It is
recommended to pray two rak’aat after witr. Thawbaan (may Allaah be pleased
with him) said: “We were on a journey with the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu
‘alayhi wa sallam) when he said: “Indeed, this journey is a struggle and
burden for you; so when one of you prays witr, let him follow it up with two rak’aat.
Whether he wakes up (later in the night) or not, they will be recorded for him.”
Recorded by ad-Daarimee (1/374), Ibn Khuzaymah in his saheeh (2/159/1103)
and Ibn Hibbaan (683).
While
commenting on the above hadeeth, Shaykh al-Albaanee (may Allaah have mercy on
him) said: “This hadeeth was used as evidence by Imaam Ibn Khuzaymah, “that Salaah
after witr is allowed to everyone who wants
to pray after it, and that the two rak’aat, which the Prophet (sallallaahu
‘alayhi wa sallam) used to pray after witr were not specific to him excluding
his Ummah, since he has commanded us to pray two rak’aat after witr - a command of recommendation and preference
and not a command of obligation and compulsion.”
This is an
important benefit which we have derived from this hadeeth. Before now, we were
indecisive in reconciling between the Prophet’s praying two rak’aat after witr
and his saying: “Make the last of your prayer at night odd (witr).” We
said in the ta’leeq of Sifatus-Salaah on p. 123 of the sixth
edition: “To be on the safe side, it is better to leave them in compliance with
the order [to make witr the last prayer.]”
However, now it
is clear to us from this hadeeth that the two rak’aat after witr were not specific
to him because of the general command he gave his Ummah to perform it. It seems
that what is intended by the command to make one’s last prayer at night odd was
to prevent neglect of the one odd rak’ah; so performing two rak’aat after it
does not contradict it, as established from his action and his command. Allaah knows
best.
Source: Silsilatul-Ahaadeethis-Saheehah,
no 1993.
Note: The Sunnah is to recite in these two rak’aat: Suratuz-Zalzalah and Suratul-Kafirun.[1]
[1]
Recorded by Ibn Khuzaymah with reports from Aa’ishah and Anas whose chains
strengthen each other.
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