Prayer (Salah)
How to Pray Witr
A guide to praying Witr — the final prayer of the night, its rulings, number of rak'at, and the Qunut dua.
Total Time
5 minutes
Total Steps
8 steps
Read Time
5 min read
Witr (Arabic: الوتر, "odd") is the prayer that seals the night, performed any time after Isha and before Fajr — ideally as the very last prayer before sleep, or at the end of one's night prayer (Tahajjud). Its name comes from its odd number of rak'at.
The Prophet ﷺ emphasised it strongly: "Allah is Witr (One) and loves the witr, so observe the Witr prayer, O people of the Quran" (Sunan Abi Dawud 1416). He never abandoned it, at home or while travelling.
Witr is wajib (obligatory) in the Hanafi madhab and an emphasised Sunnah (sunnah mu'akkadah) in the Maliki, Shafi'i, and Hanbali schools. Either way, it is a prayer the Prophet ﷺ urged believers never to leave.
Witr may be 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, or 11 rak'at — always ending on an odd number. The minimum is a single rak'ah; the most common practice is three. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever wishes, let him pray Witr with five; whoever wishes, with three; and whoever wishes, with one" (Sunan Abi Dawud 1422).
A distinctive feature of Witr is the Qunut du'a recited in the final rak'ah — in the Hanafi method before bowing, and in the Shafi'i/Hanbali method after rising from bowing. Raising the hands during it is Sunnah. It is a moment to humbly beseech Allah for guidance, well-being, and protection.
Praying an even number — Witr must conclude on an odd count; ending on two rak'at defeats its very definition.
Repeating Witr in one night — the Prophet ﷺ said: "There are no two Witr prayers in one night" (Sunan Abi Dawud 1439). If you pray Witr after Isha and later wake for Tahajjud, do not pray Witr again.
Always delaying it and then sleeping through — whoever fears not waking should pray Witr before sleeping; whoever is confident of waking may delay it to the end of the night, which is better.
If you regularly wake for night prayer, delaying Witr to the last part of the night is more virtuous. If you might sleep through, pray it after Isha before bed — the Prophet ﷺ advised both, according to a person's circumstances (Sahih Muslim 755).
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Complete Guide to Salah (Prayer)
Introduction to the Quran
The Prophet ﷺ emphasised it strongly: "Allah is Witr (One) and loves the witr, so observe the Witr prayer, O people of the Quran" (Sunan Abi Dawud 1416). He never abandoned it, at home or while travelling.
Its Ruling Across the Madhabs
Witr is wajib (obligatory) in the Hanafi madhab and an emphasised Sunnah (sunnah mu'akkadah) in the Maliki, Shafi'i, and Hanbali schools. Either way, it is a prayer the Prophet ﷺ urged believers never to leave.
How Many Rak'at
Witr may be 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, or 11 rak'at — always ending on an odd number. The minimum is a single rak'ah; the most common practice is three. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever wishes, let him pray Witr with five; whoever wishes, with three; and whoever wishes, with one" (Sunan Abi Dawud 1422).
The Qunut Supplication
A distinctive feature of Witr is the Qunut du'a recited in the final rak'ah — in the Hanafi method before bowing, and in the Shafi'i/Hanbali method after rising from bowing. Raising the hands during it is Sunnah. It is a moment to humbly beseech Allah for guidance, well-being, and protection.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I pray Witr early or late?
If you regularly wake for night prayer, delaying Witr to the last part of the night is more virtuous. If you might sleep through, pray it after Isha before bed — the Prophet ﷺ advised both, according to a person's circumstances (Sahih Muslim 755).
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Step-by-Step Instructions
1
Ensure You Have Wudu
Witr requires the same ritual purity as any other prayer.
2
Determine the Number of Rak'at
Choose your number: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, or 11. The most common is 3. In the Hanafi madhab, 3 rak'at with two separate tasleem is preferred (2 + 1). The Shafi'i/Hanbali method is to pray all rak'at together with one final tasleem.
3
Make the Intention
Intend to pray Witr.
4
Perform the First Two Rak'at
Pray the first two rak'at normally. Recite al-Fatiha + a surah in each. In the Hanafi method, do tasleem after 2 rak'at.
5
Pray the Final (Odd) Rak'ah
Stand for the final rak'ah. Recite al-Fatiha + surah as normal.
6
Recite Qunut Du'a (Before or After Ruku')
The Qunut dua is recited in the final rak'ah. Hanafi: before ruku'. Shafi'i/Hanbali: after rising from ruku'. The common Qunut: "Allahummahdini fiman hadayta, wa 'afini fiman afayta..." (the full Qunut supplication). Raising hands while reciting is Sunnah.
7
Complete with Tasleem
Complete the final rak'ah with sujud and tasleem as normal.
8
Recite Post-Witr Tasbih
After Witr, say 3 times: "Subhan al-Malik al-Quddus" (Glory to the King, the Holy One), raising the voice on the third time.
Authentic Guidance
This guide is prepared based on authentic Islamic sources. We ensure that all steps are consistent with established scholarly consensus.