Witr

Witr prayer
Witr prayer
Official name	صلاة الوتر
Also called	Imparity prayer
Observed by	Muslims
Type	Islamic
Significance	An Islamic prayer offered to God after Isha prayer.
Observances	Sunnah prayers, Salah times
Begins	Chafa'a prayer
Ends	Fajr nafl prayer
Frequency	Daily
Related to	Salah, Nafl prayer, Five Pillars of Islam, Islamic prayers

Witr (Arabic: وتر) is an Islamic prayer (salat) that is performed at night after Isha (night-time prayer) or before fajr (dawn prayer). Witr has an odd number of raka'at prayed in pairs, with the final raka'ah prayed separately.^{[citation needed]}

According to Abdullah ibn Umar, Muhammad said, "The night prayer is offered as two raka'at followed by two raka'at and so on and if anyone is afraid of the approaching dawn (fajr prayer), he should pray one raka'ah and this will be a witr for all the raka'at which he has prayed before."^[1]

In a hadith transmitted by Abu Darda, he states that Muhammad told him to do three things: to fast three days every month, to offer the witr salat before sleep, and to offer two raka'at sunnah for fajr.^[2]

There are aḥādīth that say the best time for the witr salat is at night, and that those who fear that they will not be able to awake, or may die in their sleep, should perform the prayer before sleeping.^[3]

Ali bin Abu Talib said, "The witr prayer is not required like your obligatory prayers but the Prophet would perform the witr prayer and say, 'O you people of the Quran, perform the witr prayer, for Allah is One and He loves the witr.'"^[4]

^ The Translation of the Meanings of Sahih al-Bukhari (Muhammad Muhsin Khan's translation of Sahih al-Bukhari): Hadith 539, pg. 282
^ The hadith about this: "Narrated 'Aisha: Allah's Apostle offered Witr prayer at different nights at various hours extending (from the 'Isha' prayer) up to the last hour of the night." (Sahih Bukhari, Volume 2, Book 16, Number 110).
^ The hadith about this: "Narrated `Abdullah bin `Umar: The Prophet (Sallah Allah Alahoui wa salam) said, "Make witr as your last prayer at night." (Sahih Bukhari, Volume 2 Book 16 112). Also: "Narrated 'Aisha(radia'Allah wa anha): The Prophet used to offer his night prayer while I was sleeping across in his bed. Whenever he intended to offer the Witr prayer, he used to wake me up and I would offer the Witr prayer too." (Sahih Bukhari, Volume 2, Book 16, Number 111).
^ "Sunan at-Tirmidhi (Jami-al-Tirmidhi) | Chapter: 3 | Witr (Witr Prayer)". ahadith.co.uk. Retrieved 2019-05-22. "The witr is not fard like your prescribed prayers. But, it is the sunnah of Allah's Messenger (Sallallaho Alaihi Wasallam) who said: Surely Allah is witr (one). He loves witr, so offer the witr, "O people of the Quran!." [Ahmed 652, Abu Dawud 1416, Muslim 1674, Ibn e Majah 1169]

[1] The Translation of the Meanings of Sahih al-Bukhari (Muhammad Muhsin Khan's translation of Sahih al-Bukhari): Hadith 539, pg. 282

[2] The hadith about this: "Narrated 'Aisha: Allah's Apostle offered Witr prayer at different nights at various hours extending (from the 'Isha' prayer) up to the last hour of the night." (Sahih Bukhari, Volume 2, Book 16, Number 110).

[3] The hadith about this: "Narrated `Abdullah bin `Umar: The Prophet (Sallah Allah Alahoui wa salam) said, "Make witr as your last prayer at night." (Sahih Bukhari, Volume 2 Book 16 112). Also: "Narrated 'Aisha(radia'Allah wa anha): The Prophet used to offer his night prayer while I was sleeping across in his bed. Whenever he intended to offer the Witr prayer, he used to wake me up and I would offer the Witr prayer too." (Sahih Bukhari, Volume 2, Book 16, Number 111).

[4] "Sunan at-Tirmidhi (Jami-al-Tirmidhi) | Chapter: 3 | Witr (Witr Prayer)". ahadith.co.uk. Retrieved 2019-05-22. "The witr is not fard like your prescribed prayers. But, it is the sunnah of Allah's Messenger (Sallallaho Alaihi Wasallam) who said: Surely Allah is witr (one). He loves witr, so offer the witr, "O people of the Quran!." [Ahmed 652, Abu Dawud 1416, Muslim 1674, Ibn e Majah 1169]

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