Witr prayer: how to pray it, its time and the qunut dua

صَلَاةُ الوِتْر

Witr is the odd-numbered prayer that closes the night prayers. The Prophet ﷺ never left it, whether travelling or at home.

Witr prayer: its time, the number of rak‘ahs, the surahs to recite and the qunut dua, on Muslim Alim
Witr prayer: a prayer rug in a bedroom at night, soft lamp and a window on the full moon
Witr closes the night prayer.

How to pray witr in three rak‘ahs

  1. First rak‘ah: Al-Fatiha then Surah Al-A‘la.
  2. Second rak‘ah: Al-Fatiha then Al-Kafirun. You may say the salam here (2 + 1), or continue without sitting for the tashahhud.
  3. Third rak‘ah: Al-Fatiha then Al-Ikhlas.
  4. Say the qunut dua, hands raised, before or after bowing.
  5. End the prayer with the tashahhud and the salam.

This choice of surahs is reported by Ubayy ibn Ka‘b (An-Nasa’i, 1729). For the basic movements, see how to pray.

The qunut dua

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
Allahumma ihdini 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, grant me wellbeing among those You have granted wellbeing, take care of me among those You have taken care of, bless what You have given me, and protect me from the evil of what You have decreed. You decree and none can decree against You. The one You support is never humiliated. Blessed are You, our Lord, and Exalted.”

Abu Dawud, 1425; At-Tirmidhi, 464
A mosque in the last third of the night, deep blue sky before dawn and a lit minaret
The last third of the night, the best time for witr.

The best time

“Our Lord descends every night to the lowest heaven when the last third of the night remains, and says: Who is calling upon Me, that I may answer him?” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 1145). During Ramadan, witr is prayed in congregation after taraweeh. After witr, say three times Subhana al-Malik al-Quddus (An-Nasa’i, 1699).

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Frequently asked questions

You may be wondering…

Is witr obligatory?

For most scholars, it is a highly emphasised sunnah that the Prophet ﷺ never left, even when travelling. The Hanafi school considers it wajib (necessary). “Allah is Witr (One) and He loves the witr” (Sahih Muslim, 2677).

When is witr prayed?

Between the isha prayer and dawn (fajr). Whoever fears not waking up prays it before sleeping; whoever gets up at night prays it at the end of the night, which is better (Sahih Muslim, 755).

How many rak‘ahs is witr?

At least one rak‘ah, most often three, and up to eleven. The Prophet ﷺ said: “The night prayer is two by two; if one of you fears the dawn, let him pray one rak‘ah that makes odd what he has prayed” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 990).

Which dua is said in witr?

The qunut dua taught by the Prophet ﷺ to Al-Hasan: Allahumma ihdini fiman hadayt… (Abu Dawud, 1425). It is said after the recitation of the last rak‘ah, before or after bowing.

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