What Are the Rulings on Witr and Tahajjud in the Shafi‘i School?

Answered by Shaykh Dr. Muhammad Abu Bakr Badhib

Question

What are the specific rulings regarding the Tahajjud and Witr prayers according to the Shafi‘i School of thought?

Answer

All praise is due to Allah, and blessings and peace be upon our master Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, his Family, his Companions, and those who follow him.

The Witr prayer is an emphasized Sunna according to the Shafi‘i School, as evidenced by the Prophet’s (Allah bless him and give him peace) response to the Bedouin who asked: “Do I have to do anything more (beyond the five prayers)?” The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) replied:

“No, unless you want to perform voluntary acts.”

Imam Shafi‘i stated:

“Voluntary prayers are of two types: those performed in congregation, which are emphasized, and I do not permit neglecting them for those capable of performing them—such as the Eid prayers, the prayers for solar and lunar eclipses, and the prayer for rain—and those performed individually, some of which are more emphasized than others, with the most emphasized being Witr.” [Muzani, Mukhtasar al-Muzani]

Since the emphasis of Witr as a Sunna is established, its rulings are summarized as follows:

Timing of Witr

Witr is performed after the ‘Isha prayer and its sunna prayers. Can Witr be performed before the post-‘Isha sunna prayer? Imam Nawawi said:

“If one prays ‘Isha and then performs Witr with one rak‘ah before the Sunnah prayer, their Witr is valid according to the stronger opinion. However, some say it is invalid until preceded by a voluntary prayer. If it is invalid as Witr, it would instead count as a general voluntary prayer.” [Nawawi, Rawdat al-Talibin]

This is explicitly stated in Rafi‘i’s “al-Sharh al-Kabir.” [Rafi‘i, al-‘Aziz; See also: Damiri, al-Najm al-Wahaj]

How Witr is Performed

Witr is best performed as three rak‘as with two taslims. Performing it with one taslim, with or without two tashahhuds, is also permissible, but scholars differ on which is superior. [Nawawi, Rawdat al-Talibin]

As for praying more than three rak‘as with more than two tashahhuds, Imam Nawawi stated:

“The correct opinion is that it is impermissible, as it contradicts the transmitted practice.” [Nawawi, Rawdat al-Talibin]

He also said:

“Are three rak‘as connected together superior to one rak‘a alone? There are differing views, but the correct opinion is that three are superior.” [Nawawi, Rawdat al-Talibin; See also: Ramli, Ghayat al-Bayan]

Distinction Between Witr and Tahajjud

Witr is performed before sleeping, whereas prayer after waking up at night is called Tahajjud. Allah (Most High) says:

“And rise at (the last) part of the night, offering additional prayers.” [Quran, 17:79]

Some interpreted the verse as referring to Witr, but Qadi Husayn refuted this, saying:

“The verse does not mean that Witr is Tahajjud, because Witr is performed before sleep, whereas Tahajjud is performed after sleep.”

He further explained: “Night prayer is called Tahajjud because it is performed after hujud (sleep).” [Qadi Husayn, al-Ta‘liqa; Rafi‘i, al-‘Aziz]

Prayer before sleep is not called Tahajjud. [Rafi‘i, al-‘Aziz]

Intention in Tahajjud

For Tahajjud, one should intend general voluntary prayer. Ibn Salah stated:

“Any prayer performed after waking from sleep is considered Tahajjud, excluding Witr. The intention for Witr should not be made, but rather a general intention for voluntary prayer.” [Ibn Salah, Fatawa Ibn Salah]

Repeating Witr After Performing Tahajjud

Should Witr be repeated if one prays it before sleeping and then performs Tahajjud? Khatib Shirbini in “al-Iqna‘” stated

“Whoever hopes to wake up at night should perform Witr later, as the prayer at the end of the night is witnessed and superior. The instruction to hasten Witr before Fajr applies here as well. If one performs Witr and then prays Tahajjud, it is not recommended to repeat Witr, as the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: ‘There are no two Witrs in one night.’” [Shirbini, al-Iqna‘]

This is a summary of the rulings regarding Witr and Tahajjud.

We ask Allah to grant us success in performing righteous deeds and consistency in them.

For more details about the Witr prayer, refer to the answer published on the SeekersGuidance Arabiyya website at the following link: What should I do if I miss the Witr prayer?

[Shaykh] Dr. Muhammad Abu Bakr Badhib

Shaykh Dr. Muhammad Abu Bakr Badhib is a prominent Islamic scholar from Yemen. He was born in Shibam, Hadhramaut, in 1976. He received his degree in Shari‘a from Al-Ahqaf University, a master’s degree from the Islamic University of Beirut, and a PhD in Usul al-Din from Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).

He studied under great scholars such as Shaykh al-Habib Ahmad Mashhur al-Haddad, Shaykh Fadl Ba‘ fadl, Habib Salim al-Shatiri, Habib Ali Mashhur bin Hafeez, and others. He has served as the Director of Publications at Dar al-Fiqh, the former Deputy Director of Cultural Relations at Al-Ahqaf University, a former Assistant for Employee Affairs at Atiyah Iron Company, a researcher at the Sunna Center affiliated with the Dallah al-Baraka Foundation, and a researcher at Al-Furqan Foundation’s Makka al-Mukarrama and Madina al-Munawwara Encyclopedia branch.

Currently, he is a researcher at Al-Furqan Foundation’s Makka al-Mukarrama and Madina al-Munawwara Encyclopedia branch, teaches traditionally through the Ijaza system at Dar al-Fuqaha in Turkey, supervises the Arabic department at Nur al-Huda International Institute (SeekersGuidance), and is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Manuscript House in Istanbul.

His works include “The Efforts of Hadhramaut Jurists in Serving the Shafi‘i School,” “Contributions of Hadhramaut Scholars in Spreading Islam and its Sciences in India,” “Hada’iq al-Na‘im in Shafi‘i Fiqh,” in addition to verifying several books in Fiqh, history, the art of biographies, and Asanid (chains of narration).