Witr Prayer: Time, Rak'aat, How to Pray It, and the Du'a al-Qunut
Witr is the closing prayer of the night — an odd-numbered salah prayed after Isha and before Fajr. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Make Witr the last of your prayers at night.” (Bukhari 998). This guide covers the exact time window, how many rak'aat, all valid methods, the Du'a al-Qunut in full Arabic with translation, and how rulings differ across the four madhabs.
Quick Answer
- Time: After Isha prayer → before Fajr adhan. Last prayer of the night.
- Best time: Last third of the night (after Tahajjud). If no Tahajjud: pray before sleeping.
- Rak'aat: Any odd number — 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, or 11. Most common: 3. Minimum: 1.
- Obligatory? Wajib (Hanafi); Sunnah Mu'akkadah — strongly recommended (Shafi'i/Maliki/Hanbali).
- Du'a al-Qunut: Recited in the final rak'ah — after Ruku' (Shafi'i) or before Ruku' (Hanafi).
What Is Witr Prayer?
Witr (وتر) means “odd” in Arabic — and the defining feature of this prayer is that it has an odd number of rak'aat. It functions as the “seal” of the night's prayers, closing the cycle that begins with Isha and ideally includes Tahajjud or other voluntary prayers before it.
The Prophet ﷺ never abandoned Witr — not while traveling, not while ill. He said:
“Allah is odd (Witr) and loves what is odd. Make Witr the last of your night prayer.”
— Bukhari 6410 (first part); Bukhari 998 (second part)
Witr is distinct from optional nafl prayers in that scholars across all schools treat it with elevated emphasis — it is listed separately from standard Sunnah prayers and most scholars say missing it consistently is blameworthy.
What Time Is Witr Prayer?
Witr's time window is identical to Tahajjud's: after Isha prayer, before the Fajr adhan. Within that window there are two recommended approaches:
Option 1: Pray Witr before sleeping
Pray Isha, then immediately pray your Sunnah rak'aat and Witr before sleeping. This ensures Witr is not forgotten or missed.
Best for: Those not confident they will wake for Tahajjud
Option 2: Delay Witr until end of night
Pray Tahajjud in the last third of the night, then close with Witr just before Fajr. This is the Prophet's ﷺ preferred practice.
Best for: Those who reliably wake for Tahajjud
To find your Isha and Fajr times — which define the Witr window — check your city on Prayer Times Near Me. The Pro plan includes a Witr reminder notification.
How Many Rak'aat Is Witr Prayer?
Any odd number from 1 to 11 is supported by sahih hadith. The table below summarizes the key narrations:
| Number | Source | School Preference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 rak'ah | Multiple narrations; Muslim 752 | Shafi'i, Maliki, Hanbali: valid minimum |
| 3 rak'aat | Widely narrated; Abu Dawud 1422 | Hanafi: required. All schools: most common. |
| 5 or 7 rak'aat | Aisha — Muslim 737 | Prayed continuously with one final tashahhud |
| 9 rak'aat | Aisha — Muslim 746 | Continuous with tashahhud at 8th + final |
| 11 rak'aat | Aisha — Bukhari 1147 | 8 Tahajjud (pairs) + 3 Witr = Prophet's most reported night prayer total |
How to Pray Witr — All Valid Methods
Method 1 — Single Rak'ah Witr (Shafi'i/Maliki/Hanbali)
- 1.Make intention for 1 rak'ah Witr.
- 2.Recite Al-Fatihah + Surah Al-Ikhlas (Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad) — this is Sunnah for the Witr rak'ah.
- 3.After rising from Ruku', recite Du'a al-Qunut (see below) — this applies to Shafi'i; Hanbali recites Qunut only in the second half of Ramadan.
- 4.Complete Sujood and tashahhud as normal. Give salaam.
Method 2 — 3 Rak'aat Witr, Two Separate Parts (Shafi'i/Hanbali)
Pray 2 rak'aat, give salaam, then pray 1 separate rak'ah.
- 1.Pray 2 rak'aat as a normal nafl prayer — Al-Fatihah + sura in each, tashahhud and salaam at end.
- 2.Stand again and pray 1 rak'ah — Al-Fatihah + Al-Ikhlas.
- 3.After rising from Ruku' in this final rak'ah, recite Du'a al-Qunut.
- 4.Complete Sujood, tashahhud, and salaam.
Method 3 — 3 Rak'aat Witr, Continuous (Hanafi)
Pray all 3 rak'aat together without salaam after 2 — like Maghrib in structure but with Qunut in the 3rd rak'ah.
- 1.Pray 2 rak'aat — Al-Fatihah + sura in each. Sit for tashahhud (do not give salaam).
- 2.Stand for 3rd rak'ah — recite Al-Fatihah + sura.
- 3.Before going into Ruku', recite Du'a al-Qunut (Hanafi position: Qunut is before Ruku').
- 4.Complete Ruku', Sujood, tashahhud, and salaam.
Find your Isha and Fajr times
Witr opens after Isha and closes at Fajr adhan. Check both times for your city to plan your night prayer sequence.
Du'a al-Qunut — Arabic, Transliteration, and Translation
Du'a al-Qunut (دعاء القنوت) is the supplication recited during Witr. It was taught by the Prophet ﷺ to his grandson al-Hasan ibn Ali (RA):
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ taught me these words to say in Witr: ‘O Allah, guide me among those You have guided...’”
— Tirmidhi 464, Abu Dawud 1425 — classified Hasan Sahih
Du'a al-Qunut — Full Text
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، وَلَا يَعِزُّ مَنْ عَادَيْتَ، تَبَارَكْتَ رَبَّنَا وَتَعَالَيْتَ
Transliteration
Allāhumma-hdini fīman hadayt, wa 'āfini fīman 'āfayt, wa tawallani fīman tawallayt, wa bārik li fīmā a'ṭayt, wa qini sharra mā qaḍayt. Fa’innaka taqḍī wa lā yuqḍā 'alayk. Wa innahu lā yadhillu man wālayt, wa lā ya'izzu man 'ādayt. Tabārakta Rabbanā wa ta'ālayt.
Translation
“O Allah, guide me among those You have guided. Grant me well-being among those You have granted well-being. Take me as an ally among those You have taken as allies. Bless what You have given me. Protect me from the evil of what You have decreed. For indeed You decree, and nothing is decreed over You. And indeed, the one whom You befriend is never humiliated, and the one whom You oppose is never honoured. Blessed are You, our Lord, and Most High.”
When to Recite Qunut
| Madhab | Position | When in Ramadan |
|---|---|---|
| Hanafi | Before Ruku' in the 3rd rak'ah | Year-round |
| Shafi'i | After rising from Ruku' in the final rak'ah | Year-round |
| Hanbali | After rising from Ruku' in the final rak'ah | All year (some say only last half of Ramadan) |
| Maliki | Before Ruku' in the final rak'ah | Year-round in Witr; not in Fajr (unlike Shafi'i) |
After Du'a al-Qunut it is Sunnah to raise both hands in du'a (Shafi'i) or fold them (Hanafi). You may also add personal supplications in your own language after the standard text — Qunut is a moment of direct supplication to Allah, not a rigid recitation.
Witr, Tahajjud, and the Night Prayer Sequence
Understanding how Witr fits into the broader night prayer structure is important for those who pray Tahajjud:
Optimal night prayer sequence:
What If I Already Prayed Witr But Then Wake for Tahajjud?
The Prophet ﷺ said: “There is no two Witrs in one night.” (Abu Dawud 1439)
If you prayed Witr after Isha and then woke for Tahajjud, do not repeat Witr. Pray your Tahajjud rak'aat in pairs and leave Witr as already done. This is the position of the majority of scholars. The Maliki school allows a second Witr if the first was before midnight and the second is near Fajr — but this is the minority view.
What to Do If You Miss Witr
If you sleep without praying Witr and the Fajr adhan has called, there are two scholarly positions:
Make it up after Fajr prayer (before Dhuhr)
Pray the missed Witr after Fajr — but pray it as an even number (2 rak'aat) rather than odd, according to some scholars, since praying odd after sunrise is unusual. Or simply pray 3 rak'aat as normal. This is the Hanafi ruling (Witr is Wajib; must be made up).
Based on hadith — pray even rak'aat to offset
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever sleeps through Witr, or forgets it, let him pray it when he remembers it or when he wakes.” (Abu Dawud 1431) — this broadly supports making it up at any time.
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Start 14-Day Free TrialFrequently Asked Questions
When is Witr prayer time?
After Isha → before Fajr adhan. It must be the last prayer of the night. Best time: last third of the night, after Tahajjud. If you won't wake up, pray it before sleeping.
How many rak'aat is Witr prayer?
Any odd number: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, or 11. Most common: 3. Minimum: 1 (Shafi'i/Maliki/Hanbali) or 3 (Hanafi — considers 3 Wajib).
Is Witr prayer obligatory (wajib or fard)?
Hanafi: Wajib (must make up if missed). Shafi'i/Maliki/Hanbali: Sunnah Mu'akkadah — strongly recommended but not fard. Missing it consistently is blameworthy in all schools.
What is Du'a al-Qunut in Witr?
A supplication in the final rak'ah: 'Allahumma-hdini fiman hadayt...' — taught by the Prophet ﷺ to al-Hasan (Tirmidhi 464). Recited before Ruku' (Hanafi/Maliki) or after Ruku' (Shafi'i/Hanbali).
Can I pray Witr with 3 rak'aat like Maghrib?
Shafi'i/Hanbali: pray 2 rak'aat with salaam, then 1 separate rak'ah. Hanafi: pray all 3 continuously with one final tashahhud. Both are valid — use your madhab's method.
What if I miss Witr?
Pray it as a make-up after Fajr or during the day. Hanafi: obligatory to make up (qada). Other schools: strongly recommended to make up. Do not pray Witr after Fajr adhan on the same night.
Related Guides
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Plan your Witr and night prayer routine around your exact local prayer times.
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