● Witr Prayer :
◈ Number of Rak’ahs:
➊ One Witr. Sayyiduna Uthman رضي الله عنه prayed only one Witr, and he said:
’’ای وتری‘‘
Meaning: This is my Witr.
➋ Three Witr.
◈ Method of praying Witr :
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Do not pray three Witr, pray five or seven Witr, and do not make three similar to the Maghrib prayer.”
Ibn Hibban 91 and Hakim declared it “Sahih”.
It has been understood that three Witr rak’ahs should either be performed with one Tashahhud and one Salam or with two Salams. In both cases, the Witr prayer does not resemble the Maghrib prayer at all.
➌ Five Witr rak’ahs. No Tashahhud in the middle.
➍ Seven Witr rak’ahs. There will be a middle Tashahhud after six rak’ahs.
➎ Nine Witr rak’ahs. There will be a middle Tashahhud after the eighth rak’ah.
◈ Dua al-Qunoot :
﴿اللهم اهدني فيمن هديت ، وعافني فيمن عافيت ، وتولني فيمن توليت ، وبارك لي فيما أعطيت ، وقني شرما قضيت ، إنك تقضي ولا يقضى عليك ، وإنه لا يذل من واليت ولا يعز من عاديت تباركت ربنا وتعاليت .﴾
Shaykh al-Albani (may Allah have mercy on him) has declared it “Sahih”.
“O Allah! Guide me and include me among those whom You have guided. And make me Your friend and include me among those whom You have befriended, and bless what You have bestowed upon me. And protect me from the evil You have decreed. Indeed, You are the One who issues decrees, and no decree can be issued against You. Whoever You take as a guardian can never be humiliated, and the person whom You show enmity cannot attain honor. O our Lord! You are the Blessed and the Most High.”
◈ Essential Issues:
➊ Commonly Recited Dua:
﴿اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْتَعِينُك﴾
It is not conclusively proven from the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ that this is the Qunoot of Witr.
➋ After Witr, this supplication should be recited three times.
﴿سُبْحَانَ الْمَلِكِ القُدُّوْسِ﴾
Sheikh Al-Albani (may Allah have mercy on him) declared it “Sahih” (authentic).
“Pure is the King, the Most Pure.”
◈ Qunoot Nazilah:
In Witr prayers, the Du’a Qunoot is permissible both before and after Ruku. It is narrated from Sayyidna Abi bin Ka’b رضي الله عنه:
﴿أن رسول الله كان يؤتر فيقنت قبل الركوع﴾
Sheikh Al-Albani رحمه الله has declared it “Sahih”.
“Indeed, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to recite the Du’a Qunoot in Witr before Ruku.”
❀ Muhammad bin Sirin رحمه الله says:
I asked Sayyidna Anas bin Malik رضي الله عنه about when the Du’a Qunoot should be made, and he said:
﴿قنت رسول الله ﷺ بعد الركوع﴾
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to recite the Du’a Qunoot before Ruku.”
Sheikh Al-Albani رحمه الله has declared it “Sahih”.
❀ Sayyidna Anas bin Malik رضي الله عنه says:
When seventy companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ were martyred, he ﷺ made Qunoot in the morning prayer for one month.
◈ Raising Hands in Qunoot:
Hands should be raised in Qunoot of Witr. Sayyidna Anas bin Malik رضي الله عنه says:
Indeed, I have seen the Messenger of Allah ﷺ when he performed the Fajr prayer, he would raise both hands and supplicate against the disbelievers.
Imam Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah Ahmad ibn Hanbal and Ishaq ibn Rahwayh رضي الله عنهما both advocated raising the hands in the Qunoot of Witr.
Sheikh Ibn Baz رضي الله عنه said in response to a question:
The ruling of the Shariah is that the hands should also be raised in the Qunoot of Witr because this Qunoot is of the same type as Qunoot Nazilah, and it is proven from the Noble Prophet ﷺ that:
﴿أنه رفع يديه حين دعائه فى قنوت النوازل .﴾
“You raised your hands in supplication during Qunoot Nazilah.”
(Imam Bayhaqi has narrated this hadith with an authentic chain)
Imam Bayhaqi recorded in
:
﴿وقد روينا فى قنوت صلاة الصبح بعد الركوع ما يوجب الاعتماد عليه وقنوت الوتر قياس عليه .﴾
“And we have mentioned reliable narrations regarding Qunoot after Ruku’ in the Fajr prayer, and the Qunoot of Witr is an analogy to it.”
