Salah guide · night prayer
How to pray Witr
The odd-numbered prayer that closes the night, with the words of Dua al-Qunut in Arabic, transliteration and English.
Witr is an odd-numbered prayer between Isha and Fajr, most commonly 3 rak'ahs. Pray two rak'ahs, then a third in which you recite Dua al-Qunut, and end with salam. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Make Witr the last of your prayer at night” (Sahih al-Bukhari 998).
What is Witr?
Witr means “odd”. “Allah is Witr (One) and loves what is odd” (Sahih al-Bukhari 6410, Sahih Muslim 2677). It is prayed any time after Isha until Fajr begins. If you trust yourself to wake, praying it at the end of the night is better; if not, pray it before sleeping (Sahih Muslim 755).
Hanafis hold Witr is wajib: always 3 rak'ahs, with one tashahhud after the second and one salam at the end. Shafi'is, Malikis and Hanbalis hold it is a strongly encouraged sunnah: at least 1 rak'ah, commonly 3, up to 11, often prayed as 2 then 1 with a salam between (Sahih al-Bukhari 990). Malikis do not recite qunut in Witr.
How to pray 3 rak'ahs of Witr
- Pray Witr after Isha. Witr is prayed after Isha and before Fajr. Make it the last prayer of your night (Sahih al-Bukhari 998).
- Pray two rak'ahs. Pray two rak'ahs as usual: al-Fatiha and a surah in each. Many recite Surah al-A'la in the first and al-Kafirun in the second (Sunan Abi Dawud 1423).
- Stand for the third rak'ah. Either end with salam and then pray one rak'ah, or (Hanafi) sit for tashahhud and stand for the third without salam.
- Recite al-Fatiha and al-Ikhlas. In the third rak'ah, recite al-Fatiha and a surah, commonly al-Ikhlas.
- Recite Dua al-Qunut. Hanafis say Allahu akbar, raise the hands and recite qunut before ruku'. Shafi'is and Hanbalis recite it after rising from ruku'.
- Complete the rak'ah and end with salam. Bow, prostrate twice, sit for tashahhud and salawat, and end with salam.
Dua al-Qunut: the words
The qunut the Prophet ﷺ taught his grandson al-Hasan for Witr:
اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِنِي فِيمَنْ هَدَيْتَ، وَعَافِنِي فِيمَنْ عَافَيْتَ، وَتَوَلَّنِي فِيمَنْ تَوَلَّيْتَ، وَبَارِكْ لِي فِيمَا أَعْطَيْتَ، وَقِنِي شَرَّ مَا قَضَيْتَ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْضِي وَلَا يُقْضَى عَلَيْكَ، وَإِنَّهُ لَا يَذِلُّ مَنْ وَالَيْتَ، تَبَارَكْتَ رَبَّنَا وَتَعَالَيْتَ
Allahummahdini fiman hadayt, wa 'afini fiman 'afayt, wa tawallani fiman tawallayt, wa barik li fima a'tayt, wa qini sharra ma qadayt, fa innaka taqdi wa la yuqda 'alayk, wa innahu la yadhillu man walayt, tabarakta rabbana wa ta'alayt.
O Allah, guide me among those You have guided, keep me well among those You have kept well, take care of me among those You take care of, bless me in what You have given, and protect me from the harm of what You have decreed. You decree, and none decrees over You. The one You befriend is never humbled. Blessed are You, our Lord, and exalted.
Taught by the Prophet ﷺ to al-Hasan ibn 'Ali for Witr · Sunan Abi Dawud 1425, Jami' at-Tirmidhi 464, Sunan an-Nasa'i 1745
The qunut most Hanafis recite:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْتَعِينُكَ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُكَ، وَنُؤْمِنُ بِكَ وَنَتَوَكَّلُ عَلَيْكَ، وَنُثْنِي عَلَيْكَ الْخَيْرَ، وَنَشْكُرُكَ وَلَا نَكْفُرُكَ، وَنَخْلَعُ وَنَتْرُكُ مَنْ يَفْجُرُكَ، اللَّهُمَّ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ، وَلَكَ نُصَلِّي وَنَسْجُدُ، وَإِلَيْكَ نَسْعَى وَنَحْفِدُ، وَنَرْجُو رَحْمَتَكَ وَنَخْشَى عَذَابَكَ، إِنَّ عَذَابَكَ بِالْكُفَّارِ مُلْحِقٌ
Allahumma inna nasta'inuka wa nastaghfiruk, wa nu'minu bika wa natawakkalu 'alayk, wa nuthni 'alaykal-khayr, wa nashkuruka wa la nakfuruk, wa nakhla'u wa natruku man yafjuruk. Allahumma iyyaka na'budu, wa laka nusalli wa nasjudu, wa ilayka nas'a wa nahfidu, wa narju rahmataka wa nakhsha 'adhabak, inna 'adhabaka bil-kuffari mulhiq.
O Allah, we ask You for help and forgiveness, we believe in You and rely on You, and we praise You with all good. We thank You and are not ungrateful to You, and we leave and turn away from whoever disobeys You. O Allah, You alone we worship, to You we pray and prostrate, to You we hurry and strive. We hope for Your mercy and fear Your punishment; Your punishment will surely reach the disbelievers.
Reported from 'Umar ibn al-Khattab in al-Bayhaqi's al-Sunan al-Kubra; the qunut most Hanafis recite
If you do not know a qunut yet, you may say any dua, such as Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanah (Qur'an 2:201), or Allahummaghfir li (O Allah, forgive me) three times, while you learn.
Frequently asked questions
Is Witr compulsory?
Hanafis hold it is wajib, a step below fard, so it should not be left. The other three schools hold it is a strongly encouraged sunnah. All agree the Prophet ﷺ did not leave it, at home or travelling.
Can I pray one rak'ah of Witr?
Yes, for the Shafi'i, Maliki and Hanbali schools: “If you fear the dawn, pray one rak'ah” (Sahih al-Bukhari 990). Hanafis pray 3.
When is the qunut recited: before or after ruku'?
Hanafis recite it before ruku' in the third rak'ah, after a takbir with raised hands. Shafi'is and Hanbalis recite it after rising from ruku'. Both are reported from the Companions.
I prayed Witr after Isha. Can I still pray Tahajjud?
Yes. Pray Tahajjud in pairs and do not repeat Witr: “There are not two Witrs in one night” (Sunan Abi Dawud 1439).
What if I missed Witr?
Make it up. Hanafis hold it must be made up since it is wajib; the others recommend making it up. The Prophet ﷺ made up his night prayer in the day (Sahih Muslim 746).
The salah guide
Keep going
Never forget Witr
Niyat reminds you at Isha, keeps Dua al-Qunut and your night duas ready to read, and plays the Qur'an with word-by-word meaning for the surahs you recite.
Download Niyat for iPhone Get it on Google PlayThis guide explains common practice with its sources. It is not a fatwa. Where your situation is unusual, ask a scholar you trust.