Should we pray.....

[Um_yusuf]

Assalamualaikum

Should one pray witr with Isha, or just before going to sleep (especially if Isha prayers are early in the evening)

I know you can pray witr either way but which is preferable?

[al_islam]

I read that it is better to pray witr b4 sleeping.

however they can be prayed in one prayer with the rest of isha, when the Iqama for Isha happens.

Does preferability matter ?

[Wolfn]

What exactly is Witr?

[al_islam]

Witr is the prayer tha you pray with a unit of 3 in the prayer of Isha at the end.

It consists of 2 raka as normal and then qunood in the 3rd raka, after reciting Fatiha and another ayah, and after saying Allah Hu Akbar.

In the qunood you recite Dua e qunnod or Surah ikhlas three times if you dont know it.

Then you carry on the prayer as normal.

[Um_yusuf]

What exactly is Witr?

ok brb with a proper source

[al_islam]

you need to provide a source.

Not evryone takes to the ruling of Imam Nawawi.

[Um_yusuf]

you need to provide a source.

Not evryone takes to the ruling of Imam Nawawi.

the source is the hadith, all the references are there brother

[al_islam]

the source is the hadith, all the references are there brother

the commentary of the hadith is what there is question over.

even so...jus stating 'bukhari or 'muslim'....its not enough...

Book no.
Volume no.
hadith no.

thats proper quoting....eg. 5.59.546 Bukhari...is a proper quote.

Sheikh's opinions set out exactly is better than 'nawawi and co agree....', try a fatwa.

which website are you quoting from....cos i can tell from a mile is a secondary source.

[Um_yusuf]

the commentary of the hadith is what there is question over.

even so...jus stating 'bukhari or 'muslim'....its not enough...

Book no.
Volume no.
hadith no.

thats proper quoting....eg. 5.59.546 Bukhari...is a proper quote.

Sheikh's opinions set out exactly is better than 'nawawi and co agree....', try a fatwa.

which website are you quoting from....cos i can tell from a mile is a secondary source.

ok see your point ,
so i've deleted the last post:)

[al_islam]

ok see your point ,
so i've deleted the last post:)

you didnt need to delete it......just post the website that you got it from.

plus I think the guy simply wanted to know how its performed......check to see if my explanation had any mistakes, I wasnt that clear, and fill in the gaps, perhaps ?

[Um_yusuf]

you didnt need to delete it......just post the website that you got it from.

plus I think the guy simply wanted to know how its performed......check to see if my explanation had any mistakes, I wasnt that clear, and fill in the gaps, perhaps ?

I deleted it because the website is very old and the home page wnt even show, so it wasnt a good source , i should've checked it first, my mistake:o
anyway here is another explanation, it is detailed this time from islamonline website

Dear Sheikh, As-Salamu `alaykum. My question is about witr prayer: I know that witr prayer is three rak`ahs. But I heard that it can be one rak`ah. Can you please provide me any reference for one rak`ah witr prayer (if any). Jazakum Allah khayran.


Date
21/Jan/2003

Topic
Supererogatory Prayers
Answer

Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

Dear sister in Islam, thank you for the trust you place in us and your interesting question which is of general benefit. We implore Allah Almighty to help us serve His cause and render our work for His Sake.

Answering the question in point, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states:

"Witr can be performed in a number of ways such as the following:

1) Three rak`ahs with one salaam exactly as we perform the Maghrib Prayer, which has been the format followed by the Hanafi School. They have based this on a hadith reported by `A'ishah, the Mother of the Faithful, “The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to perform witr by praying three rak`ahs, saying salaam only upon finishing (the entire three rak`ahs).” (Reported by Muslim). As a further evidence they cite a statement of Abu al-`Aliyah, “The Prophet’s companions taught us to pray witr exactly as we perform Maghrib Prayer, since the former is witr of the night, and the latter is witr of the day.”

2) Three rak`ahs with just one salaam at the end but, unlike Maghrib, one skips the sitting after the two rak`ahs. This format of witr is considered acceptable according to both Shafi`i and Hanbali schools. They have relied on a report from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he used to pray witr without sitting in between, but sitting only in the last rak`ah. (Reported by an-Nasa'i and al-Hakim)

3) Three rak`ahs are offered, but they are split into two parts; salaam is said after the first two rak`ahs, then following a slight pause, one stands up and prays another rak`ah followed by salaam. This is the format most preferred by the Maliki School, and they consider it undesirable to do it the other ways except when one is following an imam who adopts any of the other formats. They have based their opinion on a report from Ibn `Umar that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to separate witr into two parts: two rak`ahs, followed by a single rak`ah, saying salaam after praying the two rak`ahs (as well as after the third). (Reported by Ahmad)

4) Praying more than three rak`ahs (i.e. five, seven, etc.), which has also been considered as permissible, according to Shafi`i and Hanbali schools. In their support they cite a number of traditions from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) indicating the permissibility of doing the same.

As for the question, whether one can perform one rak`ah of witr all by itself, the scholarly opinion is divided on this issue.

According to both Shafi`i and Hanbali schools, one may perform one rak`ah of witr without incurring sin. It is not at all considered even as undesirable (makruh). This position of theirs is based on an authentic report from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) which reads: “The (optional) night Prayer should be said in twos and twos; if you fear that dawn is approaching, finish it by praying witr, even if it be one rak`ah.” (Reported jointly by al-Bukhari and Muslim.)

However, according to both the Hanafi and Maliki Schools—also endorsed by some scholars of the Hanbali School—praying one rak`ah of witr is considered as undesirable. However, they insist that one must do so if he were to pray behind an imam who has chosen to follow that format.

In light of the above discussion, it is reasonable to conclude that there is more than one valid way of performing witr. The imams or schools who have opted for one of the formats or another have not done so based on their whims or caprices but in strict conformity with the transmissions handed down to them from the Prophet or his companions. If the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had wanted the Ummah to rigidly follow a single format of witr, he would certainly have said so clearly and unambiguously, in which case the Ummah would have no choice but to stick to it. As it was not the case, we find the above divergence of opinion. We may reflect on Imam Malik’s comment to one of the caliphs who wanted to enforce a single school of Fiqh on the Ummah: “Don’t attempt to do that, for the Companions have dispersed in the lands, each one of them carrying an aspect or aspects of the Sunnah.”

Allah Almighty knows best.

[al_islam]

And all schools of thought are right.

They each have their own strong Sahih hadith to support their cases, and as such none should be discarded.

Praying Witr in any of the above mentioned ways is acceptable.

As the article states Companions all went far and wide to spread Islam and so each of their teachings were right:

009.100
YUSUFALI: The vanguard (of Islam)- the first of those who forsook (their homes) and of those who gave them aid, and (also) those who follow them in (all) good deeds,- well-pleased is Allah with them, as are they with Him: for them hath He prepared gardens under which rivers flow, to dwell therein for ever: that is the supreme felicity.

These early Sahabi RA were the best of all muslims and were promised by Allah in the Quran of paradise. To question the Sahabi RA, is to question the quranic teachings.

The word of Allah has been safeguarded from any corruption:

015.009
YUSUFALI: We have, without doubt, sent down the Message; and We will assuredly guard it (from corruption).

The bottom line is we should strive to maintain unity, and not question one another when it comes to trivial matters and Allah knows best.

003.103
YUSUFALI: And hold fast, all together, by the rope which Allah (stretches out for you), and be not divided among yourselves; and remember with gratitude Allah's favour on you; for ye were enemies and He joined your hearts in love, so that by His Grace, ye became brethren; and ye were on the brink of the pit of Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus doth Allah make His Signs clear to you: That ye may be guided.

[zaki]

Narrated By Ibn Umar: Once a person asked Allah's Apostle about the night prayer. Allah's Apostle replied, "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 and this will be a Witr for all the Rakat which he has prayed before." Nafi' told that 'Abdullah bin 'Umar used to say Taslim between (the first) two Rakat and (the third) odd one in the Witr prayer, when he wanted to attend to a certain matter (during that interval between the Rakat).

Bukhari - Volume 2, Book 16, Hadith 105