QUESTION

Assalamualaikum, Datuk Mufti, I have a question that I would like to ask the Datuk about the witr prayer. Are we allowed to continue the witr prayer by doing it with an even number such as two rak'ahs at the beginning of the night and then continuing it by increasing the number so that it becomes an odd number at the end of the night (when qiamullail)?

Thank you.

SUMMARY OF ANSWERS

Muslims are encouraged to perform the witr prayer. Its implementation can be done according to the ability either as much as one or three rakat and so on. However, there is a prohibition of gathering two witr in one night based on the stated hadith. However, there are some of the Prophet's companions who repeat the witr prayer a second time by completing the first witr with one rak'ah, then the tahajud prayer, then performing the witr prayer at the end of the prayer. Therefore, we can choose whether to perform witr prayer once at the beginning of the time or repeat it during qiamullail based on the practice of some of the companions of the Prophet SAW.

DESCRIPTION OF ANSWERS

Alhamdulillah, all praise be to Allah SWT, God of the universe, blessings and peace be upon the great master Prophet Muhammad SAW and upon his family members and those who follow in his footsteps until the Day of Judgment.

Witr prayer is a practice of worship that is often performed by Muslims, especially when the month of Ramadan is about to arrive. Witr prayer is also an act of worship that is highly encouraged for every Muslim. Things can be seen based on several related stories about the encouragement to perform the witr prayer. There are several hadiths among them narrated by Abu Hurairah RA who said:

My friend, may God bless him and grant him peace, advised me to do three things: fasting three days of every month, praying the two rak’ahs of the forenoon prayer, and performing the Witr prayer before I sleep.

It means: My lover (Rasulullah SAW) bequeathed me to do three things, namely: Fast three days in every month, two rakats of Dhuha and perform witr prayer before going to bed.

Narrated by Al-Bukhari (1981)

Similarly, based on a hadith narrated by Abdullah Ibn Umar RA that the Prophet SAW said:

Make your last prayer at night Witr.

Meaning: Make witr prayer your last prayer at night.

Narrated by Al-Bukhari (998)

However, a person is not allowed to perform witr twice in one night. This is because there is a prohibition to perform witr twice based on the hadith of Talq bin Ali, that the Prophet SAW said:

Don't see each other in one night

Meaning: There are no two witr in one night.

History of Abu Daud (1439)

This is also stated by Imam al-Ramli:

(If he recited the Witr prayer and then recited the Witr prayer or vice versa) or did not recite the Witr prayer at all (he did not repeat it), that is, it is not required to be repeated. If he repeated it with the Witr structure intentionally, knowledgeable and free He did not have to do that, and he did not hold a meeting as his father - may God Almighty have mercy on him - had given him due to the news: “Do not see each other in one night” and it is News with the meaning of prohibition

Meaning: If a person performs witr then tahajud or vice versa or does not perform tahajud at all, then it is not permissible to repeat (witr) i.e. he is not required to repeat it. If he repeats it with the intention of witr on purpose and knows (the prohibition of repeating witr), then the law is haram and invalid as stated by your father (al-Ramli's father) based on the hadith "There are no two witr in one night" which gives the meaning of prohibition. 

(Refer: Nihayah al-Muhtaj, 2/115)

However, there is a practice of companions such as Ibn Umar who repeat the witr a second time by completing the first witr with one rak'at, then performing the tahajud prayer. After that, perform witr a second time at the end of his prayer. This practice is called the cancellation of the first witr. 

(Refer: Mughni al-Muhtaj , 1/454)

CONCLUSION

Based on the debate and discussion of the scholars above, it can be concluded that Muslims are encouraged to perform the witr circumcision prayer. Its implementation can be done according to the ability either as much as one or three rak'ats and so on. However, there is a prohibition of gathering two witr in one night based on the stated hadith. However, there are some of the Prophet's companions who repeat the witr prayer a second time by completing the first witr with one rak'ah, then the tahajud prayer, then performing the witr prayer at the end of the prayer. Therefore, we can choose whether to perform witr prayer once at the beginning of time or repeat it during qiamullail based on the practice of some of the companions of the Prophet SAW.

God bless you

Reference: 

 Al-Ramli, Shamsuddin Muhammad bin Abu al-Abbas Ahmad bin Hamzah Shihabuddin, (1985). Nihayah al-Muhtaj , Beirut: Dar al-Fikr, Volume: 2, Page: 115.

 (And it was said that he intercedes for it with a rak’ah) meaning that he prays a rak’ah until his witr becomes interceded, then he recites the Hajj as long as he wants (then repeats it) as Ibn Umar and others did that to make it valid. The last prayer of Witr is performed, and this is called breaking the Witr prayer.

Al-Syarbini, Shamsuddin Muhammad bin Muhammad al-Khatib, (1994). Mughni al-Muhtaj , Beirut: Dar Kutub al-Ilmiyah. Vol: 1, Page: 454.

Date of Input: 19/03/2024 | Updated: 19/03/2024 | asmunir