Is it permissible to perform the Witr prayer as five rak'ahs with a single tashahhud in the last rak'ah, or as three rak'ahs with a single tashahhud in the last rak'ah, according to the Hanbali school of thought?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
In the Hanbali school of thought, the Witr prayer ranges from a minimum of one unit (rak'ah) to a maximum of eleven units. If one prays eleven units, the school holds that it is not disliked to make Witr with a single unit and to say the after every two units. However, if one performs Witr with nine units, they should pray eight consecutively, sit for the without saying the taslim, then pray the ninth unit, recite the tashahhud, and say the taslim. If one performs Witr with seven or five units, it is not to sit except in the last unit. It is preferred to perform the three units with two salams rather than with one salam.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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