Is It Necessary to Pray Witr After Isha Prayer? Understanding the Fard and Sunnah Components

Can You Skip Witr in Isha Prayer? The Importance of Fard, Sunnah, and Witr in Islam

Question: If in the Isha prayer, we only perform the Fard (obligatory) prayers, will the prayer be valid and is it necessary to pray Witr?  

Answer: The Isha prayer consists of six rakats, of which four are Fard (obligatory) and two are Sunnat Mu’akkadah (emphasized Sunnah). Witr is a separate prayer and is not included in Isha; however, its time starts after Isha prayer, and it can be prayed immediately after Isha, in the middle of the night, or before Fajr.  

As for your question, if you only pray the Fard in Isha, then the obligation of the prayer will be fulfilled, but by missing the Sunnah, you will miss out on the additional reward that comes from it. The Witr prayer is not obligatory, so if it is missed, one will not be sinful, but it is highly emphasized, and the Prophet ﷺ never missed it, whether in travel or at home. The Prophet ﷺ also advised Abu Hurairah (RA) never to sleep without performing Witr.  

Abu Hurairah (RA) narrated: "My friend (the Prophet (ﷺ) ) advised me to observe three things: (1) to fast three days a month; (2) to pray two rak`at of Duha prayer (forenoon prayer); and (3) to pray witr before sleeping." (Sahih Bukhari: 1981)

Respondent: Sheikh Maqbool Ahmed Salafi Hafizahullah 

Jeddah Dawah Center, Saudi Arabia  

English Interpreter: Hasan Fuzail