AL-MUSTAPHA INSTITUTE OF BRISBANE

Compiled by Br. Abdul-Halm Khall (25-05-14)

Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahm
Salt-ul-Witr, as performed by Habb Allh

I The Indispensable Nature of Salt-ul-Witr
Salt-ul-Witr is an essential aspect of the worship of Muslims viz., Salt-ul-Witr is wajib,
according to Imam Abu Hanifah ( ),
1
and cannot consciously be abandoned. Indeed, it is
reported upon the authority of Buraidah ( ), that the Blessed Prophet ( ) said:
Witr is a duty, so he who does not pray it does not belong to us.
Witr is a duty, so he who does not pray it does not belong to us.
Witr is a duty, so he who does not pray it does not belong to us.
2


The Supplication of the Blessed Prophet
(Sall Allhu Alayhi w-Alihi w-Sahbihi w-Salm)
~ Du-e-Qunt ~
The word qunt, basically, means supplication, and forms a portion of Salt-ul-Witr. As
such, it is reported upon the authority of Al-Hasan ibn Ali ( ), who said,

1
See Hassan Shurunbulali, Nur al-Idah (The Light of Clarification) 201.
2
According to Imam Abu Hanifah (radi Allhu anhu), the cogent repetition of this statement of the Beloved
Prophet ( ) indicates that Salt-ul-Witr is wjib (Maariful Hadees, vol. III, 328 [cited in Syed
Anwaer Ali, Sunnah: The Way of Qurnic Life [Zia-ul-Qurn Publications, 2002] Volume 2, 477]). Also, refer
to this narration, as reported in the text of Abu Dawd, 1414 (cited in Nur al-Idah, above n 1).

Rasl Allh ( ) taught me some words to say, when standing in supplication, during
the Witr:
O Allah, Guide me, amongst those whom You have guided.
Grant me security, amongst those whom You have granted security.
Befriend me, amongst those whom You have befriended.
Bless me, in what You have given (to me).
Guard me from the evil of what You have decreed;
Verily, You Decree and nothing is decreed for You.
He whom You befriend is not [humiliated].
Blessed and Exalted are You, our Lord!
3


3
Reported in the authoritative texts of Tirmidhi, Abu Dawd, Nasi, Ibn Majah, Drimi (cited in Syed Anwaer
Ali, Sunnah: The Way of Qurnic Life, above n 2, 475-476 [cf. 476-477]). Also consider the same narration, in
S. Strauch, Fiqh Course (International Islamic Publishing House, 1
st
ed., 2003) volume 1, 136-137.

The Content of His Blessed Recitation
(Salawat Allh w Salmuhu 'Alayhi w Alihi)
~ Pronouncing the Glorious Qurn ~
It is reported upon the authority of Abdul Aziz bin Juraij ( ), who narrates,
I asked Aashah ( ) with what (verses of the Qurn) the Messenger of Allh ( )
used to prayer the Witr. She said:
In the first Rakat he ( ) recited, Glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most High,
4
in the
second, Say, O disbelievers,
5
and in the third, Say, He is Allh, the One,
6
and Muawwizatn.
7


II The Time of Salt-ul-Witr and Du-e-Qunt
It is reported upon the authority of Jabir ( ), who said,
Rasl Allh ( ) has said:
Whoever is afraid that [they] may not get up in the latter part of night, [they]
should observe a Witr in the first part of it; and whoever is eager to get up in the last part
of it, [they] should pray a Witr at the end of the night, because prayer at the end of the
night is attended by the angels, and that is better.
8


As for the Du-e-Qunt, following the recitation of the Glorious Qurn, during the third
rakah, one should raise their hands to the level of the ears, pronouncing the takbrah

4
Refer to the Glorious Qurn, Surat Al-Al (The Chapter of the Most High) 87 (consider ayah 1).
5
Refer to the Glorious Qurn, Surat Al-Kfirn (The Chapter of the Disbelievers) 109 (consider ayah 1).
6
Refer to the Glorious Qurn, Surat Al-Ikhl (The Chapter of the Purification [or the Sincerity]) 112
(consider ayah 1).
7
The Muawwizatn refer to chapters 113 and 114, of the Glorious Qurn, viz., Surat Al-Falaq (The Chapter
of the Daybreak) and Surat An-Ns (The Chapter of Humanity), respectively. Importantly, this hadth
narration is reported in the venerable texts of Tirmidhi and Abu Dawd (nota bene: Nasi transmitted this
narration from Abdur-Rahman ibn Abza [radi Allhu anhu], Ahmad from Ubayy ibn Kab [radi Allhu
anhu], and Drimi from Ibn Abbas ([radi Allhu anhu]. However, the reference to the muawwizatn does not
appear in the snad of Ahmad, nor of Drimi). Refer to Ali, Sunnah: The Way of Qurnic Life, above n 2, 475).
8
Reported in the revered text, Sahh Muslim (translated by Nasiruddin Al-Khattab, Darussalam, 2007) 1191/7.
(Allah Akbar!), thereafter returning their hands to beneath the naval,
9
uttering the qunt
(supplicating Allh Subnahu w Ta'la), before continuing to ruku (the bowing posture).
10


III The Number of Rakat During Salt-ul-Witr
It is reported upon the authority of Ibn Masud, Ubayy ibn Kab, Aaishah, and Umm
Salamah (May Allh Azza Wa-Jal bestow His Pleasure upon them all), who narrate that Rasl
Allh ( ) would perform Salt-ul-Witr, consisting of three rakat, and would not utter
the taslm (the conclusive salutation, as-salmu alaikum w-ramtullah) until the end of
the third rakah.
11


IV The Sublimity of Salt-ul-Witr
It is reported upon the authority of Ali ( ), who narrates that Rasl Allh ( )
proclaimed:
Allh is Single (Witr), and loves what is single, so pray the Witr,
O people of the Qurn.
12

Therefore, let us ever render Salt-ul-Witr our last expression of peace, love, and contentment
with the Sunnah of Allh Subnahu w Ta'la, for Ibn Umar ( ) narrates that Habb
Allh ( ) lovingly tells us:
Make the last of your prayer at night a Witr.
13


9
This concerns the jurisprudential opinion of Imam Abu Hanifah (radi Allhu anhu), whereas Abu Yusuf
(rahmatullahi alay) during the recitation of the qunt would raise his hands, supinated, assuming the
posture of supplication (as this was the practice of Ibn Masud [radi Allhu anhu]): refer to Nur al-Idah, above n
1, 202.
10
Reported in the text of Nasi (1,698) (cited in Nur al-Idah, above n 1, 202).
11
Importantly, the narration of Ubayy ibn Kab (radi Allhu anhu) is transmitted in the texts of Musnad Ahmad
ibn Hanbal (5/123), Nisi (3/235), and Ibn Majah (1,182). The narration of Aaishah (radi Allhu anha) is
transmitted in the texts of Al-Mustadrak (1/304), Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal (1/155-156), and Al-Mujtaba Min
As-Sunan (of Nisi, 3/234, 1,698). Furthermore, Al-Hakim reports that this narration is sound, according to
the standards of Muslim and Bukhari (in Al-Ikhtiyar, 85). Refer to Nur al-Idah, above n 1).
12
Tirmidhi, Abu Dawd, and Nasi (1,197/13) (cited in Ali, Sunnah: The Way of Qurnic Life, above n 2,
474).
13
Reported in the text of Sahh Muslim (1,189/5) (cited in Ali, Sunnah: The Way of Qurnic Life, above n 2,
472).