Most-asked question
How is witr salaah performed?
169 fatawa in the archive answer questions on this, from 7 South African Darul Iftas (AskImam, Mufti Online, Ibn Masood, Azaadville, Camperdown, Jamiat KZN and others). Below, each Darul Ifta’s answer is quoted word for word from the opening of one of its fatawa.
Based on the fatawa linked below. Please read the sources and double-check with a Darul Ifta for your situation.
Consult a mufti for your situation. Fatawa SA is a read-only archive and issues no rulings of its own.
What the Darul Iftas say
“Yes, it is permissible to make any Dua which appears in the Quraan or Ahaadith, in the third Rakaat of the Witr Salaah at the time of Qunoot. One can recite اَللّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِيْ three times, or رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّار.”
“According to the Hanafi Madhab, the minimum number of Rak’aats is two. Witr is three Rak’aats with one salaam at the end of the third Rak’aat. Therefore, it is not permissible to perform one Rak’aat as witr Salaah.”
“Yes, his Fajr is valid. However, if he is a saahib-e-tarteeb, then he should first perform the witr qadha salaah and thereafter perform his Fajr salaah. Note: A Saahib-e-Tarteeb is that person who has less than six Qadhaa Salaah.”
“In principle, it is not permissible for one to perform his Fardh or Witr Salaah while seated in these types of vehicles (bus, plane, train and ship, etc.). If one cannot perform it standing by facing the Qiblah due to some unforeseeable circumstances, then he can perform Salaah while on his seat but he must repeat it afterwards.”
Quotes are the opening words of each answer as published; the full answer, its conditions and references are on the fatwa page. Answers depend on the exact details of each question.
Read the fatawa
- Witr Salaah At The Time Of Tahajjud Ibn Masood · 9 Sep 2026
- Best Time for Witr Salah Camperdown · 22 Jul 2026
- Will Sajda-E-Sahw suffice for missing ruku in witr salaah? AskImam · 15 May 2025
- Performing Witr Salaah after 10 Rakaats of Taraweeh in the Haram Jamiat KZN · 1 Mar 2025
- Hanafi performing Witr Salaah behind a Shaafi imaam Mufti Online · 9 Feb 2025
- Performing The Fardh And Witr Salaah On An On Aeroplane Azaadville · 11 Dec 2024
- is it permissible for Ḥanafīs to follow Shāfiʿīs in Witr Ṣalāh and vice versa? DU Zakariyya
- Alternative Duas In Witr Salaah Ibn Masood · 31 Aug 2026
- Repeating Witr Along with ʿIshāʾ Fardh Camperdown · 29 Jan 2026
- Salatul Witr in Haram AskImam · 14 Oct 2020
- Alternate Duas for Witr Salaah Jamiat KZN · 5 Feb 2018
- Performing sabina salaah and witr in the Harams Mufti Online · 1 Nov 2023
- Witr Behind The Imaam In The Haram-Shareef Azaadville · 7 Nov 2024
- Can I perform one Rak’aat of witr Salaah? AskImam · 21 Feb 2019
- Performing Fajr Salaah without performing the the previous nights Witr Salaah Mufti Online · 10 Sep 2020
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