Is it permissible to combine intentions for the Sunnah prayer of 'Isha', Shafa', and Witr, and if not, is there any harm in praying the Sunnah of 'Isha' and then performing Witr with one Rak'ah?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
It is not prescribed to combine the intention of the (supererogatory prayer) of 'Isha' and the Shaf' (even-numbered prayer preceding Witr) in two rak'ahs (units of prayer), because each has an independent intention. The worshipper can pray Witr with one rak'ah after the Sunnah of 'Isha'. It is better to pray two or more rak'ahs (4, 6, 8, 10 rak'ahs) before the single rak'ah of Witr; this is what is called Shaf'. The minimum for Witr is one rak'ah, and the maximum is eleven rak'ahs, and the lowest complete number is three rak'ahs.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/117821
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 117821
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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