✦ The Ruling on Witr Prayer ✦
Source: Fatāwā Amonpuri by Shaykh Ghulām Muṣṭafā Ẓahīr Amonpuri
❖ The Question
What is the ruling of Witr prayer in Islam?
❖ The Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd:
The consensus of scholars (ijmāʿ ahl al-ʿilm) is that Witr is Sunnah Muʾakkadah (an emphasized Sunnah). It is not correct to call it wājib.
❀ ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib رضي الله عنه said:
إن الوتر ليس بحتْم كالصلاة، ولكنه سنة، فلا تدعوه
“Witr is not an obligatory prayer like the prescribed ṣalāh, but it is Sunnah, so do not abandon it.”
(Musnad Aḥmad, 1/107; Sunan al-Dārimī, 1620 – wording of al-Dārimī; chain ḥasan)
❀ Ḥāfiẓ al-Būṣayrī رحمه الله graded its chain as ṣaḥīḥ (authentic).
(Ithāf al-Khiyarat al-Mahrah, 1732)
❀ Qāḍī ʿIyāḍ رحمه الله (d. 544H) said:
الوتر عندنا سنة مؤكدة غير واجبة وهو قول كافة العلماء والسلف
“According to us, Witr is Sunnah Muʾakkadah, not wājib, and this is the opinion of all scholars and the Salaf.”
(Ikmāl al-Muʿlim, 3/91)
❖ Conclusion
Witr prayer is Sunnah Muʾakkadah, not wājib. However, it should never be neglected, as the Prophet ﷺ emphasized it strongly and the Companions رضي الله عنهم considered it a practice not to be left.
✿ ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب ✿
