Witr prayer: how to pray it, with dua qunoot
Witr is the odd-numbered prayer that closes the night, prayed after ‘Isha. It can be one, three or more rak‘ahs, and it includes the du‘a known as dua qunoot. Here is how to pray witr, the differences between the schools, and dua qunoot in Arabic with its meaning.
Last updated: 4 October 2026
Ways to pray witr
| Way | Details |
|---|---|
| One rak‘ah | The minimum. Allowed in the Shafi‘i, Maliki and Hanbali schools. |
| Three rak‘ahs, together | Two rak‘ahs, the tashahhud, then stand for a third and finish with one salam. This is the Hanafi way, with qunoot in the third rak‘ah before ruku‘. |
| Three rak‘ahs, two and one | Pray two rak‘ahs with a salam, then one rak‘ah on its own. Common in the other schools. |
| Five, seven, nine or eleven | Also reported from the Prophet ﷺ, usually as part of night prayer, ending on an odd number. |
“Allah is Witr (One) and loves witr” (Sahih al-Bukhari 6410). Follow the way taught at your local mosque or by your teacher; all of the above are valid.
Three rak‘ahs, step by step (the common UK practice)
- Pray two rak‘ahs as normal; in the first, Al-Fatihah and a surah (Al-A‘la is sunnah), in the second Al-Fatihah and a surah (Al-Kafirun is sunnah).
- Sit for the tashahhud, then stand for the third rak‘ah (Hanafi), or end with salam and pray a single rak‘ah.
- In the third rak‘ah, recite Al-Fatihah and Al-Ikhlas.
- Say dua qunoot: before ruku‘ after raising the hands with takbir (Hanafi), or after rising from ruku‘ (Shafi‘i).
- Complete the rak‘ah, the tashahhud and the salam.
The surahs are from Sunan Abi Dawud (1423) and others. New to salah? Start with how to pray salah.
Dua qunoot
اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِنِي فِيمَنْ هَدَيْتَ، وَعَافِنِي فِيمَنْ عَافَيْتَ، وَتَوَلَّنِي فِيمَنْ تَوَلَّيْتَ، وَبَارِكْ لِي فِيمَا أَعْطَيْتَ، وَقِنِي شَرَّ مَا قَضَيْتَ؛ فَإِنَّكَ تَقْضِي وَلاَ يُقْضَى عَلَيْكَ، إِنَّهُ لاَ يَذِلُّ مَنْ وَالَيْتَ، [وَلاَ يَعِزُّ مَنْ عَادَيْتَ]، تَبارَكْتَ رَبَّنا وَتَعَالَيْتَ
“O Allah, guide me among those You have guided, grant me well-being among those You have granted well-being, take me into Your care among those You have taken into Your care, bless me in what You have given, and protect me from the evil of what You have decreed. For You decree and none decrees over You. Whoever You befriend is never humiliated, (and whoever You oppose is never honoured.) Blessed are You, our Lord, and Exalted.”
Taught by the Prophet ﷺ to al-Hasan ibn ‘Ali to say in witr.
Source: Sunan Abi Dawud, Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi, an-Nasa’i and Ibn Majah (graded sahih). Arabic text: Hisn al-MuslimIn many UK mosques following the Hanafi school, a different qunoot is commonly recited, beginning “Allahumma inna nasta‘inuka wa nastaghfiruk…”, reported from ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab. Both are acceptable.
After witr
سُبْحَانَ المَلِكِ القُدُّوسِ، رَبِّ الْمَلاَئِكَةِ وَالرُّوحِ
Subhanal-Malikil-Quddus (three times) … Rabbil-mala’ikati war-ruh.
“Glory be to the King, the Most Holy. (Three times, raising the voice on the third and adding:) Lord of the angels and the Spirit.”
Source: Sunan an-Nasa’i and ad-Daraqutni (graded sahih). Arabic text: Hisn al-MuslimWitr completes the night prayer; see tahajjud prayer. In Ramadan, it is prayed in congregation after taraweeh; see rules of fasting. More du‘as are in our daily duas.
Frequently asked questions
Is witr obligatory?
In the Hanafi school it is wajib (necessary); in the other three schools it is a strongly emphasised sunnah. All agree it should not be left: the Prophet ﷺ never abandoned it, at home or travelling.
When is the time for witr?
From after ‘Isha until Fajr. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Make witr the last of your prayers at night” (Sahih al-Bukhari 998). If you fear you will not wake, pray it before sleeping.
Is dua qunoot said before or after ruku‘?
Both are reported. In the Hanafi school it is said before ruku‘ in the third rak‘ah, after raising the hands with takbir. In the Shafi‘i school, it is usually after rising from ruku‘.
What if I do not know dua qunoot yet?
Many scholars allow saying another du‘a, such as “Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanah…” (Al-Baqarah 2:201), until you learn it.
Learn dua qunoot with a teacher
Three free one-to-one lessons in UK time, with correct Arabic pronunciation.