8/3. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 1422 — Witr Prayer Options: Five, Three, or One
How Many (Rak'ahs) Is Witr?
Witr Prayer: Five, Three, or One Rak'ah
Sunan Abi Dawud : 1422
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 1422
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ، حَدَّثَنِي قُرَيْشُ بْنُ حَيَّانَ الْعِجْلِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا بَكْرُ بْنُ وَائِلٍ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ اللَّيْثِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ الأَنْصَارِيِّ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " الْوِتْرُ حَقٌّ عَلَى كُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ فَمَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يُوتِرَ بِخَمْسٍ فَلْيَفْعَلْ وَمَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يُوتِرَ بِثَلاَثٍ فَلْيَفْعَلْ وَمَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يُوتِرَ بِوَاحِدَةٍ فَلْيَفْعَلْ " .
Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: The witr is a duty for every Muslim so if anyone wishes to observe it with five rak'ahs, he may do so; if anyone wishes to observe it with three, he may do so, and if anyone wishes to observe it with one, he may do so.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1422In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 7English translation : Book 8, Hadith 1417
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 1422
This hadith about witr prayer speaks about ease and choice within the wording of the narration. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said that witr is a right for every Muslim. He then mentioned different ways a person may observe it: five rak'ahs, three rak'ahs, or one rak'ah. The hadith does not make the matter hard for the listener. It shows that witr has value, while also allowing more than one number of rak'ahs. For people searching witr prayer rakats, this report answers the common question in a direct way. It teaches that a Muslim should not ignore witr, and should choose a form that he or she can keep with care.
What we learn from this hadith
- Witr is described as a right for every Muslim.
- The narration mentions five, three, and one rak'ah as options.
- A person may choose a number of rak'ahs mentioned in the hadith.
