witr can indeed be offered as a single rak‘ah.
The explicit statement of the Prophet ﷺ:
«الْوِتْرُ رَكْعَةٌ مِنْ آخِرِ اللَّيْلِ»
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 752)
Translation:
“Witr is one rak‘ah at the end of the night.”
This Hadith is clear proof that offering one rak‘ah Witr is permissible.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«صَلَاةُ اللَّيْلِ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى، فَإِذَا خَشِيَ أَحَدُكُمُ الصُّبْحَ، صَلَّى رَكْعَةً وَاحِدَةً تُوتِرُ لَهُ مَا قَدْ صَلَّى»
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 911, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 749)
Translation:
“The night prayer is offered in pairs of two rak‘ahs, and when one of you fears the approach of dawn, let him pray one rak‘ah which will make what he has prayed odd-numbered.”
This Hadith shows that when the time is short near the end of the night, one rak‘ah of Witr suffices.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«إِنَّ اللّٰهَ وِتْرٌ يُحِبُّ الْوِتْرَ»
(Muslim: 2677)
Translation:
“Indeed, Allah is Witr (One) and He loves Witr.”
This Hadith emphasizes the importance of Witr as it is related to one of Allah’s attributes, and thus offering one rak‘ah Witr is Sunnah and beloved to Allah.
The above three authentic Ahadith prove that offering one rak‘ah Witr is not only permissible but also a Sunnah practice of the Prophet ﷺ.
ھٰذَا مَا عِنْدِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
❖ Question:
Evidence for offering one Witr prayer.
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh, ammā ba‘d!
Clear evidence exists that the minimum number of rak‘ahs for Witr prayer is one, and several authentic Ahadith from the Prophet ﷺ clarify that Witr can indeed be offered as a single rak‘ah.
Hadith ①
The explicit statement of the Prophet ﷺ:
«الْوِتْرُ رَكْعَةٌ مِنْ آخِرِ اللَّيْلِ»
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 752)
Translation:
“Witr is one rak‘ah at the end of the night.”
This Hadith is clear proof that offering one rak‘ah Witr is permissible.
Hadith ②
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«صَلَاةُ اللَّيْلِ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى، فَإِذَا خَشِيَ أَحَدُكُمُ الصُّبْحَ، صَلَّى رَكْعَةً وَاحِدَةً تُوتِرُ لَهُ مَا قَدْ صَلَّى»
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 911, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 749)
Translation:
“The night prayer is offered in pairs of two rak‘ahs, and when one of you fears the approach of dawn, let him pray one rak‘ah which will make what he has prayed odd-numbered.”
This Hadith shows that when the time is short near the end of the night, one rak‘ah of Witr suffices.
Hadith ③
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«إِنَّ اللّٰهَ وِتْرٌ يُحِبُّ الْوِتْرَ»
(Muslim: 2677)
Translation:
“Indeed, Allah is Witr (One) and He loves Witr.”
This Hadith emphasizes the importance of Witr as it is related to one of Allah’s attributes, and thus offering one rak‘ah Witr is Sunnah and beloved to Allah.
Conclusion:
The above three authentic Ahadith prove that offering one rak‘ah Witr is not only permissible but also a Sunnah practice of the Prophet ﷺ.
ھٰذَا مَا عِنْدِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
