How many rak’ahs does witr prayer consist of? It is said that witr prayer is one rak’ah; is it true?

Some people say that the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) usually performed witr prayer as one rak’ah. How true is it?

Dear Brother / Sister,

According to Hanafi madhhab, witr prayer consists of three rak’ahs. According to Shafiis, the minimum number of rak’ahs of witr prayer is one and the maximum is eleven. According to Malikis and Hanbalis, witr prayer is one rak’ah (Prof. Dr. Wahba Zuhayli, İslam Fıkhı Ansiklopedisi)

“Witr is certain. Anyone who wants to perform witr prayer as five rak’ahs should pray so. Those who want to perform it as three rak’ahs should pray so and those who want to perform it as a single rak’ah should do so.” (Nasai, Qiyamul-Layl, 40; Abu Dawud, Witr, 3; Ibn Majah, Iqamah, 123)

Hz. Aisha said, “The Prophet performed witr as three rak’ahs and saluted at the end of the third rak’ah.” (az-Zaylai, Nasbur-Raya, II/118)

Ibn Umar and Ibn Abbas said, “Witr prayer is one rak’ah performed at the end of the night.” (Muslim, Musafirun, 153; Abu Dawud, Witr, 3; Nasai, Qiyamul-Layl, 34)

Acting upon the hadiths above, Abu Hanifa regarded witr prayer as wajib like eid prayers. According to Abu Yusuf, Imam Muhammad and the imams of the other three madhhabs, witr prayer is sunnah muakkadah.

- According to Hanafis, witr prayer consists of three rak’ahs and salutation is at the end of the third rak’ah. They show the hadith narrated by Hz. Aisha as evidence

- According to Malikis, witr prayer is one rak’ah. There are two rak’ahs of sunnah performed after the fard of night prayer (isha) before it. They are separated by salutation.

- According to Hanbalis, witr prayer is one rak’ah. However, it can also be performed as three or more rak’ahs.

- According to Shafiis, the minimum number of rak’ahs of witr prayer is one and the maximum is eleven. If more than one rak’ah is to be performed, intention is made for two rak’ahs and salutation is uttered at the end. Then, intention is made for one rak’ah of witr prayer and salutation is uttered at the end. (al-Qasani, Badaius Sanai’ Beirut, 1974, I, 270 ff; az-Zuhayli, al-Fiqhul-Islami wa Adillatuhu, Damascus, 1984, I/820)

Questions on Islam