Page 128 - The Importance of the Ahl Al-Sunnah

HARUN YAHYA

prayer’s time.
The witr prayer commences with the statement of intention:
“I intend to offer today’s witr prayer for the sake of Allah.” It is
normally performed in two rak‘ahs. After the pause in a sitting
position at the end of the two rak‘ahs and reciting the tahiyyat,
one rises for a third rak‘ah. After reciting the basmalah, Surat
al-Fatiha, and several Qur’anic verses, the takbir position is
assumed, “Allahu akbar” is said with the hands folded together,
and then the du‘ah qunut are offered. The words “Allahu akbar”
are spoken while moving on to the ruku‘ and sajdah positions.
One then sits down, recites the tahiyyat, salli-barik, and rabbana
du‘ahs, and then turns his or her head to the right and then to
the left. (Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Mukhtar, [Egypt: 1966], 2:5)
The witr prayer is not mentioned in the Qur’an; however, it
does appear in various hadiths, some of which are as follows:
“Allah is single and loves what is single, so observe the
witr, O you who follow the Qur'an.” (Sahih al-Bukhari;
Sahih Muslim; al-Tirmidhi; and Sunan Abu-Dawud, Book
8, Number 1411)
“Allah the Exalted has given you an extra prayer that is
better for you then the red camels (i.e., high breed cam-
els). This is the witr, which Allah has appointed for you
between the night prayer and the daybreak.” (Sunan
Abu-Dawud, Book 8, Number 1413)

The Fards of the Prayer
Prayer has twelve fards, some of which must be observed
before beginning the prayer. They are known as the conditions
or prerequisites of prayer. Others, known as the “pillars of
prayer,” are observed while praying.
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