What Witr is, its time and number of rak‘ahs, and how the schools differ on its status.
AI-generated English narration.
Witr is the odd-numbered prayer that closes the night prayer. Its time begins after the Isha prayer and lasts until Fajr. Many Muslims pray it as three rak‘ahs after Isha, but the reports allow more than one form.
What the reports say
- Ibn Umar reported that when a person asked about the night prayer, the Prophet ﷺ replied that it is offered two rak‘ahs followed by two rak‘ahs, and that whoever fears the approaching dawn should pray one rak‘ah, which makes a Witr of all the rak‘ahs he has prayed (Sahih al-Bukhari 990).
- The Prophet ﷺ also said to make Witr the last of your prayers at night (Sahih al-Bukhari 998).
- Aisha reported that he prayed Witr at different hours of the night, up to the last hour (Sahih al-Bukhari 996).
Practical steps
- Pray Witr after Isha and before Fajr.
- If you plan to pray at night, make Witr your last prayer; if you do not expect to wake, pray it before sleeping.
- Learn from your teacher which form you follow: one rak‘ah, three rak‘ahs prayed together, or two followed by one with a salam between.
Key points
- Witr means “odd”: it is an odd-numbered prayer that closes the night prayer.
- The Prophet ﷺ taught that the night prayer is offered two rak‘ahs at a time, and that one rak‘ah can be added as Witr if the dawn is near.
- He also taught to make Witr the last prayer of the night, and reports show he prayed it at different hours of the night.
- Scholars differ on its status (obligatory or strongly recommended), on how it is prayed, and on the du‘a of qunut.
Hadith
Narrated Ibn `Umar: Once a person asked Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) about the night prayer. Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) replied, "The night prayer is offered as two Rak`at followed by two Rak`at and so on and if anyone is afraid of the approaching dawn (Fajr prayer) he should pray one Rak`ah and this will be a Witr for all the Rak`at which he has prayed before."
Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 990 .
Narrated `Abdullah bin `Umar:The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Make witr as your last prayer at night."
Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 998 .
Narrated `Aisha:Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) offered witr prayer at different nights at various hours extending (from the `Isha' prayer) up to the last hour of the night.
Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 996 .
Hadith text and grading above are shown as supplied by their source. HikmahBridge does not grade Hadith itself. See Sources & Methodology.
Scholarly notes
Status: the Hanafi school regards Witr as wajib (a strong obligation just below fard); the majority of scholars (Maliki, Shafi‘i, Hanbali) regard it as a strongly recommended sunnah (sunnah mu’akkadah). Form: the Hanafi school prays three rak‘ahs with a single salam at the end, while the other schools allow one, three, or more rak‘ahs, with a salam after the first two if desired. Qunut: the schools differ on whether the du‘a of qunut is said in Witr, when in the year, and whether before or after the ruku‘. Follow your school or local teacher.
FAQ
Is Witr obligatory?
Scholars differ. The Hanafi school holds it to be wajib; the majority hold it to be a strongly recommended sunnah. In every school it is a prayer the Prophet ﷺ was keen on and worth guarding.
Can I pray Witr after Fajr has started?
The reports above place Witr within the night, up to the last hour. Whether it can still be made up after Fajr, and how, is discussed differently in each school; ask your teacher.
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