The Missed Witr prayer the Next Day is Even Numbered

The Missed Witr prayer the Next Day is Even Numbered

By Ash—Shaykh Abdul Aziz bin Baz (may Allah rest him Firdous)

 

Question: How does a person make up the Witr prayer the next day if he oversleeps? It has been narrated to us that some scholars say it can be made up. May Allah reward you.

 

Answer: It’s a sunnah to make up the Witr prayer if missed. Whenever the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) missed Witr due to sickness or oversleeping he would pray it the next day. Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said,” Whenever the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) missed Witr because of illness or sleep he would pray twelve Rak’at the next day.”

 

Most of the time the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would perform eleven rak’ah. Therefore if something causes a person to miss eleven rak’ah for witr, he should add a rak’ah. This is the sunnah. He makes it up during the day, but with an even number of rak’ah. He doesn’t pray the odd number. He adds an extra rak’ah following the sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).

 

Hence if it’s the person’s norm to pray three rak’at at night with one tasleem, the next day he would pray four with two tasleems. Also if it’s a person’s norm to pray five rak’at for witr at night the next day he prays six with three tasleems.Moreover if it’s a person’s norm to pray seven rak’at at night for the witr prayer the next day he would pray eight rak’ah with four tasleems. If a person normally prays eleven rak’at like the practice of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and misses witr, the next day he prays twelve rak’at with six tasleems. And if a person practices thirteen rak’at for witr at night and misses them, the next day he prays fourteen rak’at with seven tasleem and this practice is the best. This action is supererogatory not an obligation. May Allah reward you.

 

Taken from  http://ibnbaz. org/mat/15376

TN: The prayer in the day would have a tasleem after every two rak’ah

 

Translated by Abu Aaliyah Abdullah ibn Dwight Battle

Doha, Qatar 1430 H
http://abuaaliyah. multiply. com/journal/ item/94/The_ Missed_Witr_ prayer_the_ Next_Day_ is_Even_Numbered