Quick facts about Witr:
• Meaning: "Odd", always an odd number of rakat (1, 3, 5, 7, 9, or 11)
• Most common form: 3 rakat
• Time: anytime between Isha and Fajr
• Status: Sunnah Muakkadah (majority); Wajib (Hanafi)
• Recommended: last prayer of the night, after Tahajjud if possible
Witr (Arabic: al-witr, "odd") is a special night prayer of an odd number of rakat, performed between Isha and Fajr. It is the closing prayer of the night, and the Prophet ﷺ never abandoned it, even while traveling. This guide covers everything: number of rakat, when to pray it, how to pray it, and Du'a Qunut with full transliteration.
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What is Witr?
Witr is a sunnah prayer with an odd number of rakat, performed in the period between Isha and Fajr. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Make Witr the last of your prayers at night." (Bukhari 998; Muslim 751)
It is not one of the five fard prayers, but its status is so strong that the Hanafi school classifies it as wajib (necessary, between fard and sunnah). The Maliki, Shafi'i, and Hanbali schools classify it as sunnah muakkadah (strongly emphasized sunnah).
How many rakat?
The number is always odd, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, or 11. The most common practice:
| Form | Description | Schools |
|---|---|---|
| 1 rakat | Valid as standalone witr (Muslim 752) | All |
| 3 rakat, one tashahhud | Continuous, tashahhud only after 3rd | Hanafi, popular widely |
| 3 rakat, two tashahhuds | Like Maghrib (2 + 1) | Some Shafi'i, Hanbali |
| 2 + 1 (with salam between) | Pray 2 rakat, give salam, then 1 rakat witr | Shafi'i, Hanbali, common in Saudi Arabia |
All forms are valid. The 3 rakat structure is by far the most-followed.
When to pray Witr
Witr can be prayed anytime between Isha (and after the Isha fard) and Fajr.
- Best time: last third of the night, after Tahajjud, for those who wake up.
- Practical time: right after Isha, for those who don't reliably wake up.
The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever fears he will not wake up in the last part of the night, let him pray witr at the beginning of the night. Whoever has hope of waking, let him pray witr in the last part of the night, for the prayer in the last part of the night is witnessed [by the angels] and is better." (Muslim 755)
How to pray Witr (3 rakat, one tashahhud: most common)
- Niyyat: Intend in your heart "3 rakat of witr for the sake of Allah."
- Takbiratul ihram, say Allahu Akbar, hands to ears, begin.
- Rakat 1: Al-Fatihah + a surah (Surah Al-A'la is sunnah). Ruku, two sujood. Stand for rakat 2.
- Rakat 2: Al-Fatihah + a surah (Surah Al-Kafirun is sunnah). Ruku, two sujood. Stand for rakat 3, do not sit for tashahhud.
- Rakat 3: Al-Fatihah + a surah (Surah Al-Ikhlas is sunnah, sometimes with Al-Falaq + An-Nas).
- Qunut (optional but recommended), raise hands, recite Du'a Qunut.
- Ruku, two sujood, final tashahhud + salawat, salam.
For the 2 + 1 form (Saudi/Hanbali): pray 2 rakat normally, give salam, then stand for 1 rakat of witr with Qunut.
Du'a Qunut: the special supplication of Witr
The Prophet ﷺ taught al-Hasan ibn Ali (RA) the following words to recite in Witr (Tirmidhi 464, Abu Dawud 1425):
Allahumma-hdini fee man hadayta, wa 'afini fee man 'afayta, wa tawallani fee man tawallayta, wa barik li fee ma a'tayta, wa qini sharra ma qadayta, fa innaka taqdi wa la yuqda 'alayk. Wa innahu la yadhillu man walayta, wa la ya'izzu man 'adayta. Tabarakta Rabbana wa ta'alayta.
("O Allah, guide me among those You have guided, pardon me among those You have pardoned, befriend me among those You have befriended, bless me in what You have given, and protect me from the evil You have decreed. For verily You decree and none can pass decree, and none can humble whom You have befriended, and none can honor whom You take as an enemy. Blessed are You our Lord, and exalted.")
You may add other du'as after this, for forgiveness, the ummah, family, anything.
When to recite Qunut
- Hanafi: before ruku in the 3rd rakat.
- Shafi'i, Hanbali: after rising from ruku in the final rakat.
- Maliki: generally do not recite Qunut in Witr.
If you miss Witr
If you went to sleep intending to pray Witr but slept through Fajr, pray it as qadha after sunrise (after the prohibited time ends, around 15 minutes after sunrise). Don't pray it before Isha, Isha must come first.
FAQ
Can Witr be 1 rakat?
Yes, explicitly authorized by the Prophet ﷺ (Muslim 752). Most people pray 3 by habit, but 1 is valid.
Is Qunut required in Witr?
It's sunnah, not required. If you don't recite it, the prayer is still valid. Most scholars recommend at least occasional recitation.
Can I pray Witr before Tahajjud and then more rakat after?
This is debated. Most scholars say once you've prayed witr, don't repeat it the same night. If you wake up for Tahajjud after praying witr early, pray even-numbered rakat as nafl without another witr.
Is Witr part of Tarawih?
In Ramadan, Witr is prayed in congregation as the final prayer after Tarawih. Outside Ramadan, it's typically prayed alone at home.
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