Witr Prayer
Total Hadiths 127
Complete Guide to Witr Prayer According to Authentic Hadiths
These authentic hadiths offer essential legal and practical instructions on performing the Witr prayer during the night. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) clearly taught that the voluntary night prayer is to be offered in sets of two rak'at, followed by another two rak'at. If a person fears the approaching dawn, they should conclude by praying a single rak'ah, which acts as the Witr to make the total number odd. This practice is supported by Ibn Abbas, who observed the Prophet (ﷺ) performing six sets of two rak'at before concluding with Witr. Furthermore, variations in practice are noted; Abdullah bin Umar would occasionally say the Taslim between the second and third rak'ah, while other early Muslims offered a continuous three-rak'ah Witr. According to Islamic scholars, these options are all permissible, highlighting the flexibility and ease inherent in the established Sunnah.
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَهَّابِ بْنُ نَجْدَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَانِ، عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ أَبِي إِدْرِيسَ السَّكُونِيِّ، عَنْ جُبَيْرِ بْنِ نُفَيْرٍ، عَنْ أَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ، قَالَ " أَوْصَانِي خَلِيلِي صلى الله عليه وسلم بِثَلاَثٍ لاَ أَدَعُهُنَّ لِشَىْءٍ أَوْصَانِي بِصِيَامِ ثَلاَثَةِ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ وَلاَ أَنَامُ إِلاَّ عَلَى وِتْرٍ وَبِسُبْحَةِ الضُّحَى فِي الْحَضَرِ وَالسَّفَرِ .
Abu Al-Darda' said: My friend (i.e. the Prophet) instructed me to observe three practices which I never leave: he instructed me to fast three days every month, and not to sleep but after observing the witr, and to observe supererogatory prayer in the forenoon while traveling and while resident.
[1] See Muslim, no. 1675.Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1433In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 18English translation : Book 8, Hadith 1428
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ حَنْبَلٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنِي نَافِعٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " اجْعَلُوا آخِرَ صَلاَتِكُمْ بِاللَّيْلِ وِتْرًا " .
Ibn 'Umar reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as suing: Make the last of your prayer at night a witr.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1438In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 23English translation : Book 8, Hadith 1433
أَخْبَرَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ حَكِيمٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عَدِيٍّ، عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْمُنْتَشِرِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّهُ كَانَ فِي مَسْجِدِ عَمْرِو بْنِ شُرَحْبِيلَ فَأُقِيمَتِ الصَّلاَةُ فَجَعَلُوا يَنْتَظِرُونَهُ فَجَاءَ فَقَالَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ أُوتِرُ . قَالَ وَسُئِلَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ هَلْ بَعْدَ الأَذَانِ وَتْرٌ قَالَ نَعَمْ وَبَعْدَ الإِقَامَةِ . وَحَدَّثَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُ نَامَ عَنِ الصَّلاَةِ حَتَّى طَلَعَتِ الشَّمْسُ ثُمَّ صَلَّى .
It was narrated from Ibrahim bin Muhammad Al-Muntashir, from his father, that: He was in the masjid of 'Amr bin Shurahbil and the iqamah for prayer was said, and they were waiting. He came and said: "I was praying witr." Abdullah was asked: "Is there any witr after the adhan?" He said: "Yes, and after the Iqamah." And he narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) once slept and missed the prayer until the sun had risen, then he prayed.
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 1685In-book reference : Book 20, Hadith 88English translation : Vol. 2, Book 20, Hadith 1686
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا وَهْبُ بْنُ جَرِيرٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ أَبِي التَّيَّاحِ، عَنْ أَبِي مِجْلَزٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " الْوَتْرُ رَكْعَةٌ مِنْ آخِرِ اللَّيْلِ " .
It was narrated fom Ibn Umar that: The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Witr is one rak'ah at the end of the night."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 1689In-book reference : Book 20, Hadith 92English translation : Vol. 2, Book 20, Hadith 1690
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَافِعٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُعَاوِيَةُ بْنُ هِشَامٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ حَبِيبِ بْنِ أَبِي ثَابِتٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ جَدِّهِ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُ قَامَ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَاسْتَنَّ ثُمَّ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ نَامَ ثُمَّ قَامَ فَاسْتَنَّ ثُمَّ تَوَضَّأَ فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ حَتَّى صَلَّى سِتًّا ثُمَّ أَوْتَرَ بِثَلاَثٍ وَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ .
Sufyan narrated from Habib bin Abi Thabit, from Muhammad bin Ali, from his father, from his grandfather, that: The Prophet (ﷺ) got up at night and cleaned his teeth, then he prayed two rak'ahs, then he slept. Then he got up and cleaned his teeth, then he performed wudu and prayed two rak'ahs, until he had prayed six. Then he prayed witr with three rak'ahs, and prayed two rak'ahs.
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 1704In-book reference : Book 20, Hadith 107English translation : Vol. 2, Book 20, Hadith 1705
أَخْبَرَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا حُسَيْنٌ، عَنْ زَائِدَةَ، عَنْ حُصَيْنٍ، عَنْ حَبِيبِ بْنِ أَبِي ثَابِتٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ جَدِّهِ، قَالَ كُنْتُ عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَامَ فَتَوَضَّأَ وَاسْتَاكَ وَهُوَ يَقْرَأُ هَذِهِ الآيَةَ حَتَّى فَرَغَ مِنْهَا { إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلاَفِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ لآيَاتٍ لأُولِي الأَلْبَابِ } ثُمَّ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ عَادَ فَنَامَ حَتَّى سَمِعْتُ نَفْخَهُ ثُمَّ قَامَ فَتَوَضَّأَ وَاسْتَاكَ ثُمَّ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ نَامَ ثُمَّ قَامَ فَتَوَضَّأَ وَاسْتَاكَ وَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَأَوْتَرَ بِثَلاَثٍ .
Husain narrated from Habib bin Abi Thabit, from Muhammad bin 'Ali bin 'Abdullah bin Abbas, from his father, that his grandfather said: "I was with the Prophet (ﷺ) and he got up and performed wudu, cleaned his teeth while reciting this verse until he finished: 'Verily, in the creation of the heavens and the Earth, and in the alternation of night and day, there are indeed signs for men of understanding.' Then he prayed two rak'ahs, then he went back and slept until I heard him breathing deeply. Then he got up and performed wudu and cleaned his teeth. Then he prayed two rak'ahs, then he slept, then he got up and performed wudu and cleaned his teeth and prayed two rak'ahs and prayed witr with three rak'ahs."
[1] Âl 'Imrân 3:190.Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 1705In-book reference : Book 20, Hadith 108English translation : Vol. 2, Book 20, Hadith 1706
أَخْبَرَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ قَزَعَةَ، عَنْ حُصَيْنِ بْنِ نُمَيْرٍ، عَنْ حُصَيْنِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ ذَرٍّ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبْزَى، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَقْرَأُ فِي الْوِتْرِ بِـ { سَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الأَعْلَى } وَ { قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا الْكَافِرُونَ } وَ { قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ }
It was narrated from Ibn Abdur-Rahman bin Abza from his father that: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to recite in Witr: "Glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most High;" and "Say: O you disbelievers!;' and 'Say: He is Allah, (the) One.'"
[5] Al-A'la 87.[6] Al-Kâfirûn 109.[7] Al-Ikhlâş 112.Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 1731In-book reference : Book 20, Hadith 134English translation : Vol. 2, Book 20, Hadith 1732
أَخْبَرَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ يَزِيدَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا بَهْزُ بْنُ أَسَدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ سَلَمَةَ، وَزُبَيْدٍ، عَنْ ذَرٍّ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبْزَى، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يُوتِرُ بِـ { سَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الأَعْلَى } وَ { قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا الْكَافِرُونَ } وَ { قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ } وَكَانَ يَقُولُ إِذَا سَلَّمَ " سُبْحَانَ الْمَلِكِ الْقُدُّوسِ " . ثَلاَثًا وَيَرْفَعُ صَوْتَهُ بِالثَّالِثَةِ .
Bahz bin Asad, said: "Shu'bah narrated to us, from Salamah and Zubaid, from Dharr, from Ibn Abdur-Rahman bin Abza from his father that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to recite in Witr: "Glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most High;" and "Say: O you disbelievers!;' and 'Say: He is Allah, (the) One.' And when he said the taslim, he would say: Subhanal-Malikil-Quddus (Glory be to the Sovereign, the Most Holy) three times, raising his voice the third time."
[1] Al-A'la 87.[2] Al-Kâfirûn 109.[3] Al-Ikhlâs 112.Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 1732In-book reference : Book 20, Hadith 135English translation : Vol. 2, Book 20, Hadith 1733
أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الصَّبَّاحِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ حَبِيبٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا رَوْحُ بْنُ الْقَاسِمِ، عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ السَّائِبِ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبْزَى، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَقْرَأُ فِي الْوِتْرِ بِـ { سَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الأَعْلَى } وَ { قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا الْكَافِرُونَ } وَ { قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ }
'Ata bin As-Sa'ib reported from Sa'eed bin Abdur-Rahman bin Abza from his father: That the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to recite in witr: Glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most High;" and "Say: O you disbelievers!;' and 'Say: He is Allah, (the) One.'"
[4] Al-A’la 87.[5] Al-Kâfirûn 109.[6] Al-Ikhlâş 112.Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 1739In-book reference : Book 20, Hadith 142English translation : Vol. 2, Book 20, Hadith 1740
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو دَاوُدَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عَزْرَةَ، يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبْزَى، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يُوتِرُ بِـ { سَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الأَعْلَى } وَ { قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا الْكَافِرُونَ } وَ { قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ } فَإِذَا فَرَغَ قَالَ " سُبْحَانَ الْمَلِكِ الْقُدُّوسِ " . ثَلاَثًا .
Muhammad bin Bashshar informed us, he said: "Abu Dawud narrated to us from Shu'bah, from Qatadah, who said: I heard 'Azarah narrating from Sa'eed bin 'Abdur-Rahman Ibn Abza, from his father That the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to recite in witr: Glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most High;" and "Say: O you disbelievers!;' and 'Say: He is Allah, (the) One.' And when he had finished praying, he said: Subhanal-Malikil-Quddus (Glory be to the Sovereign, the Most Holy) three times."
[1] Al-A'la 87.[2] Al-Kâfirûn 109.[3] Al-Ikhlâş 112.Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 1740In-book reference : Book 20, Hadith 143English translation : Vol. 2, Book 20, Hadith 1741
