Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Aslaamualikum

What is the correct way to perform witr prayer. The way I perform witr prayer is as follows. Since withr is 3 raka`s I pray two rakahs and after the 2 raka`s I don`t sit down to say `atyahat` but instead stand pray normally and then go in ruku. After ruku I say th dua`a in arabic, consisting some dua`s form the quran. Then go into sujood and finish the prayer as normal.

Is this the correct way?

Another question , can some part of my dua in witr prayer be of my own langauge.

Thank You.

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Answer:

How to pray witr

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: What is the correct way to perform witr prayer

It is reported that Hadrat Ali (r.a.) said: "The witr prayer is not required like your obligatory prayers, but the Prophet (saws) would perform the witr prayer and say: 'O you people [followers] of the Qur'an, perform the witr prayer, for Allah is One and He loves the witr.'"

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 2.112 Narrated by Abdullah bin Umar

The Prophet (saws) said, "Make Witr as your last prayer at night."

Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 2.13

It is permissible to perform the witr prayers by praying two rak'at combinations[and concluding each of them with a tashahud and the tasleems] and then praying one rak'ah with a tashahud and taslim. Likewise, it is allowed to pray all the rak'at with two tashahuds and one taslim. One may pray an even number of rak'ats, one after another, without making any tashahud, save in the one before the last rak'ah in which case one makes the tashahud and then stands to perform the last rak'ah wherein one will make another tashahud and end the prayer with the taslim. One may also make only one tashahud and the taslim, in the last rak'ah of witr. All of that is permissible and can be traced to the Prophet (saws).

Al-Bukhari and Muslim quote 'Aishah saying that the Prophet (saws) would perform thirteen rak'at during the night and would make the witr prayer, and he would not 'sit' except in the last rak'ah of them. In another hadith, 'Aishah reports that the Prophet (saws) would perform nine rak'at during the night and that he would not sit during them until the eighth rak'ah in which he would make remembrance of Allah, praising Him, and would make supplication. Then, he would stand without making the taslim and pray the ninth rak'ah, after which he would sit, make the tashahud and make the taslim in such a manner that we could hear him.

The Prophet (saws) said: 'The night prayer is sets of two rak'at. If one fears the coming of the dawn, he should perform one rak'ah, thereby making all of them odd [witr].'

Since the number of rakahs of the voluntary night prayers are not specified, one may pray as many rakahs as is easy for him, either in a two rakah combination with a tashahud and tasleem for each, or all of them together with only a tashahud at the end of the prayer with no tasleem; then end these voluntary night prayers with one rakah of witr with a tashahud and tasleems thus making all of them ‘witr’ or an odd number. The Messenger of Allah (saws) prayed the night voluntary prayers in both ways, thus if one follows any one of the ways he would be in accordance with the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws).

Basically the wisdom or concept is to conclude the day prayers with ‘witr’ or an odd number of rakahs which is fulfilled by the three rakahs of the obligatory Magrib prayers, and the end the night prayers with ‘witr’ or an odd number of rakahs.

Your Question: The way I perform witr prayer is as follows. Since withr is 3 raka`s I pray two rakahs and after the 2 raka`s I don`t sit down to say `atyahat` but instead stand pray normally and then go in ruku. After ruku I say th dua`a in arabic, consisting some dua`s form the quran. Then go into sujood and finish the prayer as normal. Is this the correct way?

The way you have dictated you offer the witr prayers can be traced and is in accordance to the Sunnah of the Prophet (saws); thus it is absolutely correct and acceptable.

Your Question: can some part of my dua in witr prayer be of my own langauge.

The deen of Islam is a way of life and belief in the One Lord, that binds all the believers of different nationalities, different languages, different regions, different colors, different walks of life into the One Ummah and Brotherhood of Islam! Just imagine the chaos and confusion it would create if everyone prayed their prescribed ‘salaah’ in his own language! A believer from Malaysia would never be able to pray in congregation in Japan, etc.! The unity of the muslims would be in absolute shambles and disarray! But by choosing one language, a believer is at home in any mosque in the world and this salaah in one language unifies and sanctifies the unity of the believers into One Brotherhood and One Ummah; all of them united in the worship of their One and Only Lord Creator.

Dear and beloved brother in Islam, although there is no specific prohibition to be found in the authentic Sunnah which prohibits the believers from making supplications in prayer in a language other than Arabic, the absolute majority of the scholars and jurists in Islam are of the opinion that to maintain the sanctity of prayer and of the Brotherhood of the Ummah, when one is in the actual rite of ‘salah’, it is best and preferred that the person offer his full prayer in the Arabic language, including his supplications to the Lord Most High.

But at all other times other than the prescribed rite of prayer, if one is not comfortable or does not understand the Arabic language, there is absolutely no harm in making supplications to their Lord Most Gracious in any language of their choice….for without an iota of a doubt, our Lord Most High hears and responds to every supplication of His believing and repentant slaves.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 186:

And if My servants ask you, O Prophet, concerning Me, tell them that I am quite near to them. I hear and answer the prayer of the suppliant, when he calls on Me. So let them respond to My call and believe in Me. (Convey this to them), perhaps they may be guided aright!

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chater 40 Surah Mumin verse 60:

And Your Lord says, “Call upon Me. I will answer your prayers. Those who disdain My worship on account of arrogance, shall certainly enter Hell in disgrace!”

Nu'man b. Bashir reported that the Prophet (saws), said, "Verily! Supplication is worship!"

Narrated by Ahmad and Sunan.

Abu Hurairah reported, "The Prophet (saws) said, "Nothing is more dear to Allah than one's supplication to Him.''

Narrated by Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah.

Salman reported that the Prophet (saws), said, "Your Lord, the Blessed and the Exalted One, is Modest and Generous, and He loathes to turn away His servant empty-handed when he raises his hands to Him in supplication."

Narrated by Ahmad and Ibn Hibban.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan