Source: Aḥkām wa Masāʾil, Discussion on Ṣalāh, Vol. 1, p. 218
Why is it prohibited to perform three rakʿah Witr in the same manner as Maghrib (i.e., with two tashahhuds)? Furthermore:
① Is there any explicit textual evidence allowing four rakʿah sunnah prayer with two tashahhuds in one salām?
② Can Umm al-Muʾminīn ʿĀʾishah’s (رضي الله عنها) narration «يُصَلِّي أَرْبَعًا…» be used as evidence?
③ Is it permissible to perform four rakʿah sunnah prayer with a single salām?
④ Would this not resemble the obligatory prayers?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ʿammā baʿd!
➊ Regarding Witr:
➋ ʿĀʾishah’s (رضي الله عنها) narration:
She narrated:
«يُصَلِّي أَرْبَعًا…» (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
Using this as proof for four rakʿahs in one salām with two tashahhuds is incorrect, because in another narration she (رضي الله عنها) stated:
«يُسَلِّمُ مِنْ كُلِّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ» (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
"The Prophet ﷺ would give salām after every two rakʿahs."
This clarifies that the Prophet ﷺ normally separated after every two rakʿahs.
➌ The ḥadīth in Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī:
It is narrated that:
«وَقَبْلَ الْعَصْرِ أَرْبَعًا يَفْصِلُ بَيْنَ كُلِّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ بِالتَّسْلِيمِ عَلَى الْمَلَائِكَةِ الْمُقَرَّبِينَ وَالنَّبِيِّينَ وَالْمُرْسَلِينَ وَمَنْ تَبِعَهُمْ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُسْلِمِينَ»
(Ṣaḥīḥ Tirmidhī, authenticated by al-Albānī, Vol. 1, p. 489)
Imām Mubārakpūrī, in Tuḥfat al-Aḥwadhī, explained that the term taslīm here refers to greetings of peace (salutations), not the salām of ending the prayer. From this, he concluded:
"It is permissible to pray four sunnahs together with one salām."
◈ Witr should not be made to resemble Maghrib prayer.
◈ For other nafl prayers, there is no clear prohibition against a form similar to obligatory prayers.
◈ ʿĀʾishah’s narration does not prove four rakʿahs with one salām.
◈ However, based on the ḥadīth in Tirmidhī and the commentary of Imām Mubārakpūrī, there is scope and allowance for performing four rakʿah nafl with one salām.
ھٰذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
❖ Question:
Why is it prohibited to perform three rakʿah Witr in the same manner as Maghrib (i.e., with two tashahhuds)? Furthermore:
① Is there any explicit textual evidence allowing four rakʿah sunnah prayer with two tashahhuds in one salām?
② Can Umm al-Muʾminīn ʿĀʾishah’s (رضي الله عنها) narration «يُصَلِّي أَرْبَعًا…» be used as evidence?
③ Is it permissible to perform four rakʿah sunnah prayer with a single salām?
④ Would this not resemble the obligatory prayers?
❖ Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ʿammā baʿd!
➊ Regarding Witr:
- Witr prayer is specifically prohibited from being made to resemble Maghrib.
- However, for general nafl prayers, there is no explicit prohibition against resembling the form of obligatory prayers.
➋ ʿĀʾishah’s (رضي الله عنها) narration:
She narrated:
«يُصَلِّي أَرْبَعًا…» (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
Using this as proof for four rakʿahs in one salām with two tashahhuds is incorrect, because in another narration she (رضي الله عنها) stated:
«يُسَلِّمُ مِنْ كُلِّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ» (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
"The Prophet ﷺ would give salām after every two rakʿahs."
This clarifies that the Prophet ﷺ normally separated after every two rakʿahs.
➌ The ḥadīth in Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī:
It is narrated that:
«وَقَبْلَ الْعَصْرِ أَرْبَعًا يَفْصِلُ بَيْنَ كُلِّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ بِالتَّسْلِيمِ عَلَى الْمَلَائِكَةِ الْمُقَرَّبِينَ وَالنَّبِيِّينَ وَالْمُرْسَلِينَ وَمَنْ تَبِعَهُمْ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُسْلِمِينَ»
(Ṣaḥīḥ Tirmidhī, authenticated by al-Albānī, Vol. 1, p. 489)
Imām Mubārakpūrī, in Tuḥfat al-Aḥwadhī, explained that the term taslīm here refers to greetings of peace (salutations), not the salām of ending the prayer. From this, he concluded:
"It is permissible to pray four sunnahs together with one salām."
❖ Conclusion:
◈ Witr should not be made to resemble Maghrib prayer.
◈ For other nafl prayers, there is no clear prohibition against a form similar to obligatory prayers.
◈ ʿĀʾishah’s narration does not prove four rakʿahs with one salām.
◈ However, based on the ḥadīth in Tirmidhī and the commentary of Imām Mubārakpūrī, there is scope and allowance for performing four rakʿah nafl with one salām.
ھٰذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
