article
Witr as Wajib: The Hanafi Position
Sample entry — demonstration data
Position by topic
- SupportingRuling on WitrMeasured against: Witr is obligatory (wajib).
The article argues that Witr is wajib, following Abu Hanifa.
- 'Wajib' is used in the Hanafi technical sense — binding but below fard; denying it is not disbelief.
- Abu Yusuf and Muhammad al-Shaybani held it to be a sunnah.
- OpposingNumber of rak'at in WitrMeasured against: Witr may validly be prayed as a single rak'ah.
The article holds that Witr is three rak'at with one salam and that a single rak'ah does not suffice.
Summary
A short sample article setting out the Hanafi argument that Witr is wajib and is prayed as three rak'at with a single closing salam. It relies on the hadiths describing Witr as a 'duty' (haqq), on 'A'ishah's description of the Prophet's night prayer ending with three rak'at, and on al-Marghinani's statement of the school's position in al-Hidayah.
Content
In the Hanafi school an act may be wajib — binding, though established by evidence that falls short of the certainty required for fard. Abu Hanifa placed Witr in this category.
الوتر واجب عند أبي حنيفة رحمه الله، وقالا: سنةThe school cites reports in which the Prophet ﷺ calls Witr a duty (haqq) (Abu Dawud, nos. 1419 and 1422), and 'A'ishah's description of a night prayer ending with three rak'at (al-Bukhari, no. 1147), which it reads as the form of Witr.
Arguments and evidence
The Prophet ﷺ called Witr a duty (haqq), which indicates that it is binding.
The Prophet's Witr was three rak'at.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 1147
- Reasoning — The school reads the final three as a single Witr prayer.
Scholarly quotations
الوتر واجب عند أبي حنيفة رحمه الله، وقالا: سنةWitr is obligatory (wajib) according to Abu Hanifa, while the two [Abu Yusuf and Muhammad] said: it is a sunnah.
Hadith references
Witr is a duty (haqq); whoever does not observe Witr is not of us.
Witr is a duty (haqq) upon every Muslim; whoever wishes to pray five, let him do so; whoever wishes to pray three, let him do so; and whoever wishes to pray one, let him do so.
He would pray four — do not ask about their beauty and length — then four …, then he would pray three.
Everything this source mentions (5), and how it was recorded
| Mention | Kind | Recorded as |
|---|---|---|
| Abu Hanifa placed Witr in this category | scholar | person |
| الوتر واجب عند أبي حنيفة رحمه الله، وقالا: سنة | book | quote, work, citation, person |
| Abu Dawud, nos. 1419 | hadith | hadith, citation |
| Abu Dawud, nos. 1422 | hadith | hadith, citation |
| 'A'ishah's description of a night prayer ending with three rak'at (al-Bukhari, no. 1147) | hadith | hadith, citation, person |
Works cited
- al-Marghinani, al-Hidayah, Kitab al-Salah, Bab Salat al-WitrWork: al-Hidayah fi Sharh Bidayat al-Mubtadi. Traditional form: Burhan al-Din al-Marghinani (d. 593 AH), al-Hidayah fi Sharh Bidayat al-Mubtadi, Kitab al-Salah, Bab Salat al-Witr. Reference partial; unverified.
- Abu Dawud, Sunan, Kitab al-Witr, no. 1419Work: Sunan Abi Dawud. Traditional form: Abu Dawud Sulayman ibn al-Ash'ath al-Sijistani (d. 275 AH), Sunan Abi Dawud, Kitab al-Witr, no. 1419. Reference complete; unverified.
- Abu Dawud, Sunan, Kitab al-Witr, no. 1422Work: Sunan Abi Dawud. Traditional form: Abu Dawud Sulayman ibn al-Ash'ath al-Sijistani (d. 275 AH), Sunan Abi Dawud, Kitab al-Witr, no. 1422. Reference complete; unverified.
- al-Bukhari, Sahih, Kitab al-Tahajjud, no. 1147Work: Sahih al-Bukhari. Traditional form: Muhammad ibn Isma'il al-Bukhari (d. 256 AH), Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Tahajjud, no. 1147. Reference complete; unverified.