How to pray witr, with Dua al-Qunoot
Witr is the odd-numbered prayer that closes the night. Follow the Hanafi three rakahs step by step, with the qunut before ruku, or switch to the method of the other madhhabs.
Witr comes after Isha. Intend in your heart the three rakahs of witr, then say the opening takbir. Say Allahu akbar, raising your hands so the thumbs are near the earlobes (women: to the shoulders), then fold them: men below the navel, women on the chest.
اللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ
Allāhu akbar
Allah is the Greatest.
Say quietly, then seek refuge and say Bismillah:
سُبْحَانَكَ اللّٰهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَتَعَالٰى جَدُّكَ وَلَا إِلٰهَ غَيْرُكَ
Subḥānakallāhumma wa biḥamdika wa tabārakasmuka wa taʿālā jadduka wa lā ilāha ghayruk
Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise. Blessed is Your name, exalted is Your majesty, and there is no god but You.
Sunan Abi Dawud and Jami at-Tirmidhi, from Aishah and Abu Said al-Khudri.
أَعُوْذُ بِاللّٰهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطٰنِ الرَّجِيْمِ بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
Aʿūdhu billāhi minash-shayṭānir-rajīm. Bismillāhir-raḥmānir-raḥīm
I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan. In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Quran 16:98; the basmalah begins every surah.
Recite Al-Fatiha, then a surah. The sunnah is Al-A'la in the first rakah, Al-Kafirun in the second and Al-Ikhlas in the third (Sunan an-Nasai 1699). Any surah is valid. In every rakah of witr a surah after Al-Fatiha is wajib.
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ﴿١﴾ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ ﴿٢﴾ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ﴿٣﴾ مَٰلِكِ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّينِ ﴿٤﴾ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ ﴿٥﴾ ٱهْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَٰطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمَ ﴿٦﴾ صِرَٰطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ ٱلْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا ٱلضَّآلِّينَ ﴿٧﴾
Bismillaahir Rahmaanir Raheem Alhamdu lillaahi Rabbil 'aalameen Ar-Rahmaanir-Raheem Maaliki Yawmid-Deen Iyyaaka na'budu wa Iyyaaka nasta'een Ihdinas-Siraatal-Mustaqeem Siraatal-lazeena an'amta 'alaihim ghayril-maghdoobi 'alaihim wa lad-daaalleen
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. [All] praise is [due] to Allah, Lord of the worlds - The Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful, Sovereign of the Day of Recompense. It is You we worship and You we ask for help. Guide us to the straight path - The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.
Quran 1:1-7 (Surah Al-Fatiha), translation by Sahih International.
سَبِّحِ ٱسْمَ رَبِّكَ ٱلْأَعْلَى ﴿١﴾ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ فَسَوَّىٰ ﴿٢﴾ وَٱلَّذِى قَدَّرَ فَهَدَىٰ ﴿٣﴾ وَٱلَّذِىٓ أَخْرَجَ ٱلْمَرْعَىٰ ﴿٤﴾ فَجَعَلَهُۥ غُثَآءً أَحْوَىٰ ﴿٥﴾ سَنُقْرِئُكَ فَلَا تَنسَىٰٓ ﴿٦﴾ إِلَّا مَا شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ يَعْلَمُ ٱلْجَهْرَ وَمَا يَخْفَىٰ ﴿٧﴾ وَنُيَسِّرُكَ لِلْيُسْرَىٰ ﴿٨﴾ فَذَكِّرْ إِن نَّفَعَتِ ٱلذِّكْرَىٰ ﴿٩﴾ سَيَذَّكَّرُ مَن يَخْشَىٰ ﴿١٠﴾ وَيَتَجَنَّبُهَا ٱلْأَشْقَى ﴿١١﴾ ٱلَّذِى يَصْلَى ٱلنَّارَ ٱلْكُبْرَىٰ ﴿١٢﴾ ثُمَّ لَا يَمُوتُ فِيهَا وَلَا يَحْيَىٰ ﴿١٣﴾ قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَن تَزَكَّىٰ ﴿١٤﴾ وَذَكَرَ ٱسْمَ رَبِّهِۦ فَصَلَّىٰ ﴿١٥﴾ بَلْ تُؤْثِرُونَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنْيَا ﴿١٦﴾ وَٱلْءَاخِرَةُ خَيْرٌۭ وَأَبْقَىٰٓ ﴿١٧﴾ إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَفِى ٱلصُّحُفِ ٱلْأُولَىٰ ﴿١٨﴾ صُحُفِ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَمُوسَىٰ ﴿١٩﴾
Sabbihisma Rabbikal A'laa Allazee khalaqa fasawwaa Wallazee qaddara fahadaa Wallazeee akhrajal mar'aa Faja'alahoo ghusaaa'an ahwaa Sanuqri'uka falaa tansaaa Illaa maa shaaa'al laah; innahoo ya'lamul jahra wa maa yakhfaa Wa nu-yassiruka lilyusraa Fazakkir in nafa'atizzikraa Sa yazzakkaru maiyakhshaa Wa yatajannabuhal ashqaa Allazee yaslan Naaral kubraa Summa laa yamootu feehaa wa laa yahyaa Qad aflaha man tazakkaa Wa zakaras ma Rabbihee fasallaa Bal tu'siroonal hayaatad dunyaa Wal Aakhiratu khairunw wa abqaa Inna haazaa lafis suhu fil oolaa Suhufi Ibraaheema wa Moosaa
Exalt the name of your Lord, the Most High, Who created and proportioned And who destined and [then] guided And who brings out the pasture And [then] makes it black stubble. We will make you recite, [O Muhammad], and you will not forget, Except what Allah should will. Indeed, He knows what is declared and what is hidden. And We will ease you toward ease. So remind, if the reminder should benefit; He who fears [Allah] will be reminded. But the wretched one will avoid it - [He] who will [enter and] burn in the greatest Fire, Neither dying therein nor living. He has certainly succeeded who purifies himself And mentions the name of his Lord and prays. But you prefer the worldly life, While the Hereafter is better and more enduring. Indeed, this is in the former scriptures, The scriptures of Abraham and Moses.
Quran 87:1-19 (Surah Al-A'la), translation by Sahih International.
Bow, rise, and make the two sajdahs as in any prayer, then stand up for the second rakah saying Allahu akbar.
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيْمِ
Subḥāna rabbiyal-ʿaẓīm (3 times)
Glory be to my Lord, the Magnificent.
Sahih Muslim 772, from Hudhayfah.
سَمِعَ اللّٰهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْدُ
Samiʿallāhu liman ḥamidah. Rabbanā lakal-ḥamd
Allah hears the one who praises Him. Our Lord, to You belongs all praise.
Sahih al-Bukhari 796.
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلٰى
Subḥāna rabbiyal-aʿlā (3 times)
Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.
Sahih Muslim 772, from Hudhayfah.
Say Bismillah, recite Al-Fatiha, then Al-Kafirun or another surah. Then ruku and two sajdahs.
قُلْ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْكَٰفِرُونَ ﴿١﴾ لَآ أَعْبُدُ مَا تَعْبُدُونَ ﴿٢﴾ وَلَآ أَنتُمْ عَٰبِدُونَ مَآ أَعْبُدُ ﴿٣﴾ وَلَآ أَنَا۠ عَابِدٌۭ مَّا عَبَدتُّمْ ﴿٤﴾ وَلَآ أَنتُمْ عَٰبِدُونَ مَآ أَعْبُدُ ﴿٥﴾ لَكُمْ دِينُكُمْ وَلِىَ دِينِ ﴿٦﴾
Qul yaa-ai yuhal kaafiroon Laa a'budu ma t'abudoon Wa laa antum 'aabidoona maa a'bud Wa laa ana 'abidum maa 'abattum Wa laa antum 'aabidoona ma a'bud Lakum deenukum wa liya deen.
Say, "O disbelievers, I do not worship what you worship. Nor are you worshippers of what I worship. Nor will I be a worshipper of what you worship. Nor will you be worshippers of what I worship. For you is your religion, and for me is my religion."
Quran 109:1-6 (Surah Al-Kafirun), translation by Sahih International.
After the second rakah, sit and recite the tashahhud only. Do not give salam. Stand up for the third rakah saying Allahu akbar.
اَلتَّحِيَّاتُ لِلّٰهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ، اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلٰى عِبَادِ اللّٰهِ الصّٰلِحِيْنَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَّا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُوْلُهُ
At-taḥiyyātu lillāhi waṣ-ṣalawātu waṭ-ṭayyibāt. As-salāmu ʿalayka ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuh. As-salāmu ʿalaynā wa ʿalā ʿibādillāhiṣ-ṣāliḥīn. Ashhadu al lā ilāha illallāhu wa ashhadu anna Muḥammadan ʿabduhū wa rasūluh
All greetings, prayers and good things are for Allah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.
The tashahhud of Ibn Masud: Sahih al-Bukhari 831; Sahih Muslim 402.
Say Bismillah, recite Al-Fatiha, then Al-Ikhlas or another surah.
قُلْ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ﴿١﴾ ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَدُ ﴿٢﴾ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ ﴿٣﴾ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌۢ ﴿٤﴾
Qul huwal laahu ahad Allah hus-samad Lam yalid wa lam yoolad Wa lam yakul-lahu kufuwan ahad
Say, "He is Allah, [who is] One, Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, Nor is there to Him any equivalent."
Quran 112:1-4 (Surah Al-Ikhlas), translation by Sahih International.
Before going into ruku, say Allahu akbar and raise your hands to the ears as at the start of the prayer. Then fold them again.
اللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ
Allāhu akbar
Allah is the Greatest.
Recite the qunut quietly, still standing. If you do not know it yet, say Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanatan wa fil-akhirati hasanatan wa qina adhaban-nar, or Allahummaghfir li three times, until you learn it.
اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْتَعِيْنُكَ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَنُؤْمِنُ بِكَ وَنَتَوَكَّلُ عَلَيْكَ وَنُثْنِيْ عَلَيْكَ الْخَيْرَ وَنَشْكُرُكَ وَلَا نَكْفُرُكَ وَنَخْلَعُ وَنَتْرُكُ مَنْ يَّفْجُرُكَ، اَللّٰهُمَّ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَلَكَ نُصَلِّيْ وَنَسْجُدُ وَإِلَيْكَ نَسْعٰى وَنَحْفِدُ وَنَرْجُوْ رَحْمَتَكَ وَنَخْشٰى عَذَابَكَ إِنَّ عَذَابَكَ بِالْكُفَّارِ مُلْحِقٌ
Allāhumma innā nastaʿīnuka wa nastaghfiruka wa nuʾminu bika wa natawakkalu ʿalayka wa nuthnī ʿalaykal-khayr, wa nashkuruka wa lā nakfuruk, wa nakhlaʿu wa natruku man yafjuruk. Allāhumma iyyāka naʿbudu wa laka nuṣallī wa nasjudu wa ilayka nasʿā wa naḥfidu wa narjū raḥmataka wa nakhshā ʿadhābak, inna ʿadhābaka bil-kuffāri mulḥiq
O Allah, we seek Your help and forgiveness, we believe in You and rely on You, we praise You with all good, we thank You and are not ungrateful, and we leave whoever disobeys You. O Allah, You alone we worship, to You we pray and prostrate, to You we hasten. We hope for Your mercy and fear Your punishment. Your punishment will reach the disbelievers.
Narrated from Umar ibn al-Khattab (al-Bayhaqi, al-Sunan al-Kubra; Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah). The wording used in the Hanafi school.
Say Allahu akbar, go into ruku, rise, and make the two sajdahs.
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيْمِ
Subḥāna rabbiyal-ʿaẓīm (3 times)
Glory be to my Lord, the Magnificent.
Sahih Muslim 772, from Hudhayfah.
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلٰى
Subḥāna rabbiyal-aʿlā (3 times)
Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.
Sahih Muslim 772, from Hudhayfah.
Sit and recite the tashahhud, the salawat on the Prophet ﷺ and a dua.
اَلتَّحِيَّاتُ لِلّٰهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ، اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلٰى عِبَادِ اللّٰهِ الصّٰلِحِيْنَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَّا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُوْلُهُ
At-taḥiyyātu lillāhi waṣ-ṣalawātu waṭ-ṭayyibāt. As-salāmu ʿalayka ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuh. As-salāmu ʿalaynā wa ʿalā ʿibādillāhiṣ-ṣāliḥīn. Ashhadu al lā ilāha illallāhu wa ashhadu anna Muḥammadan ʿabduhū wa rasūluh
All greetings, prayers and good things are for Allah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.
The tashahhud of Ibn Masud: Sahih al-Bukhari 831; Sahih Muslim 402.
اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَّعَلٰى اٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلٰى إِبْرَاهِيْمَ وَعَلٰى اٰلِ إِبْرَاهِيْمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيْدٌ مَّجِيْدٌ، اَللّٰهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَّعَلٰى اٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلٰى إِبْرَاهِيْمَ وَعَلٰى اٰلِ إِبْرَاهِيْمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيْدٌ مَّجِيْدٌ
Allāhumma ṣalli ʿalā Muḥammadin wa ʿalā āli Muḥammad, kamā ṣallayta ʿalā Ibrāhīma wa ʿalā āli Ibrāhīm, innaka ḥamīdum majīd. Allāhumma bārik ʿalā Muḥammadin wa ʿalā āli Muḥammad, kamā bārakta ʿalā Ibrāhīma wa ʿalā āli Ibrāhīm, innaka ḥamīdum majīd
O Allah, send prayers on Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You sent prayers on Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. You are Praiseworthy, Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. You are Praiseworthy, Glorious.
Sahih al-Bukhari 3370, from Kab ibn Ujrah.
رَبِّ اجْعَلْنِيْ مُقِيْمَ الصَّلٰوةِ وَمِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِيْ رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَآءِ رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لِيْ وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ يَوْمَ يَقُوْمُ الْحِسَابُ
Rabbij-ʿalnī muqīmaṣ-ṣalāti wa min dhurriyyatī, rabbanā wa taqabbal duʿāʾ. Rabbanagh-fir lī wa li-wālidayya wa lil-muʾminīna yawma yaqūmul-ḥisāb
My Lord, make me one who keeps up the prayer, and my descendants too. Our Lord, accept my prayer. Our Lord, forgive me, my parents and the believers on the Day the reckoning is set up. (Quran 14:40-41)
Quran 14:40-41.
Turn to the right and then to the left, saying the salam each time. Your witr is complete.
اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ
As-salāmu ʿalaykum wa raḥmatullāh
Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah.
Sunan Abi Dawud and Jami at-Tirmidhi, from Ibn Masud.
Pray two rakahs (the shaf) like any two-rakah sunnah prayer, reciting Al-A'la in the first and Al-Kafirun in the second, and finish with salam.
سَبِّحِ ٱسْمَ رَبِّكَ ٱلْأَعْلَى ﴿١﴾ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ فَسَوَّىٰ ﴿٢﴾ وَٱلَّذِى قَدَّرَ فَهَدَىٰ ﴿٣﴾ وَٱلَّذِىٓ أَخْرَجَ ٱلْمَرْعَىٰ ﴿٤﴾ فَجَعَلَهُۥ غُثَآءً أَحْوَىٰ ﴿٥﴾ سَنُقْرِئُكَ فَلَا تَنسَىٰٓ ﴿٦﴾ إِلَّا مَا شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ يَعْلَمُ ٱلْجَهْرَ وَمَا يَخْفَىٰ ﴿٧﴾ وَنُيَسِّرُكَ لِلْيُسْرَىٰ ﴿٨﴾ فَذَكِّرْ إِن نَّفَعَتِ ٱلذِّكْرَىٰ ﴿٩﴾ سَيَذَّكَّرُ مَن يَخْشَىٰ ﴿١٠﴾ وَيَتَجَنَّبُهَا ٱلْأَشْقَى ﴿١١﴾ ٱلَّذِى يَصْلَى ٱلنَّارَ ٱلْكُبْرَىٰ ﴿١٢﴾ ثُمَّ لَا يَمُوتُ فِيهَا وَلَا يَحْيَىٰ ﴿١٣﴾ قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَن تَزَكَّىٰ ﴿١٤﴾ وَذَكَرَ ٱسْمَ رَبِّهِۦ فَصَلَّىٰ ﴿١٥﴾ بَلْ تُؤْثِرُونَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنْيَا ﴿١٦﴾ وَٱلْءَاخِرَةُ خَيْرٌۭ وَأَبْقَىٰٓ ﴿١٧﴾ إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَفِى ٱلصُّحُفِ ٱلْأُولَىٰ ﴿١٨﴾ صُحُفِ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَمُوسَىٰ ﴿١٩﴾
Sabbihisma Rabbikal A'laa Allazee khalaqa fasawwaa Wallazee qaddara fahadaa Wallazeee akhrajal mar'aa Faja'alahoo ghusaaa'an ahwaa Sanuqri'uka falaa tansaaa Illaa maa shaaa'al laah; innahoo ya'lamul jahra wa maa yakhfaa Wa nu-yassiruka lilyusraa Fazakkir in nafa'atizzikraa Sa yazzakkaru maiyakhshaa Wa yatajannabuhal ashqaa Allazee yaslan Naaral kubraa Summa laa yamootu feehaa wa laa yahyaa Qad aflaha man tazakkaa Wa zakaras ma Rabbihee fasallaa Bal tu'siroonal hayaatad dunyaa Wal Aakhiratu khairunw wa abqaa Inna haazaa lafis suhu fil oolaa Suhufi Ibraaheema wa Moosaa
Exalt the name of your Lord, the Most High, Who created and proportioned And who destined and [then] guided And who brings out the pasture And [then] makes it black stubble. We will make you recite, [O Muhammad], and you will not forget, Except what Allah should will. Indeed, He knows what is declared and what is hidden. And We will ease you toward ease. So remind, if the reminder should benefit; He who fears [Allah] will be reminded. But the wretched one will avoid it - [He] who will [enter and] burn in the greatest Fire, Neither dying therein nor living. He has certainly succeeded who purifies himself And mentions the name of his Lord and prays. But you prefer the worldly life, While the Hereafter is better and more enduring. Indeed, this is in the former scriptures, The scriptures of Abraham and Moses.
Quran 87:1-19 (Surah Al-A'la), translation by Sahih International.
قُلْ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْكَٰفِرُونَ ﴿١﴾ لَآ أَعْبُدُ مَا تَعْبُدُونَ ﴿٢﴾ وَلَآ أَنتُمْ عَٰبِدُونَ مَآ أَعْبُدُ ﴿٣﴾ وَلَآ أَنَا۠ عَابِدٌۭ مَّا عَبَدتُّمْ ﴿٤﴾ وَلَآ أَنتُمْ عَٰبِدُونَ مَآ أَعْبُدُ ﴿٥﴾ لَكُمْ دِينُكُمْ وَلِىَ دِينِ ﴿٦﴾
Qul yaa-ai yuhal kaafiroon Laa a'budu ma t'abudoon Wa laa antum 'aabidoona maa a'bud Wa laa ana 'abidum maa 'abattum Wa laa antum 'aabidoona ma a'bud Lakum deenukum wa liya deen.
Say, "O disbelievers, I do not worship what you worship. Nor are you worshippers of what I worship. Nor will I be a worshipper of what you worship. Nor will you be worshippers of what I worship. For you is your religion, and for me is my religion."
Quran 109:1-6 (Surah Al-Kafirun), translation by Sahih International.
Stand again and intend one rakah of witr. Say the takbir, then recite Al-Fatiha and Al-Ikhlas. The Shafi'i school adds Al-Falaq and An-Nas.
اللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ
Allāhu akbar
Allah is the Greatest.
قُلْ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ﴿١﴾ ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَدُ ﴿٢﴾ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ ﴿٣﴾ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌۢ ﴿٤﴾
Qul huwal laahu ahad Allah hus-samad Lam yalid wa lam yoolad Wa lam yakul-lahu kufuwan ahad
Say, "He is Allah, [who is] One, Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, Nor is there to Him any equivalent."
Quran 112:1-4 (Surah Al-Ikhlas), translation by Sahih International.
Go into ruku and rise. Standing after the ruku, raise your hands as in dua and recite the qunut that the Prophet ﷺ taught al-Hasan. The Shafi'i school does this in the second half of Ramadan, the Hanbali school all year.
سَمِعَ اللّٰهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْدُ
Samiʿallāhu liman ḥamidah. Rabbanā lakal-ḥamd
Allah hears the one who praises Him. Our Lord, to You belongs all praise.
Sahih al-Bukhari 796.
اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِنِي فِيمَنْ هَدَيْتَ، وَعَافِنِي فِيمَنْ عَافَيْتَ، وَتَوَلَّنِي فِيمَنْ تَوَلَّيْتَ، وَبَارِكْ لِي فِيمَا أَعْطَيْتَ، وَقِنِي شَرَّ مَا قَضَيْتَ، إِنَّكَ تَقْضِي وَلاَ يُقْضَى عَلَيْكَ، وَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَذِلُّ مَنْ وَالَيْتَ، وَلاَ يَعِزُّ مَنْ عَادَيْتَ، تَبَارَكْتَ رَبَّنَا وَتَعَالَيْتَ
Allāhummahdinī fīman hadayt, wa ʿāfinī fīman ʿāfayt, wa tawallanī fīman tawallayt, wa bārik lī fīmā aʿṭayt, wa qinī sharra mā qaḍayt, innaka taqḍī wa lā yuqḍā ʿalayk, wa innahū lā yadhillu man wālayt, wa lā yaʿizzu man ʿādayt, tabārakta rabbanā wa taʿālayt
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 evil of what You have decreed. You decree and nothing is decreed against You. Whoever You befriend is never humbled, and whoever You oppose is never honoured. Blessed are You, our Lord, and Exalted.
Sunan Abi Dawud 1425, from al-Hasan ibn Ali, who said the Prophet ﷺ taught him these words for the witr. Graded sahih by al-Albani.
Make the two sajdahs, sit for the tashahhud, the salawat and a dua, and finish with salam.
اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ
As-salāmu ʿalaykum wa raḥmatullāh
Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah.
Sunan Abi Dawud and Jami at-Tirmidhi, from Ibn Masud.
After the salam, the Prophet ﷺ would say three times, drawing out the third:
سُبْحَانَ الْمَلِكِ الْقُدُّوسِ
Subḥānal-malikil-quddūs (three times, the third aloud and drawn out)
Glory be to the King, the Most Holy.
Sunan an-Nasai 1699 and Sunan Abi Dawud 1430, from Ubayy ibn Kab. Graded sahih by al-Albani.
- Ruling
- Wajib in the Hanafi school; a confirmed sunnah in the others
- Time
- After Isha until Fajr
- Rakahs
- 3 with one salam (Hanafi)
- Qunut
- Before ruku in the third rakah, all year (Hanafi)
The method shown first is the Hanafi one. Where the other madhhabs differ, the guide below explains how. Use the arrow keys to move between steps.
Guide
Witr, what it is and how it differs
In the Hanafi school, witr is three rakahs prayed after Isha with one salam. You sit for the tashahhud after the second rakah, and in the third rakah you say Allahu akbar with raised hands before ruku and recite Dua al-Qunut. It is wajib, a step below fard, so it should never be left. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Witr is a duty, so whoever does not pray witr is not of us."1
Is witr mandatory?
Witr is wajib. Leaving it on purpose is a sin, and a missed witr must be made up (qada) as three rakahs. It is three rakahs with one salam, with a sitting after the second, and the qunut is recited before ruku in the third rakah every night of the year.2
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- A confirmed sunnah, from one to eleven rakahs. Most often two rakahs with a salam, then one. The qunut is recited after ruku in the last rakah, in the second half of Ramadan.
- Maliki
- A confirmed sunnah: one rakah after an even prayer (the shaf). There is no qunut in witr; the Maliki qunut is in Fajr.
- Hanbali
- A confirmed sunnah, one to eleven rakahs, usually two then one. The qunut is recited after ruku in the last rakah, all year.
Dua al-Qunoot in witr
The Hanafi school recites the qunut narrated from Umar ibn al-Khattab:
اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْتَعِيْنُكَ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَنُؤْمِنُ بِكَ وَنَتَوَكَّلُ عَلَيْكَ وَنُثْنِيْ عَلَيْكَ الْخَيْرَ وَنَشْكُرُكَ وَلَا نَكْفُرُكَ وَنَخْلَعُ وَنَتْرُكُ مَنْ يَّفْجُرُكَ، اَللّٰهُمَّ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَلَكَ نُصَلِّيْ وَنَسْجُدُ وَإِلَيْكَ نَسْعٰى وَنَحْفِدُ وَنَرْجُوْ رَحْمَتَكَ وَنَخْشٰى عَذَابَكَ إِنَّ عَذَابَكَ بِالْكُفَّارِ مُلْحِقٌ
Allāhumma innā nastaʿīnuka wa nastaghfiruka wa nuʾminu bika wa natawakkalu ʿalayka wa nuthnī ʿalaykal-khayr, wa nashkuruka wa lā nakfuruk, wa nakhlaʿu wa natruku man yafjuruk. Allāhumma iyyāka naʿbudu wa laka nuṣallī wa nasjudu wa ilayka nasʿā wa naḥfidu wa narjū raḥmataka wa nakhshā ʿadhābak, inna ʿadhābaka bil-kuffāri mulḥiq
O Allah, we seek Your help and forgiveness, we believe in You and rely on You, we praise You with all good, we thank You and are not ungrateful, and we leave whoever disobeys You. O Allah, You alone we worship, to You we pray and prostrate, to You we hasten. We hope for Your mercy and fear Your punishment. Your punishment will reach the disbelievers.
Narrated from Umar ibn al-Khattab (al-Bayhaqi, al-Sunan al-Kubra; Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah). The wording used in the Hanafi school.
The Shafi'i and Hanbali schools recite the dua the Prophet ﷺ taught his grandson al-Hasan. Hanafis may add it too:
اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِنِي فِيمَنْ هَدَيْتَ، وَعَافِنِي فِيمَنْ عَافَيْتَ، وَتَوَلَّنِي فِيمَنْ تَوَلَّيْتَ، وَبَارِكْ لِي فِيمَا أَعْطَيْتَ، وَقِنِي شَرَّ مَا قَضَيْتَ، إِنَّكَ تَقْضِي وَلاَ يُقْضَى عَلَيْكَ، وَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَذِلُّ مَنْ وَالَيْتَ، وَلاَ يَعِزُّ مَنْ عَادَيْتَ، تَبَارَكْتَ رَبَّنَا وَتَعَالَيْتَ
Allāhummahdinī fīman hadayt, wa ʿāfinī fīman ʿāfayt, wa tawallanī fīman tawallayt, wa bārik lī fīmā aʿṭayt, wa qinī sharra mā qaḍayt, innaka taqḍī wa lā yuqḍā ʿalayk, wa innahū lā yadhillu man wālayt, wa lā yaʿizzu man ʿādayt, tabārakta rabbanā wa taʿālayt
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 evil of what You have decreed. You decree and nothing is decreed against You. Whoever You befriend is never humbled, and whoever You oppose is never honoured. Blessed are You, our Lord, and Exalted.
Sunan Abi Dawud 1425, from al-Hasan ibn Ali, who said the Prophet ﷺ taught him these words for the witr. Graded sahih by al-Albani.
When is the time for witr?
From after the Isha prayer until Fajr begins. If you wake at night for tahajjud, it is better to delay witr until after it. If you might not wake, pray it after Isha. See today's prayer times.
If you forget the qunut
If you remember in ruku, do not stand back up. Carry on, and make the sajdah sahw at the end, because the qunut is wajib in witr in the Hanafi school.
Witr in Ramadan
In Ramadan, witr is prayed in congregation after taraweeh, and the imam recites aloud. Outside Ramadan, Hanafis pray witr alone.
- Sunan Abi Dawud 1419, from Buraydah. Its grading is disputed: al-Hakim graded it sahih, and al-Albani graded it weak. The Hanafi ruling also rests on the command to pray witr and on the Prophet's ﷺ constant practice.
- Al-Marghinani, al-Hidayah, Bab Salat al-Witr; Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar. The other madhhabs' positions are summarised from their standard manuals.
The rulings on this page are pending review by the scholars on our team.
Questions
Good to know
How many rakats is witr?
Three in the Hanafi school, with one salam. In the Shafi'i, Maliki and Hanbali schools witr can be one rakah, or three, five, seven, nine or eleven, and is usually two rakahs then one.
Is witr wajib or sunnah?
Wajib in the Hanafi school, so it must be made up if missed. The Shafi'i, Maliki and Hanbali schools hold that it is a confirmed sunnah.
When do you say Dua al-Qunoot in witr?
In the Hanafi school, in the third rakah after the recitation and before ruku, after saying Allahu akbar with raised hands. The Shafi'i and Hanbali schools say it after rising from ruku.
What if I don't know Dua al-Qunoot?
Say Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanatan wa fil-akhirati hasanatan wa qina adhaban-nar, or Allahummaghfir li three times, until you learn it.
Can I pray witr after tahajjud?
Yes, and it is better if you trust yourself to wake. Witr should be the last prayer of the night, and it is prayed only once.
What happens if I miss witr?
In the Hanafi school, make it up as three rakahs with the qunut, as soon as you can, outside the forbidden times.