The ‘Dua for Witr’ is a necessity in the Witr prayers offered in Isha Prayer. Salah, an essential Second Pillar of Islam out of Five is obligatory on every Muslim around the globe. Each day, the ‘Moazzin’ gives Azan (call to prayer), prompting millions of believers worldwide to perform the five compulsory Salah at their fixed times. reads Five Compulsory Salah at their respective timings. Each Salah (Prayer) is different in terms of the Number of Rak’ats to be prayed in it including the Farz, the Sunnah, and the Nafils. However, there is only one prayer out of Five compulsory prayers that includes a special prayer called ‘Witr’.
This article will delve into the Witr Salah and provide a detailed guide on the correct procedure to perform it. While the majority of believers are familiar with the correct procedure to pray the Witr Salah, newly reverted Muslims and young children in the learning phase often harbor doubts about it. They are often not aware of the ‘Dua for Witr’ Salah. This article aims to address specific essential aspects of Witr Salah including the Dua, and dispel any misconceptions surrounding it.
Unveiling the Essence: The Wondrous Witr Salah in Islam
The Witr Salah consists of three Rak’at offered in a distinctive manner after completing the Four compulsory Fardh and two Rak’at compulsory Sunnah prayers.
Unlike the Maghrib Salah which has three compulsory Fardh Rak’at, the Witr prayr also comprises three Rak’ats with an additional Rafa’e Dain in the third Rak’at in which Dua e Qunut (Dua for Witr) is recited.
This distinctive part sets Witr Salah apart from other prayers. While other Salahs do not require any compulsory Dua to be read in each Rak’ah, the Witr Salah mandates the recitation of an additional Dua (Dua e Qunut) in the third Rak’ah, without which the Witr Salah remains incomplete.
Navigating the Night: Mastering the Correct Procedure for Witr Salah
First a niyah (Intention) for praying a Witr Salah is made. According to the scholars of Islam, one is allowed to make Niyah (Intention) in their own language. To make Niyah for the Witr Salah, one must say, ‘I intended to pray Three (3) Rak’at Witr Salah of Isha for ALLAH (S.W.T.) facing the Qibla’. After making the Niyah, the individual must say ‘ALLAH HU AKBAR’ and begin praying.
The first two Rak’ats follow the same pattern as other Salahs (Prayers) i.e. the Surah Fatiha is read in starting and then any of the surahs from the Qur’an after finishing it. Once the individual is done with the two Sajda’s of the second Rak’at, he has to sit in the Attahiyat.
After getting up from Attahiyat for the third Rak’at, one has to proceed again with reading the Surah Fatiha along with any of the Surah from the Qur’an. After completing the Surah, instead of going in Ruk’u, the individual has to do Rafa’e Dain by raising hands to the ears and saying ‘ALLAH HU AKBAR’ and then has to join hands again. Then the person has to recite the ‘Dua for Witr’ i.e. ‘Dua e Kunoot’ in it and after its completion has to enter the Ruk’u, complete the Sajdah, and end the Salah.
‘DUA FOR WITR’ SALAH IN ARABIC (WITH ENGLISH TRANSLATION)
“Allahumma ihdini feeman hadayta wa ‘afini feeman ‘aafayta wa tawallani feeman tawallayta wa barik li feemaa a’tayta wa qini sharra ma qadayta innaka taqdi wa la yuqda ‘alayka Wa innahu la yadhillu man walayta wa la ya’izzu man ‘aadayta. Tabarakta Rabbana wa ta’aalayta.”
The ‘Dua e Qunut’ holds a significant place in the Witr Prayer. It is the Dua that is to be compulsorily recited in the witr prayer according to the number of narrations in authentic Hadith. While, there exists numerous versions of ‘Dua e Qunut’, the two mentioned above stand out as the easiest to learn, remember, and recite. In the event someone doesn’t recall the specific ‘Dua e Qunut’ at the time of offering the Witr prayer, reciting ‘Rabbana Atina Fid Dunya Hasanah af’il Aakhirati Hasanah Wa Qina Azaban Naar’ according to Scholars of Islam. Nevertheless, it is highly encouraged for a believers to familiarize themselves with ‘Dua e Qunut’
CONCLUSION
‘Dua e Qunut’ is the compulsory supplication that a believer must learn to offer Witr Salah. It earns its title, ‘Dua for Witr,’due to its indispensable role in ‘Witr’ prayer as established by authentic narrations. While offering the Witr in Isha Salah is not compulsory, it stands as a Sunnah of Muhammad (S.A.W.), and a believer is not allowed to skip it under any circumstances. According to Islamic scholars, skipping this Dua constitutes a sin.
Thus, learning Da for Witr i.e. ‘Dua e Qunut’ for the Witr prayer in Isha is deemed compulsory on every believer.
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