by Mufti Ghulam Ahmad Chisti
Salaat-ul-Witr is WAAJIB (mandatory) and it comprises three Rak’aat like MAGHRIB, according to the Hadith of Abdullah Ibn Mas’ood and our Mother Ayesha radiallah’anhuma.
It is performed whenever one wakes up during the night from till the beginning of Fajr Salaat. It should be noted that there is no prohibited time for any Salaat in the night.
In the 3rd Rak’aat after reciting Al-Faatiha and adding a short Surah or a few verses; hands are raised to the ears upon saying ALLAHU AKBAR and folded back for Dua Qunoot- a prayer that is recited in the standing position before bowing down for Rukoo.
Witr is always performed individually except in the blessed month of Ramadan. It is highly recommended to perform Witr during Ramadan in Jama’at after the congregational Isha and Taraweeh Salaat. Those who cannot join the congregation should perform Witr individually.
In this situation it is recommended to perform Witr after the Tahajjud Salaat once there is an assurance of awakening early. Otherwise, it is advised to perform it after Ishaa Salaat before going to bed.
Tahajjud is a Nafl Salaat done in sets of 2-20 Rak’aat. It is performed whenever one wakes up during the night till the start of Fajr time.
Qadhaa (make-up) is required in place of missing a WITR Salaat and a SAJDAH SAHW will be conducted if Qunoot (prayer) is forgotten or is not recited at the designated time.
DUAA QUNOOT (Option 1)
اَللّٰھُمَّ اِنَّا نَسْتَعِينُكَ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَنُؤْمِنُ بِكَ وَنَتَوَكَّلُ عَلَيْكَ وَنُثْنِیْ عَلَيْكَ الْخَيْرَ وَنَشْكُرُكَ وَلَا نَكْفُرُكَ وَنَخْلَعُ وَنَتْرُكُ مَنْ يَفْجُرُكَ اَللّٰھُمَّ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَلَكَ نُصَلِّیْ وَنَسْجُدُ وَإِلَيْكَ نَسْعٰی وَنَحْفِدُ وَنَرْجُوْ رَحْمَتَكَ وَنَخْشٰی عَذَابَكَ إِنَّ عَذَابَكَ بِالْكُفَّارِ مُلْحِقٌ
Allaahumma innaa nasta-eenoka wa nastaghfiruka wa nu’minu bika wa natawakkalu alaika wa nusni alaikal khair, wa nashkuruka walaa nakfuruka wanakh’laoo wa natruku manyafjuruk, Allahhumma iyyaaka na’budu wa laka nusallee wanasjudu wa ilaika nas’aa wa nahfidu wa narjoo rah’mataka wa nakhshaa azaabaka; inna azaabaka bil kuffaari mulhiq.
“O Allah! We implore You for help and beg forgiveness of You and believe in You and rely on You and extol You and we are thankful to You and are not ungrateful to You and we alienate and forsake those who disobey You. O Allah! You alone do we worship and for You do we pray and prostrate and we betake to please You and present ourselves for the service in Your cause and we hope for Your mercy and fear Your chastisement. Undoubtedly, Your torment is going to overtake infidels O Allah!”
DUAA QUNOOT (Option 2)
اَللّٰھُمَّ اھْدِنِیْ فِیْمَنْ ھَدَیْتَ وَعَافِنِی فِیْمَنْ عَافَیْتَ وَتَوَلَّنِی فِیْمَنْ تَوَلَّیْتَ وَبَارِکْ لِی فِیْمَآ اَعْطَیْتَ وَقِنِی شَرَّ مَاقَضَّیْتَ فَاِنَّکَ تَقْضِی وَلَا یُقْضٰی عَلَیْکَ اِنَّہ، لَّا یَذِلُّ مَنْ وَّالَیْتَ وَلَا يَعِزُّ مَنْ عَادَيْتَ تَبَارَکْتَ رَبَّنَا وَتَعَالَیْتَ
Allahumma ihdini feeman hadayt, wa as’fini fiman aafait, wa tawallani fiman tawallait, wa baarik Li fima atait, wa qini sharra ma qadait, fa Innaka taqdi wa la yuqda Alaik, wa innahu la yadhillu man waalait, Walaa ya’izzu man aadait tabarakta Rabbana wa ta’alait.
“O Allah guide me among those You have guided, pardon me among those You have pardoned, befriend me among those You have befriended, bless me in what You have granted, and save me from the evil that You have decreed. Indeed! You decree, and none can pass decree upon You. Indeed! He is not humiliated whom You have befriended, and will never taste glory whom You unfriended, blessed are You our Lord and Exalted.”
(Option 3)
One who does not know any of the above-mentioned duaas can recite:
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
Rabbana aatina fid’dunyaa hasanatanw wa’fil aakhirati hasanatanw wa’qinaa azaaban Naar
“Our Lord, give us in this world [that which is] good and in the Hereafter [that which is] good and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.”
Or
اللَّهمَّ اغْفِرْ لي
Allahum’maghfir’lee (thrice)
“Oh Allah forgive me.”
Or
یا رب یا رب یا رب
Yaa rabb , yaa rabb, yaa rabb
“Oh Cherisher. “
