Witr

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Witr (Arabic: وتر‎) is an optional Muslim prayer yet that can be performed at night after Isha'a and before Fajr. There are a few distinguishing factors of the Witr prayer that sets it apart from the fard (mandatory) and sunnah (recommended) prayers. Witr has an odd-numbered amount of Rakat (pl.) prayed in pairs, with the final raka'ah (s.) prayed separately. Therefore, as little as three rakat can be prayed, and eleven at most. This differs from the usual trend of two and four Rakat of the fard and sunnah prayers. Witr prayers are basically Tahajjud prayers, which were obligatory for Muhammad but were naf'l (not madatory) for other Muslims. Tarawih, as in Sunni Islam, refers to the same prayer except it is mostly not prayed alone and it is prayed in the month of Ramadan.

Muhammad said, according to Ibn Umar, "The night prayer is offered as two Rakat followed by two Rakat and so on and if anyone is afraid of the approaching dawn (Fajr prayer) he should pray one Raka and this will be a Witr for all the Rakat which he has prayed before."

[edit] See also

• Tahajjud
• Tarawih

[edit] References

• Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Book 16: Witr Prayer
• The Status of Sunnah & Witr Prayers, The Time for Fajr & Maghrib and the Allowance of Combining Prayers
• Clarification on the timing of Witr and Taraweeh prayers
• The Witr Prayer