Source: Aḥkām wa Masāʾil, Discussion on Ṣalāh, Vol. 1, p. 219
If a person intends to perform Tahajjud, but fears that he might not be able to wake up at night, can he pray Witr right after ʿIshāʾ? And if he later wakes up, may he still pray Tahajjud? Is there any Sharʿī evidence for this? While it is also reported in a ḥadīth that after Witr there is no prayer.
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ʿammā baʿd!
It is narrated from Thawbān (رضي الله عنه) that the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said:
«عَنْ ثَوْبَانَ رضی اللہ عنہ عَنِ النَّبِیِّ ﷺ قَالَ : اِنَّ هٰذَا السَّهْرَ جُهْدٌ وَثِقْلٌ ، فَاِذَا أَوْتَرَ اَحَدُکُمْ فَلْيَرْکَعْ رَکْعَتَيْنِ فَاِنْ قَامَ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ ، وَاِلاَّ کَانَتَا لَه»
(Dārimī; Mishkāt al-Maṣābīḥ, Bāb al-Witr, al-Faṣl al-Thālith)
Translation:
Thawbān (رضي الله عنه) reported that the Prophet ﷺ said:
"Indeed, staying awake at night (for Tahajjud) is burdensome and heavy. Therefore, when one of you prays Witr, let him pray two rakʿahs afterwards. If he wakes up later in the night, he may pray further Tahajjud; otherwise, those two rakʿahs will suffice for him."
❀ It is established that nafl prayers may be performed even after Witr.
❀ The statement of the Prophet ﷺ:
«اِجْعَلُوْا آخِرَ صَلاَتِکُمْ بِاللَّيْلِ وِتْرًا»
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Bāb Ṣalāt al-Layl Mathnā Mathnā wal-Witr Rakʿah min Ākhir al-Layl)
"Make Witr the last prayer of your night,"
is not obligatory, but rather recommended and preferable.
❀ As for the report you mentioned — “After Witr there is no prayer” — there is no authentic or explicit ḥadīth proving this absolutely. On the contrary, the narration of Thawbān (رضي الله عنه) shows that even after Witr, performing additional nafl is possible.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
❖ Question:
If a person intends to perform Tahajjud, but fears that he might not be able to wake up at night, can he pray Witr right after ʿIshāʾ? And if he later wakes up, may he still pray Tahajjud? Is there any Sharʿī evidence for this? While it is also reported in a ḥadīth that after Witr there is no prayer.
❖ Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ʿammā baʿd!
It is narrated from Thawbān (رضي الله عنه) that the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said:
«عَنْ ثَوْبَانَ رضی اللہ عنہ عَنِ النَّبِیِّ ﷺ قَالَ : اِنَّ هٰذَا السَّهْرَ جُهْدٌ وَثِقْلٌ ، فَاِذَا أَوْتَرَ اَحَدُکُمْ فَلْيَرْکَعْ رَکْعَتَيْنِ فَاِنْ قَامَ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ ، وَاِلاَّ کَانَتَا لَه»
(Dārimī; Mishkāt al-Maṣābīḥ, Bāb al-Witr, al-Faṣl al-Thālith)
Translation:
Thawbān (رضي الله عنه) reported that the Prophet ﷺ said:
"Indeed, staying awake at night (for Tahajjud) is burdensome and heavy. Therefore, when one of you prays Witr, let him pray two rakʿahs afterwards. If he wakes up later in the night, he may pray further Tahajjud; otherwise, those two rakʿahs will suffice for him."
❖ Rulings Derived from This Ḥadīth:
❀ It is established that nafl prayers may be performed even after Witr.
❀ The statement of the Prophet ﷺ:
«اِجْعَلُوْا آخِرَ صَلاَتِکُمْ بِاللَّيْلِ وِتْرًا»
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Bāb Ṣalāt al-Layl Mathnā Mathnā wal-Witr Rakʿah min Ākhir al-Layl)
"Make Witr the last prayer of your night,"
is not obligatory, but rather recommended and preferable.
❀ As for the report you mentioned — “After Witr there is no prayer” — there is no authentic or explicit ḥadīth proving this absolutely. On the contrary, the narration of Thawbān (رضي الله عنه) shows that even after Witr, performing additional nafl is possible.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
