This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Hussain bin Mubarak Al-Mosuli's Arabic book Al-Awamer wal-Nawahi, whose Urdu translation has been done by Muhammad Sarwar Gohar Sahib under the title Ahkamat o Mamnooat.
Praising Allah Almighty
① It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ali bin Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to recite this supplication at the end of his Witr prayer:
اللهم إني أعوذ برضاك من سخطك وبمعافاتك من عقوبتك وأعوذ بك منك لا أحصي ثناء عليك أنت كما أثنيت على نفسك
"O Allah! I seek refuge in Your pleasure from Your displeasure, I seek refuge in Your forgiveness from Your punishment, I seek refuge in You from You (Your punishment), I cannot fully praise You, You are as You have praised Yourself."
Reference: Abu Dawood, Book of Prayer 1414. Tirmidhi, Book of Supplications 3566. Nasai, Qiyam al-Layl and Voluntary Daytime Prayer 3/247. Ibn Majah, Establishing Prayer and Sunnah in it 1179. The narration is authentic.
Instructions regarding Witr prayer
① It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Ayyub Ansari (RA) that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:
إذا أحب أن يوتر بخمس فليفعل
"Indeed, Witr is a right, so whoever wishes to pray five Witr, let him do so."
Reference: Abu Dawood, Kitab al-Salat 1422; An-Nasa'i, Qiyam al-Layl wa Tatawwu' an-Nahar 3/238; Ibn Majah, Kitab Iqamat as-Salat wa as-Sunnah fiha 1190. This narration is authentic.
② Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (RA) narrates that a man stood up and asked: O Messenger of Allah (PBUH)! What is the manner of the night prayer (Tahajjud)? The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
صلاة الليل مثنى مثنى فإذا خفت الصبح فأوتر بواحدة
"The night prayer is two by two Rak'ahs, so when you fear the dawn, then pray one Rak'ah of Witr."
Reference: Bukhari, Kitab al-Adhan 1140; Muslim, Kitab Salat al-Musafirin wa Qasruha 737; Abu Dawood, Kitab al-Salat 1321.
③ Sayyida Aisha (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) used to pray eleven Rak'ahs between Isha and Fajr prayers. He (PBUH) would greet (say Salam) after every two Rak'ahs and then pray one Rak'ah of Witr.
Reference: Bukhari, Kitab al-Jumu'ah 1140; Muslim, Kitab Salat al-Musafirin wa Qasruha 737.
Qunoot and Its Related Rulings
① It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah and Sayyiduna Anas رضي الله عنهما that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ performed Qunoot (Nazilah) after Ruku.
Reference: Bukhari, Kitab al-Jumu'ah 1002. Muslim, Kitab al-Masajid wa Mawaqi' al-Salat 676-677.
② Sayyiduna Hasan bin Ali رضي الله عنهما states that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ taught me some words which I recite in Witr:
اللهم اهدني فيمن هديت وعافني فيمن عافيت وتولني فيمن توليت وبارك لي فيما أعطيت تباركت ربنا وتعاليت
"O Allah! Guide me among those whom You have guided, and grant me well-being among those whom You have granted well-being, and be an agent for me among those whom You have made agents, and bless for me what You have given me. O our Lord! You are Blessed and Exalted."
Reference: Abu Dawood, Kitab al-Salat 1413, 1214. Tirmidhi, Kitab al-Salat 4663. This narration is authentic.
③ Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه states that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to recite this supplication at the end of Witr:
اللهم إني أعوذ برضاك من سخطك وبمعافاتك من عقوبتك وأعوذ بك منك لا أحصي ثناء عليك أنت كما أثنيت على نفسك
"O Allah! I seek refuge in Your pleasure from Your displeasure, and in Your protection from Your punishment, and I seek refuge in You as You have praised Yourself, and I cannot praise You as You have praised Yourself."
Reference: Abu Dawood, Kitab al-Salat 12: 1412, 1413. Tirmidhi, Kitab al-Salat 4663. The narration is authentic.
Prohibition of Skipping Witr
① Sayyiduna Buraydah رضي الله عنه states, I heard the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم say:
الوتر حق فمن لم يوتر فليس منا
"Witr is a right (obligatory). So whoever does not pray Witr is not one of us."
Reference: Abu Dawood, Kitab al-Salat 1419. Musnad Ahmad, also Musnad al-Ansar 418/5 Hadith 23083.
