What is witr?  My video say i should do 3 rakkats Witr for isha Prayer

As'salamualaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu,
Witr prayer is one of the greatest acts of worship that draw one closer to Allaah. Some of the scholars � the Hanafis � even thought that it is one of the obligatory prayers, but the correct view is that it is one of the confirmed Sunnahs (Sunnah mu�akkadah) which the Muslim should observe regularly and not neglect.

Imam Ahmad (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: Whoever neglects Witr is a bad man whose testimony should not be accepted. This indicates that Witr prayer is something that is confirmed.

We may sum up the manner of offering Witr prayer as follows:

Its timing:

It starts when a person has prayed �Isha�, even if it is joined to Maghrib at the time of Maghrib, and lasts until dawn begins, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: �Allaah has prescribed for you a prayer (by which He may increase your reward), which is Witr; Allaah has enjoined it for you during the time between �Isha� prayer until dawn begins.� Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 425; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi.

Is it better to offer this prayer at the beginning of its time or to delay it?

The Sunnah indicates that if a person thinks he will be able to get up at the end of the night, it is better to delay it, because prayer at the end of the night is better and is witnessed (by the angels). But whoever fears that he will not get up at the end of the night should pray Witr before he goes to sleep, because of the hadeeth of Jaabir (may Allaah be pleased with him) who said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: �Whoever fears that he will not get up at the end of the night, let him pray Witr at the beginning of the night, but whoever thinks that he will be able to get up at the end of the night, let him pray Witr at the end of the night, for prayer at the end of the night is witnessed (by the angels) and that is better.� Narrated by Muslim, 755.

Al-Nawawi said: This is the correct view. Other ahaadeeth which speak of this topic in general terms are to be interpreted in the light of this sound, specific and clear report, such as the hadeeth, �My close friend advised me not to sleep without having prayed Witr.� This is to be understood as referring to one who is not sure that he will be able to wake up (to pray Witr at the end of the night). Sharh Muslim, 3/277

The minimum number of rak�ahs for Witr is one rak�ah, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: �Witr is one rak'ah at the end of the night.� Narrated by Muslim, 752. And he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: �The night prayers are two (rak�ahs) by two, but if one of you fears that dawn is about to break, let him pray one rak�ah to make what he has prayed odd-numbered.�  Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 911; Muslim, 749. If a person limits himself to praying one rak�ah, then he has performed the Sunnah. But Witr may also be three or five or seven or nine. 

If a person prays three rak�ahs of Witr this may be done in two ways, both of which are prescribed in sharee�ah:

1 � To pray them one after another, with one tashahhud, because of the hadeeth of �Aa�ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) who said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used not to say the tasleem in the (first) two rakahs of Witr. According to another version: �He used to pray Witr with three rak'ahs and he did not sit except in the last of them.� Narrated by al-Nasaa�i, 3/234; al-Bayhaqi, 3/31. al-Nawawi said in al-Majmoo� (4/7): it was narrated by al-Nasaa�i with a hasan isnaad, and by al-Bayhaqi with a saheeh isnaad.

2 � Saying the tasleem after two rak'ahs, then praying one rak�ah on its own, because of the report narrated from Ibn �Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him), that he used to separate the two rak'ahs from the single rak'ah with a tasleem, and he said that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to do that. Narrated by Ibn Hibbaan (2435); Ibn Hajar said in al-Fath (2/482): its isnaad is qawiy (strong).

But if he prays Witr with five or seven rak�ahs, then they should be continuous, and he should only recite one tashahhud in the last of them and say the tasleem, because of the report narrated by �Aa�ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) who said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to pray thirteen rak�ahs at night, praying five rak�ahs of Witr, in which he would not sit except in the last rak�ah. Narrated by Muslim, 737.

And it was narrated that Umm Salamah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to pray Witr with five or seven (rak�ahs) and he did not separate between them with any salaam or words. Narrated by Ahmad, 6/290; al-Nasaa�i, 1714. al-Nawawi said: Its isnaad is jayyid. Al-Fath al-Rabbaani, 2/297. and it was classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Nasaa�i.

If he prays Witr with nine rak�ahs, then they should be continuous and he should sit to recite the tashahhud in the eighth rak'ah, then stand up and not say the tasleem, then he should recite the tashahhud in the ninth rak�ah and then say the tasleem. It was narrated in Muslim (746) from �Aa�ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to pray nine rak�ahs in which he did not sit except in the eighth, when he would remember Allaah, praise Him and call upon Him, then he would get up and not say the tasleem, and he would stand up and pray the ninth (rak�ah), then he would sit and remember Allaah and praise Him and call upon Him, then he would say a tasleem that we could hear.

If he prayed Witr with eleven rak�ahs, he would say the tasleem after each two rak�ahs, then pray one rak�ah at the end.

The less perfect way of praying Witr and what is to be recited therein:

The less perfect way in Witr is to pray two rak'ahs and say the tasleem, then to pray one rak�ah and say the tasleem. It is permissible to say one tasleem, but one should say one tashahhud not two, as stated above.

In the first rak�ah one should recite Sabbih isma rabbika al-�a�la (�Glorify the name of your Lord, the Most High� � Soorat al-A�la 87). In the second one should recite Soorat al-Kaafiroon (109), and in the third Soorat al-Ikhlaas (112). 

Al-Nasaa�i (1729) narrated that Ubayy ibn Ka�b said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to recite in Witr Sabbih isma rabbika al-�a�la (�Glorify the name of your Lord, the Most High� � Soorat al-A�la 87), Qul yaa ayyuha�l-kaafiroon (�Say: O disbeliever�� � Soorat al-Kaafiroon 109) and Qul Huwa Allaahu ahad (�Say: He is Allaah, the One� � Soorat al-Ikhlaas 112). Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Nasaa�i.

All these ways of offering Witr prayer have been mentioned in the Sunnah, but the best way is not to stick to one particular way; rather one should do it one way one time and another way another time, so that one will have done all the Sunnahs
Source : Islam QA

seekshidayath wrote: As'salamualaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu, Witr prayer is one of the greatest acts of worship that draw one closer to Allaah. Some of the scholars � the Hanafis � even thought that it is one of the obligatory prayers, but the correct view is that it is one of the confirmed Sunnahs (Sunnah mu�akkadah) which the Muslim should observe regularly and not neglect. Imam Ahmad (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: Whoever neglects Witr is a bad man whose testimony should not be accepted. This indicates that Witr prayer is something that is confirmed.

Assalam Aleikum.

There are some Hanafi scholars, including Imam Abu Hanifa (may Allah be pleased with him), who did think that witr was wajib. There are some who have differing opinions in this school of thought and state it is not wajib. Imam Ahmed (may Allah be pleased with him) was one of other great scholars, and their opinions are far greater than myself or any scholar I have known of in the last few centuries who has been in a position to have the confidence to say that any of them were "wrong" about an opinion regarding witr. Imam Abu Hanifah (may ALlah be pleased with him) also used the sunnah with the Quran to derive opinions. I think it is safe to maintain good adhab when speaking of these great men, and other Muslims. 

Allah knows best.

seekshidayath wrote: The minimum number of rak�ahs for Witr is one rak�ah, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: �Witr is one rak'ah at the end of the night.� Narrated by Muslim, 752. And he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: �The night prayers are two (rak�ahs) by two, but if one of you fears that dawn is about to break, let him pray one rak�ah to make what he has prayed odd-numbered.�  Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 911; Muslim, 749. If a person limits himself to praying one rak�ah, then he has performed the Sunnah. But Witr may also be three or five or seven or nine.

The Shafi's were mixed on this, and the issue of Ramadan brings in other opinions. The Hanbalis say it is one, the Hanafis and Malikis say it should be more than one. These opinions are based upon the evidence, and they are all correct. Allah knows best

I am puzzled why so many are trying to obfuscate the deen with legal details that have no impact on this persons path to seek God. These are minor details, and I think it is a shame that so many times Muslims try and push silly details off on someone before they even have the major basic items down. I remember when I converted. I had an Ahmadiyya teach me to pray (the Muslims on my campus all refused to teach me beacue they felt ashamed for not being good Muslims), and a "Quran only" nut trying to teach me aqiida, and "neo-Salafis" (aka "wahabis) trying to ram their ideas down my throat. It is crazy.

Islam is a miracle because people still come to its beauty regardless of how much Muslims make a mess of things.

May Allah Help us.

As'salamualaikum Sir,

It would have been better for us, if you provided the direct answer to teh question posed. Do let us know please that how do u perform witr. The last sentence of the post was :

All these ways of offering Witr prayer have been mentioned in the Sunnah, but the best way is not to stick to one particular way; rather one should do it one way one time and another way another time, so that one will have done all the Sunnahs

Anyways pls let us know the way u perform.

BTW, the little knowledge i know and what i was taught that that there's nothing wrong whichever school of thought u follow. There's no need to feel wrong of the other schools which we don't follow.

Even the sahabas had differences but they never argued with each other or had any ill feeling towards any diffferences of opinion.

May Allah ta'ala Guide us towards the right path .

seekshidayath wrote: As'salamualaikum Sir, It would have been better for us, if you provided the direct answer to teh question posed. Do let us know please that how do u perform witr. The last sentence of the post was : All these ways of offering Witr prayer have been mentioned in the Sunnah, but the best way is not to stick to one particular way; rather one should do it one way one time and another way another time, so that one will have done all the Sunnahs

Assalam Aleikum

One should stick to the way that is found in the school of fiqh that one adheres to. This is the way of Ahl As-sunnah, and no one has even considered thinking otherwise until the rise of "neo salafism" in the last 2 centuries. Mixing rulings from the four accepted methods for determing fiqh is problematic.

My response will be directed to the questioner in due time on my terms. 

Anyways pls let us know the way u perform.

The way I make such a prayer is found within Maliki fiqh.

BTW, the little knowledge i know and what i was taught that that there's nothing wrong whichever school of thought u follow. There's no need to feel wrong of the other schools which we don't follow.

You are correct and I agree with your Brother. But it is bold to declare that Imam Abu Hanifah was "incorrect" and Imam Ahmed's way was the correct way.The rulings were derived using different approaches to the sunnah.

All four schools of thought are correct, but one should pick one and follow it. They all use the primary sources for deriving rulings.

Even the sahabas had differences but they never argued with each other or had any ill feeling towards any diffferences of opinion. May Allah ta'ala Guide us towards the right path .

The Sahabas (may Allah be pleased with them) had the Prophet (saw) to ask questions to. They did not need a method to deduce rulings from the primary sources.

All four schools of thought are correct, and Allah knows best.

As Salaan Sign Reader, All the video said was it performed like Zuhr prayer, which doesn't help me becuase i still don't know the basic of Fard and Sunnah, but i think i am beginning to understand it a little better.  all these other terms and schools of thought  boggle my mind.  it sometimes seems there is nothing simple in Islam

Sign*Reader wrote: senekerk wrote: What is witr?  My video say i should do 3 rakkats Witr for isha Prayer Salaam:Kay The Witr literally means "odd number" sunnah prayer with a special supplication in it's third rakkat and yes it  is of  3 rakkats, as your video says and I hope it also explains how to do it. If not write back please. Keep it simple

senekerk wrote:   As Salaan Sign Reader, All the video said was it performed like Zuhr prayer, which doesn't help me becuase i still don't know the basic of Fard and Sunnah, but i think i am beginning to understand it a little better.  all these other terms and schools of thought  boggle my mind.  it sometimes seems there is nothing simple in Islam   Sign*Reader wrote: senekerk wrote: What is witr?  My video say i should do 3 rakkats Witr for isha Prayer Salaam:Kay The Witr literally means "odd number" sunnah prayer with a special supplication in it's third rakkat and yes it  is of  3 rakkats, as your video says and I hope it also explains how to do it. If not write back please. Keep it simple

Salaam Kay: I don't know which video you have, which makes (Witr=3 rakahs) like, Zuhr which is 4 rakahs.

It would be like Mughrib prayer with add on to the third rakah a surah and a supplication.

OK Kay let's get the Fard and sunnah prayer defined.

Fard means compulsory and sunnah prayer are supererogatory ones.

Salaam Kay: I don't know which video you have, which makes (Witr=3 rakahs) like, Zuhr which is 4 rakahs.

It would be like Mughrib prayer with add on to the third rakah a surah and a supplication.

I see your question in the Islam for non Muslim section, that begs the question
have you done the reversion to Islam i.e., Shahadah or not?

Signreader, No I have not reverted to Islam yet. I know the dfifference between fard and sunnah.

Let me see if I can understand":

The first Rakah would be fard. This includes the Niyyah,the Takbir,and the Qiaah Then repeat the Takbir, place hands on knees recite Subhanna rabbiy al azeem, then Sami allaahliman hamidah. Then perform Sujid.

 You repeat this and after the second prostration in Sujid you recite the Tashahhud, then Taslim

This would be 2 fard. without the sunna

The tape is the one  I found on the IslamiCity site, I bought the iPod with the Quran, Salat and other stuff on it from the IslamiCity site.

Knowledge01 wrote

Since you have not reverted to Islam yet, you should only be studying the meaning of "la ilaha illa Allah wa anna Muhammadur Rasulullah".  You study the five pillars of islam and learn how to pray after you have said your shahadah.

My dear brother, I see nothing wrong with study all of Islam  prior to reverting.  If I am going to make that major of  a decision in my life that will affect everything and everyone around me I want to know all there is to know.  I suppose since I have prayed the Salat with my video several times and I have prayed theTashahud I am a Muslim, but that is not official yet.

senekerk wrote: Let me see if I can understand": The first Rakah would be fard.

No- the whole set would be Fard prayer whether, it is Fajr's 2, Maghrib's 3, or 4 rakahs for the other 3 prayers.

senekerk wrote: This includes the Niyyah,the Takbir,and the Qiaah Then repeat the Takbir, place hands on knees recite Subhanna rabbiy al azeem, then Sami allaahliman hamidah. Then perform Sujid.  You repeat this and after the second prostration in Sujid you recite the Tashahhud, then Taslim

As Salaam everyone,

My friend and sister explained to me Salah. and i was gifted a prayer rug. Going to begin classes  on Islam this coming Sunday. I am excited