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:

As saalam likum brother

got ur answer on how to pray tahajud i couldnt even understand a single point from the below para.

pls make it simpler and explain

jazakalah

Nature and number of rak`at for witr

It is permissible to perform the witr by praying two rak`at [and concluding them] and then praying one rak`ah with one tashahud and taslim. Likewise, it is allowed to pray all the rak`at with two tashahuds and one taslim. One may pray a number of rak`at, 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).

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Answer:

Explain how to pray witr prayer rakahs

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.

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].'

Respected brother, we sincerely and humbly seek your forgiveness and above all the forgiveness of Allah Subhanah if what was not quoted by us verbatim from the authentic records of ‘Fiqh-us-Sunnah’ was not clear or not understood. The shortcoming is indeed ours, and if Allah Wills and Helps us, we will try to clarify the issue of praying the ‘tahajjud’ (late night) and ‘witr’ prayers in accordance with the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws).

Firstly, allow us to clarify a few points:

1. Although the ‘tahajjud’ or late night prayers were obligatory upon the Prophet (saws), they are not obligatory upon the believers…..they are considered optional prayers for the believers. If one offers them, they will earn a huge reward from their Lord; and if for any reason one chooses to abstain, there is no sin upon them.
2. ‘Witr’ literally means odd (number of rakahs), and the ‘witr’ too are not obligatory, but rather optional prayers. The Messenger of Allah (saws) time and time again exhorted the believers to offer the ‘witr’ prayers, and thus they are considered an extremely preferred Sunnah. The Messenger of Allah (saws) guided the believers to make the ‘witr’ prayers the last prayer of the optional night prayers.
3. There is absolutely no limit to the number of rakahs one may offer in their ‘tahajjud’ or ‘qiyam-ul-layl’ optional night prayers. One may offer as few as two-rakahs, or one may offer as many as a thousand rakahs….it is entirely upto the individual, or whatever is easy or convenient for them. The Messenger of Allah (saws) guided the believers to make the ‘witr’ the last prayer of the night prayers; thus one should end the ‘tahajjud’ prayers with an odd number rakah (1 or 3 or 5, etc.).

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.'"

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].'

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 2.112 Narrated by Abdullah bin Umar

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

The ‘tahajjud’ or ‘qiyaam-ul-layl’ or the late night optional prayers can be offered in any one of these following ways, each of which have evidence in the established Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws).

Option-1:

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.

One may offer as many even number of rakahs as one wills in two rakah combinations, and conclude each set of two-rakahs with a ‘tashahud’ and a set of ‘tasleems’. When one has finished offering their optional night prayers, one should stand up and offer one-rakah of ‘witr’ prayer, and conclude that ‘witr’ prayer with a ‘tashahud’ and a set of ‘tasleems’.

For example one wishes to offer 10-rakahs of ‘tahajjud’; thus after every two-rakahs, one would sit and recite a ‘tashahud’ and a set of ‘tasleems’. After one has done this five times (2x5=10), one would get up and offer only one single rakah (of witr), then sit and recite the ‘tashahud’ and a set of ‘tasleems’; and thus conclude his optional night prayers with the ‘witr’ (odd number of rakahs).

Option-2:

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 offer as many even number of rakahs as one wills without sitting for ‘tashahud’ until the penultimate rakah; then sit and offer the ‘tashahud’ only, then get up again and offer one-rakah of witr, then sit and offer another ‘tashahud’ and a set of ‘tasleems’ to end the prayer.

For example one wishes to offer 10-rakahs in their optional late night prayers; thus one would offer 10-rakahs one after another without sitting for ‘tashahud’ until one has finished all the 10-rakahs in one stretch. At the end of the 10^th rakah, one would sit and recite the ‘tashahud’ only, then get up and offer one more rakah of witr, then sit and recite the ‘tashahud’ and one set of ‘tasleems’ to end the prayer.

Option-3:

One may also make only one tashahud and the taslim, in the last rak'ah of witr.

One may offer as many odd-number rakahs as one wills without sitting for the ‘tashahud’ until the very end of the prayer, and concluding the prayer with a set of ‘tasleems’.

For example one wishes to offer a total of 11 rakahs (10 rakahs of optional prayer + 1 rakah of witr). One would recite all the eleven rakahs one after another in one stretch. When one has finished the 11^th rakah, one would sit and recite the ‘tashahud’ and a set of ‘tasleems’ and thus conclude their prayer.

If one offers their optional late night prayers in any one of the above mentioned 3-formats, they would be in accordance with the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws), Insha Allah.

Respected brother in Islam, if the matter of ‘tahajuud’ or ‘witr’ prayers is still not clear, please do write back to us and if Allah Wills and Helps us, we will try our best to clarify any questions, queries, or clarifications which might arise.

In all sincerity and humility brother, we again apologize for our shortcomings in properly explaining the guidance and do hope and pray that you will forgive us.

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

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan