Islamic Fiqh > Prayer > Supererogatory prayers: rawatib, witr and duha
The prayers attached to the five daily prayers (rawatib), witr and the duha prayer: how many, when, and what is firmly established per the schools.
Updated on 31 August 2026 at 3:55 AM
The voluntary prayers surround each obligatory prayer and fill the day and the night. Umm Habiba reports that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
Whoever prays twelve rak'as in a day and a night, a house will be built for him in Paradise.Muslim 728
The list specified afterwards: four before dhuhr, two after it, two after maghrib, two after isha, two before fajr (reported by at-Tirmidhi). Among the Hanafis, the confirmed rawatib are thus twelve, and 'Aisha says the Prophet never abandoned four rak'as before dhuhr (al-Bukhari 1127). The two rak'as of fajr are the most strongly recommended of all.
The majority of jurists (Malikis, Shafi'is, Hanbalis, as well as Abu Yusuf and Muhammad among the Hanafis) hold the witr to be a strongly confirmed sunna, not an obligation, based on the Prophet's words: "Allah is odd and loves the odd; perform the witr, people of the Quran" (reported by at-Tirmidhi). Its basic form is given by the hadith: "the night prayer is performed two by two; then the witr" (reported by Muslim). The Prophet left the choice of the number:
The witr is a right upon every Muslim: whoever wants to perform the witr with five, let him do so; with three, let him do so; with one, let him do so.reported by Abu Dawud
Its time opens after isha and extends through the whole night until dawn appears; it is the last prayer of the night, and whoever misses it makes it up in the morning.
Its time begins when the sun has risen about a spear's length and ends just before the zenith. The best moment is when the heat grows: "the prayer of the devoted ones comes as the hooves of the camels burn with heat" (reported by Muslim).
'Imran ibn Husayn asked the Prophet about a man praying seated: standing is best; seated, half the reward of standing; lying down, half of the seated (reported by al-Bukhari). The voluntary prayer remains valid in all these postures.
Begin with the two rak'as of fajr and the witr: they are the most constant in the Prophet's practice. Then add the rawatib, then the duha when your day allows it. Consistency is worth more than volume.