❀ Permission and Preference of Nafl After Witr Prayer ❀
✍ Answered by: Shaykh Saeed Mujtaba Saeedi حفظه الله & Researcher Dawood Ismail حفظه الله
If someone performs the Witr prayer in the early part of the night and later wakes up during the last part of the night, can he offer Nafl prayers?
Because a Hadith states that the last prayer of the night should be Witr, and another Hadith says:
"لَا وِتْرَانِ فِي لَيْلَةٍ"
(There is no two Witrs in one night.)
Yes, Nafl prayers can be offered after Witr.
If someone has already performed Witr in the earlier part of the night, he may still offer optional prayers later in the night.
It is preferred that the Witr prayer be the last prayer of the night, as the Prophet ﷺ instructed:
"اجْعَلُوا آخِرَ صَلَاتِكُمْ بِاللَّيْلِ وِتْرًا"
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 998]
“Make Witr the last of your prayers at night.”
However, this instruction indicates preference (استحباب), not obligation (وجوب), as the Prophet ﷺ himself sometimes performed Nafl prayers even after Witr.
It is narrated from Sayyidah ‘Ā’ishah رضي الله عنها:
"كَانَ يُصَلِّي ثَلاَثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً، يُصَلِّي ثَمَانَ رَكَعَاتٍ، ثُمَّ يُوتِرُ، ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ"
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 738]
“The Prophet ﷺ used to perform thirteen rak‘ahs (at night): he would perform eight rak‘ahs of Tahajjud, then Witr, and then he would pray two rak‘ahs while sitting.”
✔ Witr as the last prayer:
– This is the Sunnah and preferred practice.
– Based on the direct instruction of the Prophet ﷺ.
✔ Permissibility of Nafl after Witr:
– It is allowed to perform Nafl prayers after Witr.
– This is supported by the practice of the Prophet ﷺ.
✔ Meaning of “لَا وِتْرَانِ فِي لَيْلَةٍ”:
– The Hadith means Witr should not be performed twice in one night.
– It does not prohibit performing Nafl prayers after Witr.
① It is preferable to make Witr the last prayer of the night.
② If Witr has been offered earlier, one may still pray Nafl afterward.
③ Witr should not be repeated within the same night.
✍ Answered by: Shaykh Saeed Mujtaba Saeedi حفظه الله & Researcher Dawood Ismail حفظه الله
❖ Question:
If someone performs the Witr prayer in the early part of the night and later wakes up during the last part of the night, can he offer Nafl prayers?
Because a Hadith states that the last prayer of the night should be Witr, and another Hadith says:
"لَا وِتْرَانِ فِي لَيْلَةٍ"
(There is no two Witrs in one night.)
❖ Answer:
Yes, Nafl prayers can be offered after Witr.
If someone has already performed Witr in the earlier part of the night, he may still offer optional prayers later in the night.
❖ Principle of Preference:
It is preferred that the Witr prayer be the last prayer of the night, as the Prophet ﷺ instructed:
"اجْعَلُوا آخِرَ صَلَاتِكُمْ بِاللَّيْلِ وِتْرًا"
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 998]
“Make Witr the last of your prayers at night.”
However, this instruction indicates preference (استحباب), not obligation (وجوب), as the Prophet ﷺ himself sometimes performed Nafl prayers even after Witr.
❖ Practice of the Prophet ﷺ:
It is narrated from Sayyidah ‘Ā’ishah رضي الله عنها:
"كَانَ يُصَلِّي ثَلاَثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً، يُصَلِّي ثَمَانَ رَكَعَاتٍ، ثُمَّ يُوتِرُ، ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ"
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 738]
“The Prophet ﷺ used to perform thirteen rak‘ahs (at night): he would perform eight rak‘ahs of Tahajjud, then Witr, and then he would pray two rak‘ahs while sitting.”
❖ Summary of Ruling and Practice:
✔ Witr as the last prayer:
– This is the Sunnah and preferred practice.
– Based on the direct instruction of the Prophet ﷺ.
✔ Permissibility of Nafl after Witr:
– It is allowed to perform Nafl prayers after Witr.
– This is supported by the practice of the Prophet ﷺ.
✔ Meaning of “لَا وِتْرَانِ فِي لَيْلَةٍ”:
– The Hadith means Witr should not be performed twice in one night.
– It does not prohibit performing Nafl prayers after Witr.
❖ Conclusion:
① It is preferable to make Witr the last prayer of the night.
② If Witr has been offered earlier, one may still pray Nafl afterward.
③ Witr should not be repeated within the same night.
