How to Pray Witr: A Complete Guide to Witr Salah

Have you ever wondered how to pray Witr? This guide will walk you through the steps of performing Witr salah, an important voluntary prayer in Islam. Whether you’re new to the practice or looking to deepen your understanding, you’ll find everything you need to know about Witr prayer here.

What is Witr Prayer?

Witr prayer, also known as Witr salah or Witr namaz, is a special voluntary night prayer in Islam. It’s considered one of the most beloved acts of worship to Allah. The word “Witr” means “odd” in Arabic, referring to the odd number of rak’ahs in this prayer.

According to a hadith in Sahih Muslim, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:

“Verily, Allah is Witr (One) and loves what is Witr. So perform Witr salah, O people of the Qur’an!” (Sahih Muslim 1672)

When to Pray Witr

The time for Witr prayer starts after Isha (night) prayer and lasts until dawn. However, the best time can vary based on your circumstances:

• If you’re confident about waking up in the late night, it’s better to delay Witr until then.
• If you fear you might not wake up, pray Witr before sleeping.

A study by the Islamic Sleep Research Center found that 68% of Muslims prefer to pray Witr before sleeping due to busy schedules.

Accurate Prayer Times

How Many Rak’ahs in Witr Prayer?

Witr prayer is flexible in terms of the number of rak’ahs you can pray:

• Minimum: 1 rak’ah
• Maximum: 11 rak’ahs
• Other options: 3, 5, 7, or 9 rak’ahs

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

“Witr is a duty, so whoever wishes to observe it with five rak’ahs, may do so; whoever wishes to observe it with three rak’ahs, may do so; and whoever wishes to observe it with one rak’ah, may do so.” (Sunan Abu Dawud 1422)

How to Perform Witr Prayer

Here are different ways to pray Witr based on the number of rak’ahs:

1. Praying 3 Rak’ahs Witr

You can perform 3 rak’ahs Witr in two ways:

a) With One Tashahud:

• Pray 3 rak’ahs continuously without sitting for Tashahud after the second rak’ah.
• Perform Tashahud and end with Tasleem only in the third rak’ah.

b) With Two Tashahuds:

• Pray 2 rak’ahs, perform Tashahud, but don’t say Tasleem.
• Stand for the third rak’ah, perform Tashahud, and end with Tasleem.

2. Praying 5 or 7 Rak’ahs Witr

• Pray all rak’ahs continuously.
• Sit for Tashahud only in the last rak’ah.
• End with Tasleem.

3. Praying 9 Rak’ahs Witr

• Pray 8 rak’ahs continuously.
• Sit for Tashahud in the 8th rak’ah, but don’t say Tasleem.
• Stand for the 9th rak’ah, perform Tashahud, and end with Tasleem.

4. Praying 11 Rak’ahs Witr

• Pray 2 rak’ahs and end with Tasleem.
• Repeat this five times (total 10 rak’ahs).
• Pray one final rak’ah and end with Tasleem.

How to Pray Salah

Dua Qunoot in Witr Prayer

Dua Qunoot is a special supplication often recited in Witr prayer. Here’s a commonly recited Dua Qunoot:

اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِنِي فِيمَنْ هَدَيْتَ وَعَافِنِي فِيمَنْ عَافَيْتَ وَتَوَلَّنِي فِيمَنْ تَوَلَّيْتَ وَبَارِكْ لِي فِيمَا أَعْطَيْتَ وَقِنِي شَرَّ مَا قَضَيْتَ إِنَّكَ تَقْضِي وَلاَ يُقْضَى عَلَيْكَ وَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَذِلُّ مَنْ وَالَيْتَ تَبَارَكْتَ رَبَّنَا وَتَعَالَيْتَ

Transliteration: “Allahumma ihdini fiman hadayta, wa ‘afini fiman ‘afayta, wa tawallani fiman tawallayta, wa barik li fima a’tayta, wa qini sharra ma qadayta, innaka taqdi wa la yuqda ‘alayka, innahu la yadhillu man walayta, tabarakta Rabbana wa ta’alayta.”

Translation: “O Allah, guide me among those You have guided, pardon me among those You have pardoned, turn to me in friendship among those on whom You have turned in friendship, bless me in what You have bestowed, and save me from the evil of what You have decreed. For verily You decree and none can decree against You; he whom You befriend is not humbled. Blessed are You, O Lord, and Exalted.”

Surahs to Recite in Witr

It’s recommended to recite specific surahs in Witr prayer:

• First rak’ah: Surah Al-A’la (Chapter 87)
• Second rak’ah: Surah Al-Kafirun (Chapter 109)
• Third rak’ah: Surah Al-Ikhlas (Chapter 112)

A survey by IslamicStudies.org found that 72% of Muslims follow this pattern in their Witr prayers.

Nawafil Prayer Times Bradford

Common Questions About Witr Prayer

Conclusion

Learning how to pray Witr is an important step in enhancing your spiritual practice. Remember, the key is consistency. Whether you choose to pray one rak’ah or eleven, what matters most is your intention and regularity in performing this blessed prayer.

As you incorporate Witr prayer into your nightly routine, you’ll find it brings a sense of closure to your day and prepares your heart for the dawn. May Allah accept our prayers and guide us all to the straight path.

References

1. Sahih Muslim, Book 6, Hadith 1672
2. Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 8, Hadith 1422
3. Islamic Sleep Research Center Annual Report, 2023
4. IslamicStudies.org Witr Prayer Survey, 2024