Can I Pray Tahajjud After Having Already Prayed Witr Before Sleeping?
Question: السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته , this is a question about witr salah. I sometimes intend to wake to pray tahhajud and so i leave off witr but sometimes I dont wake up in time and I wake after the athan for fajr has already happened. is it permissible to pray witr before I sleep and wake up to pray tahhajud after, without praying a second witr. جزاكم الله خيرا
Summary:
Yes, it is permissible to pray Witr before sleeping if you fear that you may not wake up during the latter part of the night. Then, if Allah enables you to rise later, you may pray as many units of Tahajjud as you wish, and you do not repeat Witr a second time, because the Prophet ﷺ said: "There are not two Witrs in one night." Rather, this is what the Prophet ﷺ directed the Muslims to do. Whoever fears that he will not wake up during the latter part of the night should pray Witr before sleeping, while whoever expects that he will wake up should delay Witr so that it becomes the final prayer of his night.
Answer:
First: Whoever Fears That He Will Not Wake Up Should Pray Witr Before Sleeping
From the Sunnah:
- Sahih MuslimJabir (may Allah be pleased with him) reported
The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever fears that he will not get up during the latter part of the night should pray Witr at the beginning of the night. Whoever hopes to rise during the latter part of the night should pray Witr at the end of the night, for the prayer of the latter part of the night is witnessed, and that is better."
This is a clear text indicating that whoever fears missing the night prayer should pray Witr before going to sleep.
Second: If He Wakes Up After Praying Witr, May He Still Pray? Yes, he may pray whatever Allah enables him to pray.
From the Sunnah:
- Sahih Ibn MajahUmm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her), the Mother of the Believers, reported:
"The Prophet ﷺ would pray two rak'ahs after Witr."
It is also authentically reported from a number of the Salaf that they would pray Witr at the beginning of the night and then, if they later woke up, they would pray whatever Allah had decreed for them.
From the Salaf:
- Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
"If a person prays Witr at the beginning of the night and then rises later, he may pray whatever he wishes and does not invalidate his Witr."
Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) and others among the Salaf held that praying after Witr is legislated.
Third: Should He Repeat Witr? He should not repeat it.
From the Sunnah:
- Sahih Abi Dawud and al-TirmidhiTalq ibn Ali al-Hanafi (may Allah be pleased with him) reported.
The Prophet ﷺ said: "There are not two Witrs in one night."
For this reason, the majority of the scholars held that whoever prays Witr at the beginning of the night and then rises later should pray in sets of two rak'ahs and should not pray Witr a second time.
Fourth: Which Is Better? It is better for the person who expects that he will wake up during the latter part of the night to delay Witr so that he concludes his night prayer with it.
From the Sunnah:
- Reported by al-Bukhari and MuslimAbdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) reported
The Prophet ﷺ said: "Make the last of your prayers at night Witr."
However, whoever does not trust himself to wake up should pray Witr before sleeping so that he does not miss it.
Conclusion: If you pray Witr before sleeping and then wake up later for Tahajjud, you may pray as many units of night prayer as you wish in sets of two rak'ahs, and you should not repeat Witr a second time, because the Prophet ﷺ prohibited performing Witr twice in one night by saying: "There are not two Witrs in one night." Sahih Abi Dawud and al-Tirmidhi However, if you know from experience that you usually wake up during the latter part of the night, then it is better to delay Witr until the end of your prayer.
And Allah knows best.
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