HOW TO PRAY THE ISHA WITR AS PER SUNNAH

HOW TO PRAY THE ISHA WITR - THE SUNNAH WAY TO PRAY

Please note this is a very old article. Kindly excuse the errors in sentence formation and structure.

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

- SECTION A - HOW TO PRAY ISH'A WITR 

- THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WITR SALAH :

- THE TIMINGS OF PRAYING THE WITR :

-  HOW MANY RAK'AT WITR CAN WE PRAY ? :

-  THE DIFFERENT METHODS OF PRAYING WITR AS PER THE SUNNAH :

- CAN WE PRAY NAFIL PRAYERS AFTER PRAYING WITR? 

- CAN WE PRAY WITR TWICE IN ONE NIGHT? 

- RECITATION OF SURAH IN EVERY RAKAT (OF A WITR) 

- HOW IS THE DUA E QUNOOT TO BE RECITED AND ITS RULINGS? 

- DUAS THAT RASOOL (S.A.W) USED TO SAY AFTER PRAYING THE WITR 





SECTION A - HOW TO PRAY ISH'A WITR 


THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WITR SALAH :


1. It is one of the confirmed sunnah (sunnate mua'akaddah) having a great virtue because of the evidences :

Ali (bin Abu Talib) (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Witr prayer is not obligatory as the prescribed Salat (prayers), but the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) observed it as his regular practice (Sunnah). He (s.a.w) said, "Allah is Witr (single, odd) and loves what is Witr. So perform Witr prayer. O followers of Qur'an, observe Witr (prayer)."

[Ref: Riyad us saaliheen, Book no. 9 hadith no. 1132] 

[Ref: Sunan Al Nisai, Vol. 2 Book 10 hadith no. 1677]

[Ref: At-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud].

       Also, 

Yahya related to me from Malik that he had heard that a man asked Abdullah ibn Umar whether the witr was obligatory and Abdullah ibn Umar said, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, prayed witr, and the muslims prayed witr." The man began repeating his question, and Abdullah ibn Umar kept saying, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, prayed witr, and the muslims prayed witr. 

[Ref : Muwatta Imam Malik, Book 7 hadith 17]

2. It is a prayer which is better than the best of things which we can love 

Narrated Kharijah ibn Hudhafah al-Adawi: The Apostle of Allah (Peace be upon him) came out to us and said: Allah the Exalted has given you "AN EXTRA PRAYER" which is better for you then the red camels (i.e. better than even the most beloved thing to you ). This is the witr which Allah has appointed for you between the night prayer (Isha'a) and the daybreak (Fajr).

[Ref: Sunnan Abu Dawud, Kitab Al salah - Book 8, Number 1413]

Note that the above hadith is da'eef but the context "extra prayer" is sahih because of the hadiths above it and also because of other proofs from Quran and sunnah that Witr is a great sunnah but does not fall under the obligatory category. Another reference for the above hadith is :

Kharijab bin Hudhafah narrated: "Allah's Messenger came out to us and he said: 'Indeed Allah has assisted you with a Salat (that is better for you than red camels): Al-Witr which Allah made for you between the Isha prayer till Al-Fajr has begun.

[Ref: Sunan Al tirmidhi Vol. 1, Book 3, Hadith 452]

In the above hadith, the wordings between the brackets are Da'eef as classified by Shaikh Albani and others but apart the words in the bracket the hadith is acceptable and the wordings - Allah has "Assisted" you with means Allah has given us an extra prayer that will assist us in drawing close to Allah or increase the rewards and etc.


حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْعَبَّاسِ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَعْقُوبَ إِمْلَاءً، ثنا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سِنَانٍ الْقَزَّازُ، ثنا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ حَمْدَانَ، ثنا عَبْدُ الْحَمِيدِ بْنُ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي جَعْفَرُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي عَمْرَةَ النَّجَّارِيِّ، أَنَّهُ سَأَلَ عُبَادَةَ بْنَ الصَّامِتِ عَنِ الْوِتْرِ، فَقَالَ: أَمْرٌ حَسَنٌ، «عَمِلَ بِهِ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَالْمُسْلِمُونَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ وَلَيْسَ بِوَاجِبٍ» هَذَا حَدِيثٌ صَحِيحٌ عَلَى شَرْطِ الشَّيْخَيْنِ، وَلَمْ يُخَرِّجَاهُ وَلَهُ شَوَاهِدُ، فَمِنْهَا مَا "


[التعليق - من تلخيص الذهبي] 1117 - على شرطهما

`Abdur rahman ibn Abi `Amratan-Najjari asked `Ubadah ibn saamit (radhiallahu `anhu) regarding witr so he answered " Witr is a beautiful (or good) matter. We performed it with the Prophet (sallalahu `alayhi wa sallam) and with the Muslimeen after him (sallalahu `alayhi wa sallam) and it is not wajib" 

[Ref: Mustadrak Hakim who said This is a saheeh hadeeth upon the conditions of the two shuyukh and they did not write this down and it has corroborating evidence. Dhahabi in his talkhees agreed to this - 1117]

3. This prayer is beloved to Allah (i.e. Allah - the exalted -loves this prayer)

It was narrated that Ali, may Allah (SWT) be pleased with him, said: "The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: "O people of the Qur'an, pray witr, for Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, is Witr (One) and loves Al-Witr (the odd numbered).

[Ref: Sunan Al Nasai, Vol. 2 Book 10 hadith 1676]

[Ref: A similar narration is also found in Sunan Abu dawood 1416]

       Also , 

Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah has ninety-nine Names, i.e., one hundred minus one, and whoever believes in their meanings and acts accordingly, will enter Paradise; and Allah is witr (one) and loves 'the witr' (i.e., odd numbers).

[Ref: Sahih Al Bukhari, Vol. 8, Book no. 75, Hadith 419]

THE TIMINGS OF PRAYING THE WITR :


The Isha'a witr can be prayed at anytime after the Isha'a salah until the dawn (Fajr) breaks but it is because of the evidences :

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.”

[Ref: Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 425]

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.”

[Ref:  Narrated by Muslim, 755 ]

It was narrated that Aishah said: "The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) prayed witr at the beginning (of the night) and at the end, and in the middle. And toward the end of his life, he settled on performing witr at the end of the night.

[Ref: Sunan Al Nasai, Vol. 2, Book no. 10]

 HOW MANY RAK'AT WITR CAN WE PRAY ? :

1. أَخْبَرَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عُثْمَانَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا بَقِيَّةُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي ضُبَارَةُ بْنُ أَبِي السَّلِيلِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي دُوَيْدُ بْنُ نَافِعٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي ابْنُ شِهَابٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عَطَاءُ بْنُ يَزِيدَ، عَنْ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ الْوِتْرُ حَقٌّ فَمَنْ شَاءَ أَوْتَرَ بِسَبْعٍ وَمَنْ شَاءَ أَوْتَرَ بِخَمْسٍ وَمَنْ شَاءَ أَوْتَرَ بِثَلاَثٍ وَمَنْ شَاءَ أَوْتَرَ بِوَاحِدَةٍ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

Duwaid bin Nafi' said: " Ibn Shihab informed me, saying: 'Ata bin Yazid narrated to me from Abu Ayyub: That the Prophet (s.a.w ) said: 'Witr is a duty, and whoever wants to pray witr with seven (rak'ahs), let him do so; whoever wants to pray witr with five, let him do so, whoever wants to pray witr with three, let him do so; and whoever wants to pray witr with one, let him do so.'

[Ref: Sunan Al Nasai, Vol. 2, Book 10, Hadith 1711]

2. أَخْبَرَنَا الْعَبَّاسُ بْنُ الْوَلِيدِ بْنِ مَزِيدٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي أَبِي قَالَ، حَدَّثَنَا الأَوْزَاعِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي الزُّهْرِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَطَاءُ بْنُ يَزِيدَ، عَنْ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ الْوِتْرُ حَقٌّ فَمَنْ شَاءَ أَوْتَرَ بِخَمْسٍ وَمَنْ شَاءَ أَوْتَرَ بِثَلاَثٍ وَمَنْ شَاءَ أَوْتَرَ بِوَاحِدَةٍ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

Al-Awza'I said: "Az-Zuhri narrated to me, he said: 'Ata bin Yazid, from Abu Ayyub: The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: 'Witr is a duty, and whoever wants to pray witr with seven (rak'ahs), let him do so; whoever wants to pray witr with five, let him do so, whoever wants to pray witr with three, let him do so; and whoever wants to pray witr with one, let him do so.'"

[Ref: Sunan Al Nasai, Vol. 2, Book 10, Hadith 1712]

From other Ahadith we learn that along with the above mentioned, Prophet (s.a.w) also prayed 9 Rak'ah witr and they will be discussed below. 

 THE DIFFERENT METHODS OF PRAYING WITR AS PER THE SUNNAH :

Rasool (s.a.w) prayed Witr in different styles and in different no. of raka'ats. to summarize, witr can be prayed as "One raka'ah" or as "three raka'ah" or as "five raka'ah" or as "seven raka'ah" or as "nine raka'ah" or as "eleven rakah". The methods for each are discussed below : 

ONE RAK'AT WITR :

1. أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي لَبِيدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ يُسْأَلُ عَنْ صَلاَةِ اللَّيْلِ فَقَالَ ‏ "‏ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى فَإِذَا خِفْتَ الصُّبْحَ فَأَوْتِرْ بِرَكْعَةٍ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

It was narrated that Ibn Umar said: "I heard the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) on the minbar, when he was asked about prayers at night, say: "Two by two, then if you fear that dawn will come, pray witr with one rak'ah.'" (Sahih)

[Ref: Al Nasai, Vol. 2, Book 10, Hadith 1670]

2. أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا ابْنُ الْقَاسِمِ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مَخْرَمَةُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، عَنْ كُرَيْبٍ، أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَبَّاسٍ، أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّهُ، بَاتَ عِنْدَ مَيْمُونَةَ أُمِّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ - وَهِيَ خَالَتُهُ - فَاضْطَجَعَ فِي عَرْضِ الْوِسَادَةِ وَاضْطَجَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَهْلُهُ فِي طُولِهَا فَنَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَتَّى إِذَا انْتَصَفَ اللَّيْلُ أَوْ قَبْلَهُ قَلِيلاً أَوْ بَعْدَهُ قَلِيلاً اسْتَيْقَظَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَجَلَسَ يَمْسَحُ النَّوْمَ عَنْ وَجْهِهِ بِيَدِهِ ثُمَّ قَرَأَ الْعَشْرَ الآيَاتِ الْخَوَاتِيمَ مِنْ سُورَةِ آلِ عِمْرَانَ ثُمَّ قَامَ إِلَى شَنٍّ مُعَلَّقَةٍ فَتَوَضَّأَ مِنْهَا فَأَحْسَنَ وُضُوءَهُ ثُمَّ قَامَ يُصَلِّي قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبَّاسٍ فَقُمْتُ فَصَنَعْتُ مِثْلَ مَا صَنَعَ ثُمَّ ذَهَبْتُ فَقُمْتُ إِلَى جَنْبِهِ فَوَضَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَدَهُ الْيُمْنَى عَلَى رَأْسِي وَأَخَذَ بِأُذُنِي الْيُمْنَى يَفْتِلُهَا فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ أَوْتَرَ ثُمَّ اضْطَجَعَ حَتَّى جَاءَهُ الْمُؤَذِّنُ فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ خَفِيفَتَيْنِ

It was narrated from Kuraib that 'Abdullah bin 'Abbas told him: He slept at the house of Maimunah the wife of the Prophet (s.a.w), who was his maternal aunt. He said: "I laid down across the mattress an the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) and his wife lay along it. The Prophet (s.a.w) slept until midnight, or a little before or a little after. The Prophet (s.a.w) woke up and began to rub the sleep from his face with his hand. Then he recited the last ten verses of Surah Al Imran. Then he got up and went to a water skin that was hanging up and performed wudu from it, and he performed wudu well, then he stood up and prayed." Abdullah bin 'Abbas said: "I stood up and did what he had done, then I went and stood beside him. The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) put his right hand on my neck, and took old of my right hand and tweaked it. Then he prayed two rak'ahs, then two rak'ahs, then two rak'ahs, then two rak'ahs, then two rak'ahs, then two rak'ahs, then he prayed witr (one rakat ) .Then he lay down until the Mu'adhdhin came to him and he prayed two brief rak'ahs." 

[Ref:  Sunan Al Nasai, Vol. 2, Book 10, Hadith 1621]



Saa'd bin Abee Waqqas radhiyallahu anhu prayed one rakah witr (Saheeh Bukharee 6356;its chain is Saheeh)

Muawiyah bin Abee Sufyan radhiyallahu anhu offered one rakah after Isha'a prayers. (Saheeh Bukhari:3764;its chain is Saheeh)

Uthmaan radhiyallahu anhu offered one rakah Witr and said: "This is my Witr".(as-Sunan al-Kubraa by al-Bayhaqee 3/25;its chain is Hassan)

Ibn Hajar said:

“It is authentically reported that a number of the Companions prayed one rak’ah for witr, without praying any nafl prior to it. It is recorded in Muhammad Ibn Nasr’s book and others, with an authentic isnaad from As-Saa’ib Ibn Yazeed, that ‘Uthmaan recited Quraan one night in just one rak’ah; and he did not pray anything else.

We will also cite in the chapter of Al-Maghaazee the report of ‘Abdullaah Ibn Tha’labah that Sa’d prayed one rak’ah for witr, and in al-Manaaqib the report that Mu’aawiyah prayed one rak’ah for witr, which was approved by Ibn ‘Abbaas.”

[Fath Al-Baaree]

Hence the above ahadeeth teach us that praying witr as one rak'ah alone is fine . You can either pray one rak'ah after your Isha' fardh salah, or you can pray as many nafils (2 by 2 ) as u want before the one rak'ah witr :). 

THREE RAK'AT WITR :

Rasool (s.a.w) used to pray 3 rak'ah witr by 2 methods. One of which wherein he prayed 3 rak'ah back to back (continuously) without sitting (for tashahud) in between except in the last (3rd) rak'ah. 

The second method reported is where he would pray 3 rak'ah as 2+1. Meaning, he prayed 2 rak'ah, then said the tasleem and ended the 2 rak'ah prayer and then he prayed one rak'ah witr separately (thus making it a total of 3 rak'ah witr)

METHOD 1 : PRAYING 3 RAK'AH CONTINUOUSLY WITH 1 TASHAHUD ONLY (In other words, praying 3 rak'ah & sitting only in the last rak'ah)

1. أَخْبَرَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ مُوسَى، قَالَ: أَنْبَأَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ خَالِدٍ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ أَبِي عَرُوبَةَ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ عَزْرَةَ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبْزَى، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أُبَيِّ بْنِ كَعْبٍ قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقْرَأُ فِي الْوِتْرِ بِسَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الْأَعْلَى، وَفِي الرَّكْعَةِ الثَّانِيَةِ بِقُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا الْكَافِرُونَ، وَفِي الثَّالِثَةِ بِقُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ، وَلَا يُسَلِّمُ إِلَّا فِي آخِرِهِنَّ، وَيَقُولُ ـ يَعْنِي بَعْدَ التَّسْلِيمِ ـ: «سُبْحَانَ الْمَلِكِ الْقُدُّوسِ»، ثَلَاثًا

Narrated on the authority of Ubayy ibn Ka’b who 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) and he did not say tasleem except in the last raka’ah and after tasleem he (s.a.w) said "Subhanal malikil Quddoosee" thrice. 

[Ref : sunan nisaai, book :qiyam ul layl wa ta'too an nahar , hadith no. 1701, or vol. 2 book 10 ]

2.  أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو عَبْدِ اللهِ الْحَافِظُ، أنبأ أَبُو نَصْرٍ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ سَهْلٍ الْفَقِيهُ بِبُخَارَى، ثنا صَالِحُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ حَبِيبٍ الْحَافِظُ، ثنا شَيْبَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، ثنا أَبَانُ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ زُرَارَةَ بْنِ أَوْفَى، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ هِشَامٍ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ: " كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُوتِرُ بِثَلَاثٍ لَا يَقْعُدُ إِلَّا فِي آخِرِهِنَّ "

Saeed ibn hisham (r.a) on the authority of Ayesha (r.a) said “ prophet (s.a.w) prayed 3 raka’t witr and did not sit (for tashahud) except in the last raka’at

[Ref: sunan al bayhaqi kubra, Book Main title : kitabus salaah, Subtitle :  jamaa'a al abwaab salah al ta'atoo, wa qiyaam shahar ramadan ,hadith no. 4803  v3 pg 41. ]

3.  أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو عَبْدِ اللهِ الْحَافِظُ، وَأَبُو سَعِيدِ بْنُ أَبِي عَمْرٍو قَالَا: ثنا أَبُو الْعَبَّاسِ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَعْقُوبَ ثنا يَحْيَى بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ، أنبأ عَبْدُ الْوَهَّابِ بْنُ عَطَاءٍ، ثنا سَعِيدٌ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ زُرَارَةَ بْنِ أَوْفَى، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ هِشَامٍ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهَا أَنَّهَا قَالَتْ: " كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَا يُسَلِّمُ فِي رَكْعَتَيِ الْوِتْرِ " كَذَا رَوَاهُ عَبْدُ الْوَهَّابِ عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي عُرْوَةَ، وَقَالَ أَبَانُ عَنْ قَتَادَةَ: يُوتِرُ بِثَلَاثٍ لَا يَقْعُدُ إِلَّا فِي آخِرِهِن

Qatada (r.h) said  “He used to pray Witr with three rak'ahs and he did not sit except in the last (rakah) of them.”

[Ref: Sunan Al Bayhaqi hadith no. 4814 , pg 45 v3]

4. وَرُوِيَ عَنْ عَطَاءٍ، أَنَّهُ كَانَ يُوتِرُ بِثَلَاثٍ  «لَا يَجْلِسُ فِيهِنَّ وَلَا يَتَشَهَّدُ إِلَّا فِي آخِرِهِنَّ»

Narrated by Ata' (r.h) that prophet (s.a.w) did not sit in BETWEEN and did not do tashahud except in the last rakah

[Ref: Sunan Al sagheer – by Imam al bayhaqi – vol. 1 page 281 , hadith no. 777]

5. Aisha narrated: "The Prophet used to read three witr and he would not sit except in the last rak'ah" 

[Ref: Mustadrak al-Haakim: 1/304]

[Ref: Aynee al-Hanafi said: "This hadeeth is Saheeh according to the conditions of Shaikhain" (Umdat ul-Qaari: 4/203)]

Another Hadeeth states that “He (s.a.w) would not say the 2 tasleems in 3 rak’ahs”

[Sunan Nasaa’ee (3/234), Daarqutnee no.175, Tahaawee no.1/280, Haakim 1/304, Baihaaqee 3/31 the chain is authentic)

Hence the Above ahadith teach us that if we want to pray 3 rak'ah witr, then one method of praying it is - wherein we pray 3 rak'ah back to back (one after the another) and sit (for tashahud) only in the last (3rd) rak'ah of our witr salah. 

METHOD 2 : PRAYING 3 RAK'AH WITR BY SAYING THE TASLEEM AFTER 2 RAK'AH AND THEN PRAYING 1 RAK'AH ON ITS OWN

5. أَخْبَرَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ سُفْيَانَ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الدَّوْرَقِيُّ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا عَتَّابُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو حَمْزَةَ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الصَّائِغِ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ: «كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَفْصِلُ بَيْنَ الشَّفْعِ وَالْوِتْرِ بِتَسْلِيمٍ يُسْمِعُنَاهُ».

Narrated by Ibn  umar (r.a) that he said “rasool (s.a.w) used to separate the two rak'ahs from the single rak'ah with a tasleem”

[Ref: sahih ibn hibban , book : bab al witr haidth no. 2435 and Ibn Hajar said in al-Fath (2/482): its isnaad is qawiy aka strong]

Another hadeeth states: “The Messenger of Allaah (Sallallahu Alayhee Was-Sallam) would say Salaam in between he second and third rak’ah which we would hear.” [ Saheeh Ibn Hibbaan (6/191 no.2435)]

Abdullah bin Umar radhiyallahu anhu offered tasleem after two rakahs and said:"Bring my she-camel" and then he got up and offered one rakah.

(Musannaf ibn Abee Shaybah 2/292 h.6806;its chin is Saheeh)


Also see Saheeh Bukharee(601) & Saheeh Ibn Hibban (al-Ihsaan 4/70 h.2426)


Imam Tirmidhee said that (Imam) Maalik, Shafi'ee, Ahmed bin Hanbal and Ishaaq bin Rahawiyyah that one should say tasleem after two rakahs and offer one rakah after that. (Sunan at-Tirmidhee:461)


Khaleel Ahmed Saharanpuree Deobandi said:


"Witr being a single rakah is present in the Saheeh ahadeeth. And Abdullah bin Umar radhiyallahu anhu and Ibn Abbas and other Sahabahs offering it. Also Maalik, Shafi'ee, Ahmed rahimahumullah's madhhab being the same and still the objection of the author on this issue is actually an objection on these men. Say!What is the position of the Eemaan?"

(Baraheen Qaati'ah p.7)


For details, see Sheikh Abu Umar Abdul Azeez Nooristanee's (hafizahullah) book in Urdu, entitled:'ad-Daleel al-Waazeh Alaa An al-Itaar Barkatah Waahidat Mustaqbilat Shar'iat ar-Rasool an-Naaseh sallallahu alayhi wa sallam'

This means that , rasool (s.a.w) while praying a three raka'at witr would pray 2 raka'h and then one rak'ah seperately. This was also the amal (action) followed by the sahaaba at times.  Hence we can also pray 3 witr according to any of the above 2 methods.

FIVE (5) RAK'AT WITR :

1. أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يُوتِرُ بِخَمْسٍ وَلاَ يَجْلِسُ إِلاَّ فِي آخِرِهِنَّ ‏.‏

Hisham bin Urwah narrated from his father, from Aishah, that: The Prophet (s.a.w) used to pray witr with five and he did not sit except in the last (rak'ah) of them. 

[Ref: Sunan Nasai, Vol. 2, Book 10, Hadith 1718] 

2. وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَأَبُو كُرَيْبٍ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ نُمَيْرٍ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ نُمَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ ثَلاَثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً يُوتِرُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ بِخَمْسٍ لاَ يَجْلِسُ فِي شَىْءٍ إِلاَّ فِي آخِرِهَا ‏.‏

A'isha reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) used to observe thirteen rak'ahs of the night prayer. Five out of them consisted of Witr, and he did not sit in any thing (any rak'ah) , but at the end (last raka'ah)

[Ref: Sahih Muslim : English reference: Book 4, Hadith 1604, Arabic reference: Book 7, Hadith 1754] 

3. أَخْبَرَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَحْيَى، أنا أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَعْقُوبَ الْحَافِظُ، نا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْوَهَّابِ، أنا جَعْفَرُ بْنُ عَوْنٍ، أنا هِشَامُ بْنُ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ،: أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ «كَانَتْ صَلَاتُهُ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ ثَلَاثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً، يُوتِرُ بِخَمْسٍ وَلَا يُسَلِّمُ فِي شَيْءٍ مِنَ الْخَمْسِ حَتَّى يَجْلِسَ فِي الْآخِرَةِ وَيُسَلِّمَ»

Narrated by Aish'a (r.a) : The messenger of Allah (s.a.w) prayed thirteen rak'ahs of the night prayer. Five out of them consisted of Witr and he did not say the tasleem in any of the five rak'ahs until he sat in the last rak'ah and did the tasleem 

[Ref: Sunan al bayhaiqi sagira , book : salah , hadith no. 774]

4.  أَخْبَرَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ سُفْيَانَ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ مُوسَى الْحَادِي، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ، وَحَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، «أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ يُوتِرُ بِخَمْسِ رَكَعَاتٍ لَا يَقْعُدُ إِلَّا فِي آخِرِهِنَّ».

Narrated by Aisha (r.a) that the messenger of Allah (s.a.w) prayed five rak'ah witr and he did not sit except in the last rak'ah 

[Ref : Sahih ibn Hibban – vol. 6 page 194 hadith no.2439]

NINE (9) & SEVEN (7) RAK'AT WITR :

1. أَخْبَرَنَا زَكَرِيَّا بْنُ يَحْيَى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُعَاذُ بْنُ هِشَامٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ زُرَارَةَ بْنِ أَوْفَى، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ هِشَامٍ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا أَوْتَرَ بِتِسْعِ رَكَعَاتٍ لَمْ يَقْعُدْ إِلاَّ فِي الثَّامِنَةِ فَيَحْمَدُ اللَّهَ وَيَذْكُرُهُ وَيَدْعُو ثُمَّ يَنْهَضُ وَلاَ يُسَلِّمُ ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي التَّاسِعَةَ فَيَجْلِسُ فَيَذْكُرُ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَيَدْعُو ثُمَّ يُسَلِّمُ تَسْلِيمَةً يُسْمِعُنَا ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ فَلَمَّا كَبِرَ وَضَعُفَ أَوْتَرَ بِسَبْعِ رَكَعَاتٍ لاَ يَقْعُدُ إِلاَّ فِي السَّادِسَةِ ثُمَّ يَنْهَضُ وَلاَ يُسَلِّمُ فَيُصَلِّي السَّابِعَةَ ثُمَّ يُسَلِّمُ تَسْلِيمَةً ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ ‏.‏

Mu'adh bin Hisham said: "My father narrated to me, from Qatadah, from Zurarah bin Awfa, from Sa'd bin Hisham, that Aishah said: 'When the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) prayed witr with nine rak'ahs, he did not sit until (except in) the eighth rak'ah. Then he would praise Allah (SWT) and remember Him and supplicate, then he would get up and he wouldn't say the taslim, then he prayed the ninth, then he sat and remembered Allah (SWT) and supplicated. Then he said a taslim that we could hear. Then he prayed two rak'ahs sitting down. When he grew older and weaker, he prayed witr with seven rak'ahs and did not sit except in the sixth. Then he got up and did not say the taslim, and prayed the seventh, then he said the taslim, then he prayed two rak'ahs sitting down.'"

[Ref: Sunan Al Nasai English reference: Vol. 2, Book 10, Hadith 1720, Arabic reference: Book 20, Hadith 1730]

2. أَخْبَرَنَا زَكَرِيَّا بْنُ يَحْيَى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ زُرَارَةَ بْنِ أَوْفَى، أَنَّ سَعْدَ بْنَ هِشَامِ بْنِ عَامِرٍ، لَمَّا أَنْ قَدِمَ، عَلَيْنَا أَخْبَرَنَا أَنَّهُ، أَتَى ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ فَسَأَلَهُ عَنْ وَتْرِ، رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ أَلاَ أَدُلُّكَ أَوْ أَلاَ أُنَبِّئُكَ بِأَعْلَمِ أَهْلِ الأَرْضِ بِوَتْرِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏.‏ قُلْتُ مَنْ قَالَ عَائِشَةُ ‏.‏ فَأَتَيْنَاهَا فَسَلَّمْنَا عَلَيْهَا وَدَخَلْنَا فَسَأَلْنَاهَا فَقُلْتُ أَنْبِئِينِي عَنْ وِتْرِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏.‏ قَالَتْ كُنَّا نُعِدُّ لَهُ سِوَاكَهُ وَطَهُورَهُ فَيَبْعَثُهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ مَا شَاءَ أَنْ يَبْعَثَهُ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَيَتَسَوَّكُ وَيَتَوَضَّأُ ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي تِسْعَ رَكَعَاتٍ وَلاَ يَقْعُدُ فِيهِنَّ إِلاَّ فِي الثَّامِنَةِ فَيَحْمَدُ اللَّهَ وَيَذْكُرُهُ وَيَدْعُو ثُمَّ يَنْهَضُ وَلاَ يُسَلِّمُ ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي التَّاسِعَةَ فَيَجْلِسُ فَيَحْمَدُ اللَّهَ وَيَذْكُرُهُ وَيَدْعُو ثُمَّ يُسَلِّمُ تَسْلِيمًا يُسْمِعُنَا ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ فَتِلْكَ إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً يَا بُنَىَّ فَلَمَّا أَسَنَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَخَذَ اللَّحْمَ أَوْتَرَ بِسَبْعٍ ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ بَعْدَ مَا يُسَلِّمُ فَتِلْكَ تِسْعًا أَىْ بُنَىَّ وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا صَلَّى صَلاَةً أَحَبَّ أَنْ يُدَاوِمَ عَلَيْهَا ‏.‏

It was narrated from Zurarah bin Awfa: "When Sa'd bin Hisham bin Amir came to visit us, he told us that he came to Ibn Abbas and asked him about the witr of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w). He said: 'Shall I not tell you of the most knowledgeable person on Earth about the witr of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w)?' I said: 'Who?' He said: 'Aishah.' So we went to her and greeted her with Salam and entered and asked her. I said: 'Tell me about the witr of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w).' She said: 'We used to prepare for him his siwak and water for wudu, then Allah (SWT) would wake him when He willed to wake him at night. He would clean his teeth and perform wudu, then he would pray nine rak'ahs, during which he would not sit until the eighth. Then he would praise Allah (SWT) and remember Him and supplicate, then he would get up and not say the taslim. Then he would pray the ninth, then sit and praise Allah (SWT) and remember Him and supplicate, then he would say a taslim that we could hear. Then he prayed two rak'ahs sitting, and that was eleven rak'ahs, O my son. When the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) grew older and put on weight, he prayed witr with seven, then he prayed two rak'ahs sitting after saying the taslim, and that was nine, O my son. And when the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) offered a prayer, he liked to persist in offering it.'" (Sahih)

[Ref: Sunan Al Nasai : English reference: Vol. 2, Book 10, Hadith 1722, Arabic reference: Book 20, Hadith 1732]

CAN WE PRAY NAFIL PRAYERS AFTER PRAYING WITR? 

A) It was narrated that ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Umar said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Make the last of your prayer at night Witr.”

[Ref: Bukhaari, 998; Muslim, 749]

B) Aisha (r.a) said "When the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) grew older and put on weight, he prayed witr with seven, then he prayed two rak'ahs sitting after saying the taslim, and that was nine"

[Ref: Sunan Al Nasai : English reference: Vol. 2, Book 10, Hadith 1722, Arabic reference: Book 20, Hadith 1732]

C) Umm Salamah narrated:"The Prophet would pray two Rak'ah after Al-Witr."

[Ref: Sunan Al Tirmidhi Vol. 1 Book 3 Hadith 471]

 

Shaykh Al-Albani said in his book, Qiyam Ramadan:

One may offer two rak'ah voluntary prayer after witr prayer because they are affirmed by the action of the Prophet. Rather, he commanded his Ummah with it, saying:

آن هذا السفر جهد و ثقل، فإذا أوتر أحدكم فليركع ركعتين، فان استيقظ و الا كانت له

"This journey is strenuous and exhausting. If you pray witr, offer two rak'ah afterwards if you wake up, otherwise they will be written for you"
[Ref: Reported by Ibn Khuzaimah in his Saheeh, ad-Daarimi and others, it is verified in as-Saheeha)]

 Regarding the hadith in which the Prophet (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said:

اجعلوا آخر صلاتكم بالليل وترا

"Make your last prayer of the night Witr." (Muslim)
The command in this hadith serves as an option and not an obligation.
The Sunnah is to recite Surah Zalzalah and Surah Al-Kafiroon in these two rak'ahs

Reconciling the above hadiths, scholars said :

Ibn Hazm said in al-Muhalla, 2/92, 93:

Witr at the end of the night is better, but whoever prays Witr at the beginning of the night, that is fine. It is permissible to pray (nafil or etc) after Witr

Al-Nawawi said in al-Majmoo, 3/512: said :

From the hadith of Al Nasai and etc, we learn that since rasool (s.a.w) prayed 2 rak'ah after witr, hence we have the permission to pray after witr if we want. but it is better to make Witr as the last part of the night prayer.

CAN WE PRAY WITR TWICE IN ONE NIGHT? 

It was narrated that that Talq ibn ‘Ali said: I heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say, “There should not be two Witrs in one night.” 

[Ref: Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 470; al-Nasaa’i, 1679; Abu Dawood, 1439. Classed as saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, 7567 ]

RECITATION OF SURAH IN EVERY RAKAT (OF A WITR)

In Witr, we have to recite Suratul Fatiha + another surah (after al fatiha) in All the rak'ah and we may recite any surah that we like. However we have hadiths informing us the sunnah regarding what rasool (s.a.w) used to recite in a 3 rak'ah witr and those surah's were :

Narrated By Ubayy ibn Ka’b (r.a) who 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).

[Ref: Al-Nasaa’i (1729) and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Nasaa’i] 

HOW IS THE DUA E QUNOOT TO BE RECITED AND ITS RULINGS? 

Please click on the below link to see the dua e qunoot and different rulings regarding it (like raising hands or not, before or after rukoo and etc) 

SEE THIS Link : Dua e Qunoot and its Rulings

DUAS THAT RASOOL (S.A.W) USED TO SAY AFTER PRAYING THE WITR 

It was narrated from Ali bin Abi Talib that: The Prophet (P.B.U.H) used to say at the end of witr: Allahumma inni audhu bi ridaka min sakhatika wa bi mu’afatika min uqubatika, wa audhu bika minka la uhsi thana’an ‘alayka, anta kama athwart ala nafsik ( O Allah, I seek refuge in Your pleasure from Your wrath and in Your forgiveness from Your punishment. And I seek refuge in You from You; I cannot praise You enough; You are as You have praised Yourself.).”

[Ref: Sunan Nasai Vol. 2, Book 10, Hadith 1748]
[Ref: Sunan Abu Dawood Book #8, Hadith #1422]

Also it is reported that rasool (s.a.w) sometimes said " SUBHANAL MALIKIL QUDDUS (three times) 

[Ref: Sunan Al Nasaee, Vol. 2, Book 10, Hadith 1733,1734,1735,1737,1741 and 1742]

Hence the above described methods are how rasool (s.a.w) prayed witr and taught us to pray. we are supposed to follow rasool (s.a.w) for Allah says " Obey Allah and his messenger" and Also Allah says "Indeed in Muhammad is a good example for you to follow". 

The below section will refute all those claims which propagate the wrong method of praying witr. Those interested may proceed whereas those who are looking for the authentic way to pray witr as taught by rasool (s.a.w) may refer to the above details. 

SECTION B - THE HANAFI METHOD OF PRAYING WITR

While to my knowledge, there aren't any explicit saheeh marfoo` (i.e. prophetic) narrations which show we should pray 3 raka`h witr resembling like maghrib (with 2 tashhud) but there are narrations from ibn mas`ood r.a, his students, anas (r.a) who seem to have prayed that way so it has some basis.

The mawqoof one from ibn mas`ood is saheeh: 

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بِشْرٍ الرَّقِّيُّ , قَالَ: ثنا شُجَاعٌ، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ مِهْرَانَ عَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ الْحَارِثِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ , قَالَ: " الْوِتْرُ ثَلَاثٌ , كَوِتْرِ النَّهَارِ , صَلَاةِ الْمَغْرِبِ " .

[tahawi in sharh mani al athaar]

It is even found in Abdur Razzaq:
عبد الرزاق عن الثوري عن الأعمش عن مالك بن الحارث عن عبد الرحمن بن يزيد قال وتر الليل كوتر النهار صلاة المغرب ثلاث قول بن مسعود


And one more:
عبد الرزاق عن معمر عن ثابت البناني قال صليت مع أنس وبت عنده قال فرأيته يصلي مثنى مثنى حتى إذا كان في آخر صلاته أوتر بثلاث مثل المغرب

And from Anas as well.. no doubt the people of Kufah took that as their Mazhab... it must have had some basis...

  All good is from Allah , all the mistakes are mine. May Allah have mercy on the one who corrects me.