Witr
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.
| 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 |
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| Islam |
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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."
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.
There are aḥādīth that say the best time for the witr salat is at night, and that those who fear that the will not be able to awake, or may die in their sleep, should perform the prayer before sleeping.
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.'"