`Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Messenger of Allah sallah Allah alayhi wa sallam observed Witr prayer in every part of night at the beginning, middle and at the last part. He sallah Allah alayhi wa sallam, however, would finish his Witr prayer before dawn.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

This Hadith tells us the timing of Witr prayer. Its earliest time is soon after `Isha' prayer and its time is just before dawn.

It is performed either after sunnah prayers that follow ‘Isha if one is finished praying until the morning; or after Tahajjud if one rises in the last third of the night for remembrance and salah.

If you are able, you may recite Surah A‘la (the 87th surah) in the first rak‘ah, Surah Kafirun (109) in the second, and Ikhlas, Falaq and Nas in the third.

Witr, like all nafl prayers, is prayed in pairs of rak‘ah with salams after each pair. Finish with a single rak‘ah and give salams.

In the final rak‘ah of Witr before or after the bow, it is sunna to recite al-Qunut, a du‘a of which numerous versions exist.

Al-Qunut
Allah humma inna nast'eenuka wa nastaghfiruka wa nu'minu bika wa natawak-kalu 'alayka wa nuthne 'alayk-al khayr. Wa nashkuruka wa laaa nakfuruka wa nakhla'u wa natruku man-y yafjuruka. Allah humma iyyaka na'budu wa laka nusal-lee wa nasjudu wa ilayka nas'a wa nahfidu wa narju rahmataka wa nakhsha 'azabaka inna 'azabaka bil kuf-fari mulhiq.


Oh Allah, we ask you for help and seek your forgiveness, and we believe in You and have trust in You, and we praise you in the best way and we thank You and we are not ungrateful to you, and we forsake and turn away from the one who disobeys you. O Allah, we worship You only and pray to You and prostrate ourselves before You, and we run towards You and serve You, and we hope to receive your mercy, and we fear your punishment. Surely, the disbelievers will receive your punishement.


Allah hum mahdinee feeman hadayta,
Wa 'afinee feeman 'afayta,
wata wal-lane feeman twal-layta
wa barik lee feema a'taita,
waqinee shar-ra ma qadayta,
fa-innaka taqdee wala yuqda 'alayk,
innahu laa Yazil-lu man walayt,
wala ya'iz-zu man 'adaita,
tabarakta rabbana wata 'alaita,
nastaghfiruka wanatubu ilayka,
Wa sal-lal lahu alan-nabee.

Oh Allah, make me among those whom You have guided,
and make me among those whom You have saved, and make
me among those whom You have chosen, and bless whatever
you have given me, and protect me from the evil which you have decreed; verily, You decide the things and no**** can decide against You; and none whom You have committed to Your care shall be humiliated and none whom You have taken as an enemy shall taste glory. You are blessed, our Lord, and Exalted, we ask for Your forgiveness and turn to You. Peace and mercy of Allah be upon the Prophet.



It's sunnah to recite dua Al Qunut Insha'Allah as is the witr prayer considered wajib by Imam abu Hanifah and sunnah mu'akkadah by the other Imams Insha'Allah.

[عذراً, الأعضاء المسجلين ذوي العضوية النشطة فقط هم المصرح لهم برؤية الروابط. ]

Wa Allahu A'lam.