Witr is not incumbent like the status of the obligatory prayers, but it is a Sunnah that t…

Islam > Hadiths > Jurisprudence and juristic principles > Jurisprudence and Juristic Principles

Hadith narrated by Narrated by Ibn Majah - Narrated by At-Termedhy - An-Nasaa’i - Narrated by Ahmad

Authenticity grade : Authentic hadith

Updated on 24 September 2026 at 12:34 AM

📖 1 min read

Hadith text: Witr is not incumbent like the status of the obligatory…

عن علي رضي الله عنه قال: «الوِتر ليس بِحَتْمٍ كَهَيْئَةِ الصلاة المَكتوبة، ولكن سُنَّة سَنَّها رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ».

‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Witr is not incumbent like the status of the obligatory prayers, but it is a Sunnah that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) started practicing."

Explanation of the hadith: Witr is not incumbent like the status of the obligatory…

The Hadīth means that performing the Witr prayer is not obligatory like the obligatory five daily prayers, but it is a Sunnah that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) established. This last part of the Hadīth stresses the fact that the Witr prayer is desirable and recommended only, and the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) performed it without making it obligatory upon us.

Categories : Voluntary Prayer

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