Witr

Islam

Witr ( _ar. وتر) is a Muslim prayer that is performed at night after isha'a and before fajr. There are a few distinguishing factors of the witr prayer that sets it apart from the fard (mandatory) and sunnah (recommended) prayers. Witr has an odd number of rakat (pl.) prayed in pairs, with the final raka'ah (s.) prayed separately. Therefore, as little as one rakat can be prayed, and eleven at most. This differs from the usual trend of two and four rakat of the fard and sunnah prayers. Witr prayers are basically tahajjud prayers, which were obligatory for Prophet Muhammad (SAW) but were naf'l (not madatory) for other Muslims.

Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said, according to Ibn Umar, "The night prayer is offered as two rakat followed by two rakat 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 rakat which he has prayed before."Fact|date=July 2008

ee also

*Tahajjud
*Tarawih
*Fard
*Salah

References

*" [http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/bukhari/016.sbt.html Translation] of Sahih Bukhari, Book 16: Witr Prayer"
*" [http://www.understanding-islam.com/related/text.asp?type=question&qid=760 The Status of Sunnah & Witr Prayers, The Time for Fajr & Maghrib and the Allowance of Combining Prayers] "
*" [http://www.understanding-islam.com/related/text.asp?type=discussion&did=306 Clarification on the timing of Witr and Taraweeh prayers] "
*" [http://www.renaissance.com.pk/octq993.html The Witr Prayer] "