🌙 Night Prayer
Witr Prayer Guide
Everything you need to know about Witr — the odd-numbered prayer that closes the night. How to pray it, Dua al-Qunut, and differences between the four schools.
"Make Witr your last prayer of the night"
The Prophet ﷺ said: "Allah is Witr (odd) and loves the witr, so O people of the Quran, pray Witr." (Abu Dawud 1416). Witr is one of the most loved acts of worship in the night.
When to Pray Witr and How Many Rakats
🟢 Hanafi
3 rakats (Wajib)
After Isha — any time until Fajr. Last third of night is best.
Prayed as a 3-rakat unit. Sit after 2nd rakat (Qa'da), then complete the 3rd. Dua al-Qunut recited in 3rd rakat after Ruku (standing).
🔵 Shafi'i
1–11 rakats (Sunnah Mu'akkadah)
After Isha. Best: last third of night.
Prayed as pairs (2+2+2...) followed by 1 final Witr rakat. No tashahhud in the pairs before the last rakat. Qunut in the last rakat before Ruku.
🟡 Maliki
1 rakat minimum (Sunnah Mu'akkadah)
After Isha. Best: last third of night.
Witr is 1 rakat performed after even-numbered pairs. Qunut is recommended in Witr rakat. Can also pray 3 as 2 separate salams.
🟠 Hanbali
1, 3, 5, 7, 9 or 11 rakats
After Isha until Fajr.
Strongly recommended to pray 11 (Tahajjud + Witr). Can pray 3 as 2+1 (two salams) or as a unit. Qunut in Witr only in the last half of Ramadan.
How to Pray Witr — Hanafi Method (3 Rakats)
Make intention (Niyyah)
Intend in your heart to pray 3 rakats of Witr Wajib for the sake of Allah, facing the Qibla.
1st rakat
Open Takbir → Thana → Al-Fatiha → Surah (recommended: Al-A'la) → Ruku → Sujud × 2
2nd rakat
Al-Fatiha → Surah (recommended: Al-Kafirun) → Ruku → Sujud × 2 → Sit for first Qa'da (Tashahud only, do not send salawat)
3rd rakat — the key rakat
Al-Fatiha → Surah (recommended: Al-Ikhlas) → Extra Takbir (raise hands and say Allahu Akbar) → Silently recite Dua al-Qunut → Ruku → Sujud × 2 → Final Tashahud → Tasleem
Dua al-Qunut — Full Arabic, Transliteration & Translation
اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِنِي فِيمَنْ هَدَيْتَ، وَعَافِنِي فِيمَنْ عَافَيْتَ، وَتَوَلَّنِي فِيمَنْ تَوَلَّيْتَ، وَبَارِكْ لِي فِيمَا أَعْطَيْتَ، وَقِنِي شَرَّ مَا قَضَيْتَ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْضِي وَلاَ يُقْضَى عَلَيْكَ، وَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَذِلُّ مَنْ وَالَيْتَ، وَلاَ يَعِزُّ مَنْ عَادَيْتَ، تَبَارَكْتَ رَبَّنَا وَتَعَالَيْتَ
English Translation
O Allah, guide me among those You have guided. Grant me health among those You have granted health. Take me into Your care among those You have taken care of. Bless me in what You have given me. Protect me from the evil of what You have decreed. You are the One Who decrees, and nothing is decreed over You. Verily, whoever You love is never humiliated, and whoever You oppose is never honoured. Blessed are You, our Lord, Most High.
Al-Tirmidhi 464, graded Hasan Sahih — from Al-Hasan ibn Ali ؓ, taught by the Prophet ﷺ
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Witr prayer?
Witr (الوتر) is an odd-numbered voluntary prayer performed after the Isha prayer before Fajr. The word 'witr' means 'odd number.' It is the most highly recommended night prayer. The Prophet ﷺ said: 'Allah is Witr (odd/single) and loves the witr, so make Witr your last prayer of the night.' (Sahih al-Bukhari 998). It closes the night's prayers with an odd number of rakats.
Is Witr prayer obligatory (wajib) or Sunnah?
In the Hanafi school: Witr is Wajib (obligatory) — between Fard and Sunnah in obligation level. Missing it deliberately is sinful. In the Shafi'i, Maliki and Hanbali schools: Witr is Sunnah Mu'akkadah (strongly recommended Sunnah). The minimum is 1 rakat; the maximum praised is 11 rakats (as the Prophet ﷺ prayed in Tahajjud + Witr).
How many rakats is Witr prayer?
Hanafi school: 3 rakats (prayed as a unit with one set of sitting). Shafi'i school: minimum 1, maximum 11 — prayed as separate pairs plus 1 final rakat. Maliki school: 1 rakat after pairs of Tahajjud. Hanbali school: 1–11 rakats, most commonly 3 (prayed as 2 + 1 separately). The Prophet ﷺ prayed 11 rakats of night prayer including Witr, and also sometimes 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 or 11.
What is the best time to pray Witr?
Witr can be prayed anytime after Isha until Fajr begins. The best time is the last third of the night — just before Fajr — as this is when Allah descends to the lower heaven and accepts supplication. However, for those who cannot wake before Fajr, praying Witr before sleeping is better than missing it. The Prophet ﷺ said: 'Pray Witr before you sleep.' (Sahih Muslim 755)
What is Dua al-Qunut in Witr?
Dua al-Qunut is a special supplication recited in the 3rd rakat of Witr (Hanafi) or in the last rakat (other schools) after rising from Ruku or before going to Ruku. The standard Qunut dua taught by the Prophet ﷺ begins: 'Allahumma ihdini feeman hadayt...' (O Allah, guide me among those You have guided). In Ramadan, the Imam may make a longer Qunut supplication for the Muslim ummah.
Can you make up missed Witr prayers?
In the Hanafi school (where Witr is Wajib): yes, missed Witr must be made up as Qada. In other schools (where Witr is Sunnah): it is recommended to make it up, as the Prophet ﷺ would pray 4 pairs of voluntary prayer to make up for the night prayers he missed.
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