If you want to know your standing with Allah Almighty, look at how dedicated you are to his acts of worship, whether obligatory or voluntary. Do not treat voluntary prayers as unimportant, for you may regret neglecting them, they increase Allah’s love for you and compensate for any shortcomings in the obligatory prayers. Among the most important voluntary prayers recommended by the Prophet is the Witr prayer. In this article, we will explorehow to pray witr prayer , its timing, number of rak‘ahs, step-by-step method of performing it, as well as the Dua Qunoot, its meaning, and how to recite it.
Meaning of Witr Prayer in Islam
The word “witr” in Arabic means “one”, and Witr is the final prayer of the night, meaning it concludes all the prayers of the day. It can be one, three, five, seven, or nine rak’ahs.
Importance of Witr Prayer
The Messenger of God, peace and blessings be upon him, instructed us to pay attention to the Witr prayer and not to miss it in many hadiths such as
- ” أَوْتِرُوا فَإِنَّ اللَّه وَتْرٌ يُحِبُ الْوَتْرَ “
“Pray Witr, As God is One and He loves what is or single”
- ” قَالَ أَبُو الدَرْدَاء: أَوْصَانِي حَبِيبِي صَلَى اللّهُ عَلَيْه وَسَلَّم بِثَلاثٍ لَن أَدَعْهُن مَا عِشْتُ، بِصِيَامِ ثَلَاثِة ِأَيَامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ وَصَلَاةُ الضُّحَى وَبِأن لَا أَنَامَ حَتَى أُوتِر”
This means that the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, advised his companion not to sleep until he had performed the Witr prayer throughout his life.
- “ اجْعَلُوا آَخِر صَلَاتِكُم بِاللّيلِ وِتْرًا”
This means do not go to sleep before you pray the Witr prayer.
All these pieces of advice from the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) highlight the importance of the Witr prayer as:
- Performing the Witr prayer at the end of the night, away from prying eyes, makes it more likely to be accepted by God.
- Furthermore, waking up for prayer protects the body from the risks of strokes and heart disease.
- It also increases one’s connection and closeness to God Almighty.
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Time of Witr Prayer
The Witr prayer is not tied to a specific time like the other obligatory prayers because it is a recommended Sunnah.
When Witr Prayer Starts
The time for Witr prayer begins after Isha prayer and continues until dawn. While it is permissible to perform Witr immediately after Isha
Best Time to Pray Witr
it is preferable to delay Witr Prayer until the latter part of the night, concluding the night prayers.
Read about: Forbidden times of Salah
Number of Rakats in Witr Prayer
The Witr prayer is a confirmed Sunnah of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and there is no obligatory number of rak’ahs for it, but rather it is related to the person’s ability and time.
Minimum and Maximum Rakats of Witr
The maximum number of rak’ahs for Witr prayer is nine, while the minimum is one, the most common number is three.
Common Ways of how to pray witr prayer
There are many ways in which the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, prayed Witr.
- To pray three rakat without setting for tashahod in between, after the second one.
- Pray three rakat, the first two and separate by tashahod and tasleem, the last one with tashahod and tasleem in the end.
- If you are praying with 5,7,9 you can pray two by two and then finish with one rakah.
- It was mentioned that the prophet mohamed, peace and blessings be upon him prayed witr with 5,7,9 rakat continuously without separation.
How to Pray Witr Prayer Step by Step
To ensure that the Witr prayer is performed correctly and in accordance with the Sunnah, these steps must be followed.
Intention for Witr Prayer
Intending to perform the Witr prayer and specifying the number of rak’ahs to be prayed; it is not required to say this aloud, but the intention is primarily in the heart.
Recitation in Witr Prayer
You can recite any surahs you wish in the Witr prayer, but it is preferable to recite Surah Al-A’la “ الأعلى”in the first rak’ah, Surah Al-Kafirun “ الكافرون”in the second, and Surah Al-Ikhlas “ الإخلاص”in the third.
Position of Qunoot in Witr
It is Sunnah to recite the supplication of Qunoot, so that the prayer is as follows:
- Complete the first two rak’ahs in the same manner as in a regular obligatory prayer.
- In the third rak’ah, recite Surah Al-Fatihah “ الفاتحة”followed by Surah Al-Ikhlas” الإخلاص”.
- When saying the takbir for bowing, do not bow but begin reciting the supplication of Qunoot.
Dua Qunoot in Witr Prayer
Because of the importance of the Witr prayer, it has been distinguished with a great supplication that generates humility and devotion to God Almighty.
Meaning of Dua Qunoot
Qunoot in Arabic language means humility and submission to the command of God Almighty, and the Messenger, may God bless him and grant him peace, taught it to his companions to say in the Witr prayer.
- As for the meaning of Dua Qunoot, it is a request to God for guidance, success, blessings, protection from evils, and for patience in times of hardship.
“O Allah, guide me among those whom You have guided, grant me well-being among those whom You have granted well-being, take me into Your care among those whom You have taken into Your care, bless for me what You have given, and protect me from the evil of what You have decreed. Indeed, You decree, and none can decree over You, and the one whom You befriend is never humiliated. Blessed are You, our Lord, and Exalted.”
“ الْلَّهُمَّ اهْدِنِي فِيْمَن هَدَيْت، وَعَافِنِي فِيْمَنْ عَافَيْت، وَتَوَلَنِي فِيِمَن تَوَلَيْت، وَبَارِكْ لِي فِيْمَا أَعْطْيْت، وَقِنِي وَاصْرِفْ عَنِي شَرَّ مَا قَضَيْت، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْضِي وَلَا يُقْضَى عَلَيْك، إِنَّهُ لَا يَذِلُ مَنْ وَالَيْتَ وَلَا يَعِزُّ مَنْ عَادَيْت، تَبَارَكْتَ رَبَّنَا وَتَعَالَيْت ”
When to Recite Dua Qunoot
- If reciting Dua Qunoot during calamities and crises is a request to God to lift the affliction, then it is not related to a specific time or prayer.
- However, Dua Qunoot outside of calamities is associated with the Witr prayer and can be recited before or after bowing.
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Read: Dua Khatam Al Quran
Witr Prayer According to Different Schools
Scholars have differed slightly on whether the Witr prayer is obligatory or a recommended practice, and also on the method of performing it. This difference is permissible, and following either method does not invalidate the prayer.
Witr Prayer in the Hanafi School
The Witr prayer is obligatory in the Hanafi school of thought and should not be missed. It consists of three rak’ahs separated by the tashahhud after the second rak’ah.
In the third rak’ah, the Fatihah and any other surah are recited, followed by takbir for bowing. Before bowing, the supplication of Dua Qunoot is recited:
“اللهم إنا نستعينك ونستغفرك، ونؤمن بك ونتوكل عليك، ونثني عليك الخير كله، نشكرك ولا نكفرك، ونخلع ونترك من يفجرك. الْلَّهُمّ إِيَاكَ نَعْبُد وَلَكَ نُصَلِي وَنَسْجُد وَإِلَيْكَ نَسْعَى وَنَحْمِد، نَرْجُو رَحْمَتَك، وَنَخْشَى عَذَابَك إِنّ عَذَابَكَ الجِّدُ بِالكَافِرِينَ مُلْحِق”.
Witr Prayer in Other Schools of Fiqh
Prayer is a recommended and emphasized sunnah according to the majority of jurists in most schools of fiqh. It holds a status of great importance that approaches the level of an obligatory acts, even though it is not actually obligatory.
Common Mistakes in Witr Prayer
The Witr prayer is a great and guaranteed way to draw closer to God Almighty. Therefore, it is essential to ensure its complete perfection and avoid any mistakes that might invalidate its acceptance by God, or even turn it into an innovation.
Frequent Errors During Witr
- Supplication using innovated supplications other than those transmitted from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him.
- Using melody when reciting supplications is incorrect and invalidates the supplication.
- Prolongation of qunoot.
Correcting Mistakes in Witr Prayer
- Adhering to the correct method of prayer as narrated by the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him
- Adhering to the correct wording of the supplication and avoiding lengthy and innovated forms.
Witr Prayer for Beginners With Al-Walid Academy
The Witr prayer is one of the most important prayers; its status is almost equal to that of the obligatory prayer. Therefore, paying attention to it and performing it correctly is extremely important. This is what Al-Waleed Academy provides in terms of:
Learning Witr Prayer Step by Step
We have professors and specialists in Fiqh Islamic Jurisprudence who will help you learn how to perform the Witr prayer step by step, from the beginning of the intention until the tasleem.
Learning Prayer Through Islamic Studies
We must submit completely to God Almighty, and one form of this submission is fulfilling the religious obligations as He prescribed and in the manner explained by the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him.
Understanding Salah Through Proper Guidance
Because prayer is the first thing a person will be held accountable for, and because if it is sound, all deeds will be sound, and if it is flawed, all deeds will be flawed, it is essential to ensure that it is performed correctly and as required.
This must be done under the supervision of a specialist in religious sciences for proper instruction and effective follow-up.
What Witr Prayer Teaches About Worship
- The connection and love for God go far beyond the obligatory acts; Muslims perform far more voluntary prayers than obligatory ones.
- End the day with energy and closeness to God.
- Sincerity and tranquility are essential, as the Witr prayer is performed at the end of the time, when there is darkness, peace, and distance from people.
- The need for God Almighty is expressed in the supplication of despair, which is filled with monotheism and a request for forgiveness and help from God Almighty.
- Every act of worship has value in the sight of God Almighty. The Witr prayer may be performed with only one rak’ah, and this teaches us God’s love for us.
Read more about: How to get forgiveness from Allah
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- The academy offers comprehensive religious education courses covering the Quran, Hadith, biography, and jurisprudence.
- We have qualified teachers in the Islamic Studies Course and in accordance with the noble Sunnah of the Prophet.
- We offer different methods of education, whether in person or online.
- Focus on practical application and make worship a part of the daily routine, not just dependent on studying.
- Providing learning programs suitable for all levels.
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Conclusion
The Witr prayer is not merely a series of rak’ahs, but a spiritual experience that deepens a Muslim’s connection with God and strengthens their devotion and sincerity. By learning how to pray witr prayer correctly, a Muslim can conclude their day with remembrance of God and draw closer to Him.
FAQs
How to Pray Witr Prayer in Makkah and Madina?
The Witr prayer in Mecca and Medina follows the Shafi’i school of thought; it is performed in the same manner, and the supplication of Qunut is not recited after rising from bowing, but rather before.
Is it permissible to pray again at night upon waking up after the Witr prayer?
Yes, but the Witr prayer is not repeated because it is only prayed once a night.
Is it permissible to pray Witr without Dua of Qunoot?
Yes, and the prayer is valid because supplication is not an essential part of the pillars of prayer.
How to pray 3 rakats Witr prayer?
You can pray 3 rakats continuously like Maghrib (without tashahhud in the second rakah), or 2 rakats then 1 separately.
Is Witr prayer mandatory (fard)?
Witr is not fard. It is highly recommended (Sunnah Mu’akkadah), and according to some scholars, it is wajib.
What do you recite in Witr prayer?
It is Sunnah to recite Surah Al-A’la in the first rakah, Al-Kafirun in the second, and Al-Ikhlas in the third.
Can you pray Witr after Tahajjud?
Yes. It is recommended to pray Witr after finishing Tahajjud if you wake up at night.
Is Witr prayer loud or silent?
If praying alone, you can pray silently. In congregation, it is usually recited aloud.
