What is the obligatory intention when praying three rak'ahs of Witr: the intention of Shafa' and Witr, or the intention of Witr for the three?
The for night prayers is to perform them two rak'ahs at a time, with a after every two rak'ahs. If the worshipper fears the dawn, he should pray one rak'ah as Witr. The Malikis dislike joining the Shafa' (even-numbered rak'ahs) with the Witr, whereas separating the Witr from the Shafa' is preferred by the Shafi'is and Hanbalis. The best approach is to pray the two rak'ahs of Shafa' and make the taslim, then pray the one rak'ah of Witr. However, if one joins the three rak'ahs with the intention of Shafa' and Witr, it is valid, though disliked by the Malikis. If one intends all of them as Witr, there is no harm in that. It was narrated from Umm Salamah that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, used to pray Witr with seven or five rak'ahs, without separating them with a taslim.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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