{"id":40580,"date":"2026-02-23T14:32:28","date_gmt":"2026-02-23T14:32:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/daruliftabirmingham.co.uk\/home\/?p=40580"},"modified":"2026-02-24T13:42:42","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T13:42:42","slug":"shari-analysis-of-the-hanafi-position-on-the-first-sitting-in-witr-the-manner-of-performing-the-four-sunnah-before-zuhr-in-light-of-the-hadith-literature","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/daruliftabirmingham.co.uk\/home\/shari-analysis-of-the-hanafi-position-on-the-first-sitting-in-witr-the-manner-of-performing-the-four-sunnah-before-zuhr-in-light-of-the-hadith-literature\/","title":{"rendered":"Shar\u2018i Analysis Of The Hanafi Position On The First Sitting In Witr & The Manner Of Performing The Four Sunnah Before Zuhr In Light Of The Hadith Literature"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fatwa ID: 08780<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Answered by Muftiyah Shireen Mangera-Badat<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Question:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I would like to understand something regarding to the Witr prayer. According to Hanafi scholars the Witr can be only three rakats. And offering the first sitting is Wajib in Hanafi in the Witr. But why has the most authentic books describe offering the Witr without the first sitting? \u00a0Hence, if one misses the first sitting even by accident, he has not made the Sajda Sahw at the end of the Witr with three rakats. But according to Hanafi\u2019s he must. Does it mean that Hanafi\u2019s not admit this sahih hadith? And how did Al Ainy explain missing the first Tashahhud analysing books of hadiths? Don’t forget send his comments, please!<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

2. If we offer four rakats before the Zuhr two by two it is not counted as Sunnah muakkadah before the Zuhr. But then how to explain hadiths where our Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) offered only two rakats before the Zuhr? Does it mean that four rakats of Sunnah muakkadah is not a whole prayer? What did Abu Hanifa, Abu Yusuf, Muhammad say about the manner of offering of four rakats before the Zuhr? Also, I would like to see opinions of Ibn Humam, Al -Ainy Ali Al Qari, Tahawi.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Answer<\/strong>: <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Witr Prayer: The First Tashahhud and Sajdat al-Sahw Are Required<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hanafi Position: According to the Hanafi school, the Witr prayer is offered in three consecutive rakat,[1]<\/a> with a qunut supplication in the third rakat and a tashahhud following the second. Tashahhud, the initial sitting, is regarded as Wajib (necessary). It requires sajdat al-sahw (prostration of forgetfulness) if left out, even inadvertently.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hadith-based evidence:<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“The Witr is three like the Witr of the daytime, the prayer of Maghrib,” according to Abdullah ibn Masud.[2]<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The inclusion of a tashahhud in Witr following the second rakat is supported by the analogy to Maghrib, which also includes a sitting after two rakat.<\/span>
\n[3]<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Al-\u02bfAynis\u2019 Justification:<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Al-\u02bfAynis addresses the structure of the Witr prayer. He cites narrations that highlight the three rakat format with a sitting following the second rakat, thereby bolstering the Hanafi viewpoint.[4]<\/a> He resolves conflicting accounts by placing them in the larger framework of the Prophet \ufdfa and his companions’ behaviour.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

2. Four Rakat Sunnah Prior to Zuhr: A Hanafi Viewpoint<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hanafi Ruling: Four rakat before the Zuhr prayer are regarded by the Hanafi school as Sunnah Mu\u2019akkadah (emphasised Sunnah). Instead of being divided into two sets of two rakat, these should be performed with a single Taslim. The Sunnah Mu’akkadah status is not fulfilled if they are offered as two distinct prayers.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Context of Hadith: Although some hadiths state that the Prophet \ufdfa offered two rakat prior to Zuhr, Hanafi scholars understand these to be either extra voluntary prayers (nafl) or a part of a larger ritual that involved four rakat. According to other narrations, the focus is on the regular practice of four rakat.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Views of Hanafi Scholars: As Sunnah Mu\u2019akkadah, Imam Abu Hanifa, Abu Yusuf, and Muhammad al-Shaybani support the custom of four rakat prior to Zuhr.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Then the order of the Sunnahs: Al-Halwani said that the strongest is the rak’ah of Fajr, then the Sunnah of Maghrib, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) never omitted them, whether travelling or at home.[5]<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Then the one after noon prayer, as they are both agreed upon as a Sunnah<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In order to preserve the Sunnah Mu’akkadah status, Ibn al-Humam talks about how important it is to perform these four rakat with a single Taslim.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In their respective writings, al-\u02bfAynis and Ali al-Qari emphasise the importance of this practice in the daily prayer routine.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In summary:<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Sunnah Mu’akkadah status of four rakat prior to Zuhr and the obligation of the first tashahhud in Witr are established by the Hanafi school through a thorough examination of hadiths and the Prophet’s \ufdfa practices. To support these rulings, scholars such as al-\u02bfAynis and al-\u1e6ca\u1e25awi offer thorough explanations that reconcile different narrations.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

References:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

[1]<\/a> \u0644\u0648\u062a\u0631\u064f \u062b\u0644\u0627\u062b\u064e \u0631\u0643\u0639\u0627\u062a \u0648\u062c\u0628<\/span><\/p>\n

\u0635146 – \u0643\u062a\u0627\u0628 \u0634\u0631\u062d \u0627\u0644\u0648\u0642\u0627\u064a\u0629 \u062a \u0623\u0628\u0648 \u0627\u0644\u062d\u0627\u062c – \u0628\u0627\u0628 \u0635\u0644\u0627\u0629 \u0627\u0644\u0648\u062a\u0631 \u0648\u0627\u0644\u0646\u0648\u0627\u0641\u0644 – \u0627\u0644\u0645\u0643\u062a\u0628\u0629 \u0627\u0644\u0634\u0627\u0645\u0644\u0629<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

[2]<\/a> \u062f\u064e\u0651\u062b\u064e\u0646\u0650\u064a \u0639\u064e\u0646\u0652 \u0645\u064e\u0627\u0644\u0650\u0643\u064d\u060c \u0639\u064e\u0646\u0652 \u0639\u064e\u0628\u0652\u062f\u0650 \u0627\u0644\u0644\u064e\u0651\u0647\u0650 \u0628\u0652\u0646\u0650 \u062f\u0650\u064a\u0646\u064e\u0627\u0631\u064d\u060c \u0623\u064e\u0646\u064e\u0651 \u0639\u064e\u0628\u0652\u062f\u064e \u0627\u0644\u0644\u064e\u0651\u0647\u0650 \u0628\u0652\u0646\u064e \u0639\u064f\u0645\u064e\u0631\u064e\u060c \u0643\u064e\u0627\u0646\u064e \u064a\u064e\u0642\u064f\u0648\u0644\u064f \u0635\u0644\u0627\u0629 \u0627\u0644\u0645\u063a\u0631\u0628 \u0648\u062a\u0631 \u0635\u0644\u0627\u0629 \u0627\u0644\u0646\u0647\u0627\u0631 \u200f.\u200f \u0642\u0627\u0644 \u0645\u0627\u0644\u0643 \u0645\u0646 \u0623\u0648\u062a\u0631 \u0623\u0648\u0644 \u0627\u0644\u0644\u064a\u0644 \u062b\u0645 \u0646\u0627\u0645 \u062b\u0645 \u0642\u0627\u0645 \u0641\u0628\u062f\u0627 \u0644\u0647 \u0623\u0646 \u064a\u0635\u0644\u064a \u0641\u0644\u064a\u0635\u0644 \u0645\u062b\u0646\u0649 \u0641\u0647\u0648 \u0623\u062d\u0628 \u0645\u0627 \u0633\u0645\u0639\u062a \u0625\u0644\u0649<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

[3] Hafiz al- \u2018Iraqi sourced it to Ahmad in\u00a0Takhrij al-Ihya\u2019<\/em>\u00a0and said its chain is\u00a0sahih<\/em>\u00a0(footnotes to\u00a0Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah<\/em>, Dar Qurtubah, 4:466, no. 6773).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018Allamah Badr al-Din al- \u2018Ayni said: \u201cThe chain is according to the criterion of the two\u00a0shaykh<\/em>s (i.e. Bukhari and Muslim).\u201d (Nukhab al-Afkar<\/em>, Dar al-Nawadir, 5:100)<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

[4]<\/a> \u0627\u0644\u0648\u062a\u0631\u061b \u0644\u0623\u0646 \u0627\u0644\u0648\u062a\u0631 \u0641\u0631\u0636 \u0639\u0644\u0649 \u062d\u062f\u0629 \u0639\u0646\u062f\u0647<\/span><\/p>\n

\u0635600 – \u0643\u062a\u0627\u0628 \u0627\u0644\u0628\u0646\u0627\u064a\u0629 \u0634\u0631\u062d \u0627\u0644\u0647\u062f\u0627\u064a\u0629 – \u0643\u064a\u0641\u064a\u0629 \u0642\u0636\u0627\u0621 \u0627\u0644\u0641\u0648\u0627\u0626\u062a – \u0627\u0644\u0645\u0643\u062a\u0628\u0629 \u0627\u0644\u0634\u0627\u0645\u0644\u0629<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

[5]<\/a> \u062b\u0645 \u0627\u0644\u062a\u0631\u062a\u064a\u0628 \u0628\u064a\u0646 \u0627\u0644\u0633\u0646\u0646 \u0642\u0627\u0644 \u0627\u0644\u062d\u0644\u0648\u0627\u0646\u064a \u0623\u0642\u0648\u0627\u0647\u0627 \u0631\u0643\u0639\u0629 \u0627\u0644\u0641\u062c\u0631\u060c \u062b\u0645 \u0633\u0646\u0629 \u0627\u0644\u0645\u063a\u0631\u0628 \u0644\u0623\u0646\u0647 – \u0639\u064e\u0644\u064e\u064a\u0652\u0647\u0650 \u0627\u0644\u0633\u0651\u064e\u0644\u064e\u0627\u0645\u064f – \u0644\u0645 \u064a\u062f\u0639\u0647\u0645\u0627 \u0641\u064a \u0633\u0641\u0631 \u0648\u0644\u0627 \u062d\u0636\u0631\u060c \u062b\u0645 \u0627\u0644\u062a\u064a \u0628\u0639\u062f \u0627\u0644\u0638\u0647\u0631 \u0641\u0625\u0646\u0647\u0645\u0627 \u0633\u0646\u0629 \u0645\u062a\u0641\u0642 \u0639\u0644\u064a\u0647\u0645\u0627<\/span><\/p>\n

\u0635507 – \u0643\u062a\u0627\u0628 \u0627\u0644\u0628\u0646\u0627\u064a\u0629 \u0634\u0631\u062d \u0627\u0644\u0647\u062f\u0627\u064a\u0629 – \u0639\u062f\u062f \u0631\u0643\u0639\u0627\u062a \u0627\u0644\u062a\u0637\u0648\u0639 \u0627\u0644\u0645\u0631\u062a\u0628\u0637\u0629 \u0628\u0627\u0644\u0635\u0644\u0648\u0627\u062a \u0648\u0643\u064a\u0641\u064a\u062a\u0647\u0627 – \u0627\u0644\u0645\u0643\u062a\u0628\u0629 \u0627\u0644\u0634\u0627\u0645\u0644\u0629<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Only Allah knows best.<\/span><\/p>\n

Written by Muftiyah Shireen Mangera-Badat<\/span><\/p>\n

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah<\/span><\/p>\n

Darul Ifta Birmingham<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Fatwa ID: 08780\u00a0   \u00a0 Answered by Muftiyah Shireen Mangera-Badat   Question:   I would like to understand something regarding to the Witr prayer. According…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[14],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/daruliftabirmingham.co.uk\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40580"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/daruliftabirmingham.co.uk\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/daruliftabirmingham.co.uk\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/daruliftabirmingham.co.uk\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/daruliftabirmingham.co.uk\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40580"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"http:\/\/daruliftabirmingham.co.uk\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40580\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":40594,"href":"http:\/\/daruliftabirmingham.co.uk\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40580\/revisions\/40594"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/daruliftabirmingham.co.uk\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40580"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/daruliftabirmingham.co.uk\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40580"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/daruliftabirmingham.co.uk\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40580"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}