How To Perform The Witr (Vitir) Prayer

The Witr (Vitir) prayer holds significant importance in Islam as the final prayer of the day. According to the Hanafi school, it is considered wājib (obligatory in practice), whereas in the Shafi‘i, Maliki, and Hanbali schools, it is regarded as sunnah (a highly recommended practice). The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) never neglected the Witr prayer and strongly encouraged his community to perform it regularly. The Arabic word Witr means “odd,” reflecting the fact that this prayer is performed in an odd number of rak‘ahs. Below is a detailed guide on how to perform the Witr prayer, including its rak‘ahs, postures, relevant supplications, and references to authentic classical sources.

Table of Contents

How To Perform The Witr (Vitir) Prayer
Significance And Virtue Of The Witr Prayer
Number Of Rak‘ahs
How To Perform The Witr Prayer (Hanafi Method)
1st Rak‘ah
2nd Rak‘ah
3rd Rak‘ah And The Qunūt Du‘ā
Additional Points About The Witr Prayer
Spiritual Depth Of The Witr Prayer
Frequently Asked Questions About The Witr Prayer
Final Words
References

Significance And Virtue Of The Witr Prayer

Witr is particularly valuable as it completes the day’s prayers with a final, spiritually uplifting act of worship. Even for those who may not wake up for the late-night Tahajjud prayer, the Witr prayer offers a blessed opportunity to end the day in remembrance of Allah. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

“O people of the Qur’an, perform the Witr prayer, for Allah loves Witr.”
(Tirmidhi, Witr, 9)

By offering this prayer, believers seek closeness to Allah, forgiveness for their sins, and an increase in spiritual well-being. It is often performed immediately after the ‘Isha (night) prayer for convenience, but those who wish to perform night vigil (Tahajjud) may delay Witr until after they have completed any additional late-night prayers.

Number Of Rak‘ahs

Hanafi School: Typically performed as 3 rak‘ahs (units), concluded with a single salām.
Other Schools (Shafi‘i, Maliki, Hanbali): May be performed as 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, or 11 rak‘ahs, with 3 rak‘ahs being the most common practice.

This guide focuses on the Hanafi method of performing 3 rak‘ahs.

How To Perform The Witr Prayer (Hanafi Method)

In the Hanafi school, the Witr prayer consists of 3 rak‘ahs, with a special Qunut supplication in the final rak‘ah. Below is a step-by-step explanation.

1st Rak‘ah

Intention (Niyyah):
Before starting, make a heartfelt intention, such as: “I intend to perform the Witr prayer for the sake of Allah.”
Opening Takbīr:
Raise your hands to the level of your ears (for men) or shoulders (for women) and say “Allāhu Akbar.” Place your hands together in the position customary to your school of thought (below the navel, above it, or on the chest).
Subhānaka and Sūrah Al-Fātiḥah:
- Recite Subhānaka (an opening glorification of Allah).
- Then recite Sūrah Al-Fātiḥah.
Sūrah Al-Fātiḥah
- Arabic:
  الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
  الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
  مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ
  إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ
  اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ
  صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ
  غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ
- Transliteration:
  Alḥamdu lillāhi Rabbil-‘ālamīn,
  Ar-Raḥmānir-Raḥīm,
  Māliki yawmid-dīn,
  Iyyāka na‘budu wa iyyāka nasta‘īn,
  Ihdināṣ-ṣirāṭal-mustaqīm,
  Ṣirāṭallaḏīna an‘amta ‘alayhim,
  Ḡayril-maḡḍūbi ‘alayhim wa laḍ-ḍāllīn.
- Meaning:
  All praise is for Allah, Lord of all creation,
  The Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful,
  Master of the Day of Judgment.
  You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help.
  Guide us along the Straight Path,
  The path of those upon whom You have bestowed Your favors,
  Not of those who have earned Your anger or have gone astray.
Short Sūrah (e.g., Sūrah Al-Ikhlās):
Recite a short sūrah such as Sūrah Al-Ikhlās (Qul Huwa Allāhu Aḥad). Sūrah Al-Ikhlās
- Arabic:
  قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ
  اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ
  لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ
  وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ
- Transliteration:
  Qul Huwa Allāhu Aḥad,
  Allāhuṣ-Ṣamad,
  Lam yalid wa lam yūlad,
  Wa lam yakun lahu kufuwan aḥad.
- Meaning:
  Say, “He is Allah, the One and Only.
  Allah, the Eternal Refuge.
  He neither begets nor is born,
  Nor is there to Him any equivalent.”
Rukū‘ (Bowing):
- Bend forward, placing your hands on your knees, and keep your back straight.
- Recite at least three times: Arabic: سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ
  Transliteration: Subḥāna Rabbiyal-‘Aẓīm
  Meaning: Glory be to my Lord, the Magnificent.
Sujūd (Prostration):
- After rising from rukū‘, prostrate by placing your forehead, nose, hands, knees, and toes on the ground.
- Recite at least three times: Arabic: سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الأَعْلَى
  Transliteration: Subḥāna Rabbiyal-A‘lā
  Meaning: Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.
First Rak‘ah Completion:
- Sit briefly (jalsah) between the two prostrations.
- Proceed to the second rak‘ah.

2nd Rak‘ah

Sūrah Al-Fātiḥah & Another Short Sūrah:
As in the first rak‘ah, recite Al-Fātiḥah followed by a short sūrah (e.g., Sūrah Al-Falaq). Sūrah Al-Falaq
- Arabic:
  قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ
  مِن شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ
  وَمِن شَرِّ غَاسِقٍ إِذَا وَقَبَ
  وَمِن شَرِّ النَّفَّاثَاتِ فِي الْعُقَدِ
  وَمِن شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ
- Transliteration:
  Qul a‘ūḏu birabbil-falaq,
  Min sharri mā khalaq,
  Wa min sharri ghāsiqin iḏā waqab,
  Wa min sharri an-naffāthāti fil ‘uqad,
  Wa min sharri ḥāsidin iḏā ḥasad.
- Meaning:
  Say, “I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak
  From the evil of whatever He has created,
  And from the evil of the night when it grows dark,
  And from the evil of those who blow on knots,
  And from the evil of an envier when he envies.”
Rukū‘ And Sujūd:
Perform the same bowing and prostration steps as in the first rak‘ah, reciting “Subḥāna Rabbiyal-‘Aẓīm” in rukū‘ and “Subḥāna Rabbiyal-A‘lā” in sujūd.
Sitting And Tashahhud:
After the second rak‘ah, sit and recite the Tashahhud (At-Taḥiyyāt). This brief sitting prepares you for the final rak‘ah.
Standing For The Third Rak‘ah:
Rise for the third rak‘ah.

3rd Rak‘ah And The Qunūt Du‘ā

The third rak‘ah is the core of the Witr prayer in the Hanafi school because it includes the Qunūt supplication.

Sūrah Al-Fātiḥah & A Short Sūrah:
Recite Al-Fātiḥah again, followed by another short sūrah (e.g., Sūrah An-Nās). Sūrah An-Nās
- Arabic:
  قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ
  مَلِكِ النَّاسِ
  إِلَٰهِ النَّاسِ
  مِن شَرِّ الْوَسْوَاسِ الْخَنَّاسِ
  الَّذِي يُوَسْوِسُ فِي صُدُورِ النَّاسِ
  مِنَ الْجِنَّةِ وَالنَّاسِ
- Transliteration:
  Qul a‘ūḏu birabbin-nās,
  Malikin-nās,
  Ilāhin-nās,
  Min sharri l-waswāsil-khannās,
  Allaḏī yuwaswisu fī ṣudūrin-nās,
  Mina l-jinnati wa n-nās.
- Meaning:
  Say, “I seek refuge in the Lord of humankind,
  The Master of humankind,
  The God of humankind,
  From the evil of the lurking whisperer,
  Who whispers into the hearts of humankind,
  From among jinn and humankind.”
Qunūt Du‘ā:
After finishing the recitation, raise your hands (as in making du‘ā) and recite the Qunūt supplication: Qunūt Supplication
- Arabic:
  اللّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْتَعِينُكَ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَنُؤْمِنُ بِكَ وَنَتَوَكَّلُ عَلَيْكَ
  وَنُثْنِي عَلَيْكَ الْخَيْرَ وَنَشْكُرُكَ وَلاَ نَكْفُرُكَ
  وَنَخْلَعُ وَنَتْرُكُ مَنْ يَفْجُرُكَ
- Transliteration:
  Allāhumma innā nasta‘īnuka wa nastaghfiruka
  wa nu’minu bika wa natawakkalu ‘alayka
  wa nuṯnī ‘alaykal-khayra wa nashkuruka
  wa lā nakfuruka wa nakhla‘u wa natruku man yafjuruk.
- Meaning:
  O Allah! We seek Your help and ask Your forgiveness. We believe in You and rely on You. We praise You with all good and thank You, never denying Your blessings. We cast off and forsake those who disobey You.
Rukū‘ And Sujūd:
- After the Qunūt, say “Allāhu Akbar” (lowering your hands), then go into rukū‘.
- Follow it with two prostrations (sujūd) as in previous rak‘ahs.
Final Sitting (Tashahhud) And Salām:
- Sit for the final Tashahhud. Recite At-Taḥiyyāt, Ṣalawāt (e.g., Allāhumma ṣalli ‘alā Muḥammad), and any final supplications.
- Conclude the prayer by turning your head to the right and then to the left, each time saying: “As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa raḥmatullāh.”

Additional Points About The Witr Prayer

Optimal Timing:
Witr is prayed after ‘Isha. Those who intend to perform Tahajjud (late-night prayer) may delay Witr until after completing their additional night prayers.
Regular Practice:
The Prophet (peace be upon him) emphasized the importance of never leaving Witr. It is a source of spiritual tranquility and closeness to Allah.
Congregational vs. Individual:
During Ramadan, it is common to perform Witr in congregation after Tarāwīḥ. On other nights, it is usually offered individually.
Flexibility In Learning Or Memorization:
Those unable to memorize the Qunūt Du‘ā may use other shorter supplications. Sincerity of the heart is paramount.

Spiritual Depth Of The Witr Prayer

Witr is not merely a physical act of worship; it is a sacred moment when the believer connects deeply with Allah at the close of the day. The recitation of surahs and especially the Qunūt Du‘ā fosters humility, gratitude, and submission to the Divine. Imam al-Ghazālī, in his work Iḥyā ‘Ulūm ad-Dīn, emphasizes that prayer revives the soul and purifies the heart. The Witr prayer, in particular, offers a final opportunity for introspection, seeking forgiveness, and drawing nearer to Allah before the day ends.

Frequently Asked Questions About The Witr Prayer

When should Witr be prayed?
It is prayed after ‘Isha (night prayer). One may delay it until after Tahajjud if planning to pray late into the night.
How many rak‘ahs is Witr?
In the Hanafi school, it is 3 rak‘ahs. Other schools allow 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, or 11 rak‘ahs.
What if someone cannot memorize the Qunūt Du‘ā?
They can recite shorter supplications or even say “Rabbanā ātinā fi’d-dunyā ḥasanah…” or other brief du‘ās in place of the Qunūt.
Can Witr be prayed in congregation?
Yes, particularly in Ramadan after Tarāwīḥ. Otherwise, it is commonly offered individually.
Can Witr be made up (Qaḍā’) if missed?
If missed for any reason, it may be made up later.

Final Words

The Witr prayer is a special act of worship that concludes the day with humility, repentance, and devotion. Whether performed immediately after ‘Isha or delayed until the final hours of the night, it is a powerful means of drawing closer to Allah and cleansing the heart. By adhering to the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) example and regularly performing the Witr prayer, believers can attain peace, spiritual fulfillment, and Divine mercy.

Āmīn.

References

Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Imām al-Bukhārī
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Imām Muslim
Riyāḍ aṣ-Ṣāliḥīn, Imām an-Nawawī
Iḥyā ‘Ulūm ad-Dīn, Imām al-Ghazālī
Fatāwā Hindiyyah (Hanafi Fiqh Resource)
Tirmidhī, Witr, 9

This detailed guide is based on authentic Islamic sources and outlines each step of the Witr prayer, including Arabic texts, transliteration, and meanings. May your prayers be accepted and may you find tranquility and spiritual depth through regular observance of Witr.