The Book on Al-Witr

"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."

"‏ إِنَّ اللَّهَ أَمَدَّكُمْ بِصَلاَةٍ هِيَ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ مِنْ حُمْرِ النَّعَمِ الْوِتْرُ جَعَلَهُ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ فِيمَا بَيْنَ صَلاَةِ الْعِشَاءِ إِلَى أَنْ يَطْلُعَ الْفَجْرُ ‏"

Narrated by Khārija ibn Hudhāfa + 4 other versions

"Al-Witr is not incumbent like your obligatory prayers, but it is a Sunnah of Allah's Messenger who said: "Indeed Allah is Witr (One), and He loves Al-Witr, so perform Al-Witr O people of the Qur'an."

"‏ إِنَّ اللَّهَ وِتْرٌ يُحِبُّ الْوِتْرَ فَأَوْتِرُوا يَا أَهْلَ الْقُرْآنِ ‏"

Narrated by Ali + 11 other versions

Witr is not incumbent like the status of the obligatory prayers, but it is a Sunnah that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) started practicing

‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Witr is not incumbent like the status of the obligatory prayers, but it is a Sunnah that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) started practicing."

الْوِتْرُ لَيْسَ بِحَتْمٍ كَهَيْئَةِ الصَّلاَةِ الْمَكْتُوبَةِ وَلَكِنْ سُنَّةٌ سَنَّهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏

Narrated by Ali + 8 other versions Explained

"Allah's Messenger ordered me to perform Al-Witr before sleeping."

أَمَرَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ أُوتِرَ قَبْلَ أَنْ أَنَامَ ‏

Narrated by Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh

he asked Aishah about the Witr of the Prophet. She said: "He would perform Witr during all of the night; (either) its beginning, its middle, or its end. So when he died, his Witr ended, during the approachof As-Sahar."

مِنْ كُلِّ اللَّيْلِ قَدْ أَوْتَرَ أَوَّلِهِ وَأَوْسَطِهِ وَآخِرِهِ فَانْتَهَى وِتْرُهُ حِينَ مَاتَ إِلَى السَّحَرِ ‏

Narrated by Ā’ishah + 14 other versions

"The Prophet would perform Witr with thirteen [Rak'ah]. When he was older and became weak he performed Witr with seven."

يُوتِرُ بِثَلاَثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً فَلَمَّا كَبِرَ وَضَعُفَ أَوْتَرَ بِسَبْعٍ ‏

Narrated by Umm Salamah + 3 other versions

"The night prayer of Allah's Messenger was thirteen Rak'ah, five of which were his Witr, not sitting in any of them except at the end of them. When the Mu'adh-dhin called the Adhan he would stand to perform two light (Rak'ah)."

كَانَتْ صَلاَةُ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنَ اللَّيْلِ ثَلاَثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً يُوتِرُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ بِخَمْسٍ لاَ يَجْلِسُ فِي شَيْءٍ مِنْهُنَّ إِلاَّ فِي آخِرِهِنَّ فَإِذَا أَذَّنَ الْمُؤَذِّنُ قَامَ فَصَلَّى…

Narrated by Ā’ishah + 20 other versions

"Allah's Messenger would perform Al-Witr with three, reciting nine Surah from the Mufassal in them, reciting three Surah in each Rak'ah with Say: "Allah is One." At the end of them."Muhammad bin Sirin said: "They would perform Al-Witr with five, with three, and with one Rak'ah, and they considered…

يُوتِرُ بِثَلاَثٍ يَقْرَأُ فِيهِنَّ بِتِسْعِ سُوَرٍ مِنَ الْمُفَصَّلِ يَقْرَأُ فِي كُلِّ رَكْعَةٍ بِثَلاَثِ سُوَرٍ آخِرُهُنَّْ ‏‏(‏قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ‏)‏ ‏.‏

Narrated by Ali + 1 other version

he asked Ibn Umar about the length of the two Rak'ah (before) Al-Fajr. He said: "The Prophet would pray two and two during the night, and he would perform Al-Witr with one Rak'ah. And he would pray two Rak'ah while he was hearing the Adhan [meaning that they were light]."

كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى وَيُوتِرُ بِرَكْعَةٍ وَكَانَ يُصَلِّي الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ وَالأَذَانُ فِي أُذُنِهِ ‏.‏ يَعَنِي يُخَفِّفُ ‏.‏

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar + 9 other versions

"Allah's Messenger would recite during Al-Witr: "Glorify the Name of your Lord the Most High' and, 'Say: O you disbelievers!' and, 'Say: Allah is One,' in each Rak'ah."

يَقْرَأُ فِي الْوِتْرِ بِـ ‏‏(‏سَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الأَعْلَى ‏)‏ وَ ‏‏(‏قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا الْكَافِرُونَ ‏)‏ وَ ‏‏(‏قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ‏)‏ فِي رَكْعَةٍ رَكْعَةٍ ‏.‏

Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbās + 10 other versions

"I asked Aishah about what (recitation) Allah's Messenger would perform Al-Witr with. She said: 'In the first he would recite: Glorify the Name of your Lord the Most High, in the second: Say: O you disbelievers!, and in the third: Say: Allah is One" and, Al-Mu'awwidhatain.'"

يُوتِرُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَتْ كَانَ يَقْرَأُ فِي الأُولَى بِـ ‏‏(‏سَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الأَعْلَى ‏)‏ وَفِي الثَّانِيَةِ بِـ‏‏(‏قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا الْكَافِرُونَ ‏)‏ وَفِي الثَّالِثَةِ بِـ ‏‏(‏قُلْ…

Narrated by Ā’ishah + 3 other versions

"Allah's Messenger taught me some phrases to say during Al-Witr (Allahummahdini fiman hadait, wa a'fini fiman afait, wa tawallani fiman tawallait, wa barik Li fima atait, wa qini sharra ma qadait, fa Innaka taqdi wa la yuqda Alaik, wa innahu la yadhillu man walait, tabarakta Rabbana wa ta'alait.)…

‏"‏ 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…

Narrated by Al-Hasan ibn Alī + 11 other versions

Allah's Messenger said: "Whoever sleeps past Al-Witr or forgets it, then let him pray it when he remembers it or when he awakens."

"‏ مَنْ نَامَ عَنِ الْوِتْرِ أَوْ نَسِيَهُ فَلْيُصَلِّ إِذَا ذَكَرَ وَإِذَا اسْتَيْقَظَ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri + 1 other version

the Prophet said: "Whoever sleeps past his Al-Witr then let him pray it in the morning."

"‏ مَنْ نَامَ عَنْ وِتْرِهِ فَلْيُصَلِّ إِذَا أَصْبَحَ ‏"

+ 1 other version

the Prophet said: "Precede the morning with Al-Witr."

"‏ بَادِرُوا الصُّبْحَ بِالْوِتْرِ ‏"

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar + 6 other versions

Allah's Messenger said: "Perform Witr before the morning comes upon you."

"‏ أَوْتِرُوا قَبْلَ أَنْ تُصْبِحُوا ‏"

Narrated by Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri + 5 other versions

Allah's Messenger said: "When Fajr begins, then every Salat of the night and Al-Witr have gone, so perform Al-Witr before Fajr begins."

"‏ إِذَا طَلَعَ الْفَجْرُ فَقَدْ ذَهَبَ كُلُّ صَلاَةِ اللَّيْلِ وَالْوِتْرُ فَأَوْتِرُوا قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الْفَجْرِ ‏"

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar + 1 other version

his father said: I heard Allah's Messenger saying: "There are no two Witr in one night."

"‏ لاَ وِتْرَانِ فِي لَيْلَةٍ ‏"

Narrated by Talq ibn Alī + 4 other versions

"The Prophet would pray two Rak'ah after Al-Witr."

يُصَلِّي بَعْدَ الْوِتْرِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ‏

Narrated by Umm Salamah + 1 other version

"I was with Ibn Umar on a journey and I fell behind him. He said: 'Where were you?' I said: 'I prayed Al-Witr.' He said: 'Is there not a good exampled for you in Allah's Messenger? I saw Allah's Messenger performing Al-Witr on his mount.'"

يُوتِرُ عَلَى رَاحِلَتِهِ ‏

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar + 2 other versions

Allah's Messenger said: "Whoever prays twelve Rak'ah of Ad-Duha, Allah will build a castle made of gold for him in Paradise."

"‏ مَنْ صَلَّى الضُّحَى ثِنْتَىْ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً بَنَى اللَّهُ لَهُ قَصْرًا مِنْ ذَهَبٍ فِي الْجَنَّةِ ‏"

Narrated by Anas ibn Mālik + 3 other versions

"No one informed that they saw Allah's Messenger praying Ad-Duha except Umm Hani. She narrated that Allah's Messenger entered her house on the Day of the Conquest of Makkah. He performed Ghusl and performed eight voluntary Rak'ah such that she had not ever seen him pray any Salat lighter than them…

دَخَلَ بَيْتَهَا يَوْمَ فَتْحِ مَكَّةَ فَاغْتَسَلَ فَسَبَّحَ ثَمَانَ رَكَعَاتٍ مَا رَأَيْتُهُ صَلَّى صَلاَةً قَطُّ أَخَفَّ مِنْهَا غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ كَانَ يُتِمُّ الرُّكُوعَ وَالسُّجُودَ ‏

Narrated by Umm Hāni + 8 other versions

Allah's Messenger narrated that Allah, Blessed and Most High said: "Son of Adam: Perform four Rak'ah for Me in the beginning of the day it will suffice you for the latter part of it."

ابْنَ آدَمَ ارْكَعْ لِي مِنْ أَوَّلِ النَّهَارِ أَرْبَعَ رَكَعَاتٍ أَكْفِكَ آخِرَهُ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Dharr

Allah's Messenger said: "Whoever continuously performs the two Rak'ah of Ad-Duha his sins will be forgiven, even if they be like the foam of the sea."

"‏ مَنْ حَافَظَ عَلَى شُفْعَةِ الضُّحَى غُفِرَ لَهُ ذُنُوبُهُ وَإِنْ كَانَتْ مِثْلَ زَبَدِ الْبَحْرِ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah + 5 other versions

"The Prophet would pray Ad-Duha until we would say: 'He will not leave it.' And he would leave it until we would say: 'He will not pray it.'"

يُصَلِّي الضُّحَى حَتَّى نَقُولَ لاَ يَدَعُ وَيَدَعُهَا حَتَّى نَقُولَ لاَ يُصَلِّي ‏

Narrated by Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri + 4 other versions

"Allah's Messenger would pray four (Rak'ah) after the Zawal of the sun before Az-Zuhr. He said: 'It is an hour in which the gates of the heavens are opened, and I love that a righteous deed should be raised up for me in it.'"

يُصَلِّي أَرْبَعًا بَعْدَ أَنْ تَزُولَ الشَّمْسُ قَبْلَ الظُّهْرِ وَقَالَ ‏"‏ إِنَّهَا سَاعَةٌ تُفْتَحُ فِيهَا أَبْوَابُ السَّمَاءِ وَأُحِبُّ أَنْ يَصْعَدَ لِي فِيهَا عَمَلٌ صَالِحٌ ‏"

Narrated by Abdullah ibn as-Sā’ib + 3 other versions

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: "Whoever has a need from Allah, or from one of the sons of Adam, then let him perform Wudu', performing it well, then pray two Rak`ah, then praise Allah and say Salat upon the Prophet (ﷺ). Then let him say: (La ilaha illallah Al-Halimul-Karim. Subhan Allah…

"‏ مَنْ كَانَتْ لَهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ حَاجَةٌ أَوْ إِلَى أَحَدٍ مِنْ بَنِي آدَمَ فَلْيَتَوَضَّأْ وَلْيُحْسِنِ الْوُضُوءَ ثُمَّ لْيُصَلِّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ لْيُثْنِ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَلْيُصَلِّ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه…

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn Abi Awfa + 2 other versions

"Allah's Messenger would teach us Al-Isthikhara for all of our affairs just as he would teach us a Surah of the Qur'an, saying: 'When one of you is worried about a matter, then let him perform two Rak'ah other than the obligatory (prayer), then let him say: (Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi'ilmika, wa…

"‏ إِذَا هَمَّ أَحَدُكُمْ بِالأَمْرِ فَلْيَرْكَعْ رَكْعَتَيْنِ مِنْ غَيْرِ الْفَرِيضَةِ ثُمَّ لْيَقُلِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ…

Narrated by Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh + 10 other versions

Umm Sulaim came upon the Prophet and said: "Teach me some words that I can say in my Salat." So he said: "Mention Allah's Greatness (saying: Allahu Akbar) ten times, mention Allah's Glory (saying: Subhan Allah) ten times, and mention Allah's praise (saying: Al-Hamdulilah) ten times. Then ask as you…

"‏ كَبِّرِي اللَّهَ عَشْرًا وَسَبِّحِي اللَّهَ عَشْرًا وَاحْمَدِيهِ عَشْرًا ثُمَّ سَلِي مَا شِئْتِ يَقُولُ نَعَمْ نَعَمْ ‏"

Narrated by Umm Sulaym

Allah's Messenger said to Al-Abbas: "O uncle! Shall I not give to you, shall I not present to you, shall I not benefit you?" He said: "Of course, O Messenger of Allah!" He said: "O uncle! Pray four Rak'ah, reciting in each Rak'ah Fatihatil-Kitab and a Surah. When you are finished your recitation…

أَلاَ أَصِلُكَ أَلاَ أَحْبُوكَ أَلاَ أَنْفَعُكَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ بَلَى يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ يَا عَمِّ صَلِّ أَرْبَعَ رَكَعَاتٍ تَقْرَأُ فِي كُلِّ رَكْعَةٍ بِفَاتِحَةِ الْكِتَابِ وَسُورَةٍ فَإِذَا انْقَضَتِ…

Narrated by Abu Rāfi + 1 other version

"We said: 'O Messenger of Allah! We have learned about saying the Salam to you, but how about As-Salat upon you?' He said: 'Say: (Allahumma salli ala Muhammadin Wa Ala ali Muhammadin kama sallaita Ala Ibrahim, Innaka hamidan MAjid, Wa barik Ala Muhammadin wa Ala ali Muhammadin kamma barakta Ala…

"‏ قُولُوا اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ وَبَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ…

Narrated by Ka‘b ibn Ujra + 17 other versions

Allah's Messenger said: "The person closest to me on the Day of Judgement is the one who sent the most Salat upon me."

"‏ أَوْلَى النَّاسِ بِي يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَكْثَرُهُمْ عَلَىَّ صَلاَةً ‏"

Narrated by Abdullah ibn Mas‘ūd + 3 other versions

Allah's Messenger said: "Whoever sends Salat upon me, Allah sends Salat upon him ten times."

"‏ مَنْ صَلَّى عَلَىَّ صَلاَةً صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ بِهَا عَشْرًا ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah + 1 other version

"Indeed the supplication stops between the heavens and the earth. Nothing of it is raised up until you send Salat upon your Prophet."

إِنَّ الدُّعَاءَ مَوْقُوفٌ بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالأَرْضِ لاَ يَصْعَدُ مِنْهُ شَيْءٌ حَتَّى تُصَلِّيَ عَلَى نَبِيِّكَ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏.‏

Narrated by Umar ibn al-Khattāb + 1 other version

"No one should sell in our markets except one who has understanding in the religion."

لاَ يَبِعْ فِي سُوقِنَا إِلاَّ مَنْ قَدْ تَفَقَّهَ فِي الدِّينِ ‏

Narrated by Umar ibn al-Khattāb