Witr is a special night prayer performed as the last prayer of the day, one that the Prophet (peace and blessings upon him) is reported never to have abandoned. This guide explains what the Witr prayer is, its ruling, how many rak'ahs it is, and — step by step — how it is prayed, including the Qunut in the third rak'ah.
What Is the Witr Prayer?
The word Witr comes from an Arabic root meaning "odd number," and the prayer takes its name from the fact that its rak'ahs are prayed as an odd count. As the TDV Encyclopedia of Islam notes in its entry on "Witr," it is the prayer offered at the very end of the night devotions, sealing the night's worship with an odd unit. Because it is performed right after the Isha prayer, it is often thought of as part of Isha, yet it is in fact an independent prayer with its own ruling.
The Ruling on Witr
The schools of law differ over the legal status of Witr, and the difference stems from a broader question: whether a binding addition can be made to the five obligatory daily prayers.
- The Hanafi school: Witr is Wajib (necessary). It is not as absolute as a Fard duty, yet it is a prayer that should not be neglected and must be fulfilled. The practice common in Turkey follows this view.
- The Shafi'i, Maliki, and Hanbali schools: Witr is an emphasized Sunnah (sunnah mu'akkadah) — a practice the Prophet kept constantly and strongly encouraged.
Despite this difference, all the schools agree that Witr is an important act of worship that should be observed regularly. It is reported that the Prophet did not abandon Witr whether at home or while traveling.
Witr in the Sunnah
The basis of the Witr prayer lies in the Prophet's verbal encouragement and his own practice. In an authentic report from Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), he taught precisely how the night prayer is to be concluded:
— Sahih al-Bukhari, Witr, no. 472The night prayer is two by two. If one of you fears that dawn is approaching, let him pray a single rak'ah, and this will make what he has prayed odd (Witr).
Along the same line of transmission it is also reported that the Prophet said, "Make the last of your night prayer Witr." In another narration, Witr is described as a prayer "better than red camels" (Abu Dawud, al-Tirmidhi). Scholars have assessed the chain of this second narration differently: some considered it weak, while others held that it is strengthened by supporting reports. In any case, the legitimacy of Witr is firmly established by authentic, agreed-upon narrations.
How Many Rak'ahs Is Witr, and When Is It Prayed?
In Hanafi practice, Witr is three rak'ahs prayed with a single closing salam. Although it resembles the Maghrib prayer in form, there is an important difference: in Maghrib only al-Fatihah is recited in the final rak'ah, whereas in Witr a surah or a few verses are added after al-Fatihah in all three rak'ahs. In the Shafi'i and Hanbali schools Witr is at minimum one rak'ah, most often three; in the Maliki school it is a single rak'ah performed after a preceding two-rak'ah Shaf' prayer.
The time for Witr begins after the Isha prayer and continues until the Fajr time enters. For those who make a habit of rising for the night vigil, it is more meritorious to delay Witr to the last part of the night; but a person who fears not waking is advised to pray it before sleeping, right after Isha. Those wishing to make the most of the blessed hours of the night may also pray Tahajjud before Witr.
How to Pray Witr, Step by Step
The following steps show how the three-rak'ah Witr prayer is performed according to the Hanafi school:
- Intention: Form the intention to pray Witr for the sake of Allah, begin with the opening Takbir ("Allahu Akbar"), and recite the Subhanaka.
- First rak'ah: Recite the ta'awwudh and Bismillah, then al-Fatihah followed by a surah; perform the bowing (ruku) and the prostrations.
- Second rak'ah: Stand, recite al-Fatihah and a surah, perform the ruku and prostrations, then sit and recite the Tashahhud (Tahiyyat) before rising for the third rak'ah.
- Third rak'ah: Recite al-Fatihah and a surah. When the recitation is complete, raise the hands to the ears saying "Allahu Akbar," fold the hands again, and recite the Qunut supplication.
- Completion: After the Qunut, say the Takbir, go into ruku, perform the prostrations, and in the final sitting recite the Tashahhud, the Salli-Barik, and a supplication, then give the salam to the right and then to the left.
The Takbir and Qunut in the Third Rak'ah
According to the Hanafi school, saying the Takbir after the recitation in the third rak'ah and reciting the Qunut supplication is Wajib. As the Diyanet High Board of Religious Affairs (Din İşleri Yüksek Kurulu) states, the Qunut supplications beginning "Allahumma inna nasta'inuka..." are recited in this rak'ah. You can find the text and meaning of these supplications in detail in our article on the Qunut supplications.
Common Situations
The distinctive structure of Witr can occasionally lead to lapses. According to the explanations of the High Board of Religious Affairs:
- Forgetting the Takbir in the third rak'ah: If a person remembers before bowing, they say the Takbir and recite the Qunut. If they remember during or after the ruku, they do not go back; they complete the prayer by performing the prostration of forgetfulness at the end.
- Forgetting to recite the Qunut: Since a Wajib has been omitted, the prostration of forgetfulness is likewise performed at the end of the prayer.
Completing Your Prayer on Time
Witr is one of the finest ways to seal your day with worship. To review the general steps of prayer, see our guide on how to perform Salah; and to avoid missing the Isha time and the last hours of the night, you can rely on the prayer times and adhan notifications the VAAZ app provides using the Diyanet calculation method.
References
- "Witr" entry, TDV Encyclopedia of Islam (İslam Ansiklopedisi) — islamansiklopedisi.org.tr (definition, the schools' rulings, number of rak'ahs, and Qunut).
- Sahih al-Bukhari, Witr, Hadith No. 472 — from Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him); graded "sahih" on hadeethenc.com.
- The "better than red camels" narration recorded by Abu Dawud and al-Tirmidhi (its chain is discussed among scholars).
- Diyanet High Board of Religious Affairs, "What is the Witr prayer and how is it performed?" and related fatwas — kurul.diyanet.gov.tr (ruling, method, Qunut, and cases of forgetfulness).