Question
Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh, respected imam. I have seen many different ways of praying witr. What are all the permitted ways, and where do they get their evidence from? JazakAllahu khayran.
Answer
Alhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajmain.
The Nature of Witr
Witr is a strongly emphasized Sunnah (sunnah mu’akkadah) according to the majority, and wajib according to the Hanafis. The Prophet ﷺ never abandoned it in travel or residence.
The Permissible Forms
- One rak‘ah alone: Based on the hadith, “Witr is one rak‘ah at the end of the night.” (Muslim).
- Three rak‘ahs: Either prayed as two plus one with taslim in between (reported from Ibn ‘Umar), or prayed connected. The Prophet ﷺ said, “Do not make witr like Maghrib.” (al-Hakim).
- The Hanafis pray three together with two tashahhud (after the second and at the end) and recite the last rak‘ah aloud. They say this distinction keeps it from resembling Maghrib.
- The Shafi‘is prefer praying two rak‘ahs and then a single rak‘ah separately.
- Five, seven, or nine rak‘ahs in succession: Umm Salamah and ‘A’ishah narrated that the Prophet ﷺ sometimes prayed witr in these forms without sitting except in the last rak‘ah. (Muslim). These longer forms are permitted by the Malikis and Hanbalis.
Madhhab Summary
- Hanafi: Witr is wajib, three rak‘ahs prayed together, with tashahhud in the second and third rak‘ah, last rak‘ah recited aloud.
- Maliki: Minimum one rak‘ah, commonly two plus one, but longer odd numbers (5, 7, 9, etc.) are also allowed.
- Shafi‘i: Sunnah mu’akkadah, minimum one rak‘ah, preferred form is two plus one with taslim in between.
- Hanbali: Flexible, odd numbers from one up to eleven, either connected or separated with taslim after every two.
Final Ruling
All the forms mentioned in authentic hadith are valid: one rak‘ah by itself, three rak‘ahs (separated or connected), and odd numbers like five, seven, or nine prayed in succession. The differences among the madhhabs reflect which method they consider best, not permissibility. A Muslim may pray witr in any of these forms according to ease and consistency.
And Allah knows best.