Witr: the prayer the Prophet ﷺ never left
Witr is the odd-numbered prayer that closes the night. The Prophet ﷺ prayed it every night, at home and on journeys.
Why witr matters
Allah is Witr (One) and loves the witr (odd number).
Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim
Make witr the last of your prayers at night.
Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim
Abu Hurairah said that the Prophet ﷺ advised him to keep three things until he died: fasting three days every month, two rakats of Duha and praying witr before sleeping (al-Bukhari, Muslim).
When to pray witr
From after Isha until Fajr. If you are sure you will wake up at night, it is better to pray it at the end of the night. If not, pray it before you sleep.
How to pray witr
- One rakat is the minimum.
- Three rakats: either two rakats with salam and then one, or three rakats with one tashahhud at the end.
- You can pray more: five, seven, nine or eleven.
- In the last rakat you may recite dua qunoot before or after ruku.
اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِنِي فِيمَنْ هَدَيْتَ، وَعَافِنِي فِيمَنْ عَافَيْتَ، وَتَوَلَّنِي فِيمَنْ تَوَلَّيْتَ
Allahumma-hdini fiman hadayt, wa afini fiman afayt, wa tawallani fiman tawallayt
O Allah, guide me among those You have guided, grant me well-being among those You have granted well-being, take me into Your care among those You have taken into Your care. (beginning of the qunoot the Prophet ﷺ taught al-Hasan, Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhi)
Make it a habit
Pray witr straight after the Sunnah of Isha if mornings and nights are hard for you. Once one rakat every night is steady, move it to before Fajr or add rakats.
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Frequently asked questions
Is witr obligatory?
Most scholars hold that witr is a strongly emphasised Sunnah, not obligatory. The Hanafi school considers it wajib. Either way, the Prophet ﷺ never left it.
Can witr be one rakat?
Yes. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Witr is one rakat at the end of the night" (Sahih Muslim).