(Part No. 7; Page No. 172)
The second question of Fatwa no. 6755
Q 2: Is performing Witr (Prayer with an odd
number of units) obligatory and is it sinful to only perform intermittently?
A: Witr is a stressed Sunnah that a
believer should maintain. Anyone who performs intermittently is not sinful, but they are advised to
observe it regularly. It is permissible to perform Shaf’ (Prayer with an even
number of units) during the daytime in a place of a missed Witr, because the
Prophet (peace be upon him) used to do so. It is authentically reported on the
authority of ‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that she said: <If
sleep or illness prevented the Prophet (peace be upon him) from Salat-ul-Layl
(optional Prayer at night), he would offer twelve Rak’ahs during the
daytime.> (Related by Muslim in his Sahih) The Prophet (peace be upon him)
would, most times, perform eleven Rak’ahs during the night, offering Taslim
after every two, and would conclude them with a single Rak’ah as Witr. If sleep
or illness prevented him from doing so, he (peace be upon him) would offer
twelve Rak’ahs during the daytime as ‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her)
reported. Accordingly, if a Muslim is accustomed to perform five Rak’ahs at night and is prevented from
doing so by sleep or any other impediment , they may perform six Rak’ahs in the
daytime, offering Taslim after every
two. The same applies if they are accustomed to performing three Rak’ahs, they
may perform four Rak’ahs, performing Taslim after every two.
(Part No. 7; Page No. 173)
If they are accustomed to performing seven
Rak’ahs, they may perform eight Rak’ahs, offering Taslim after every two.
May Allah grant us success. May peace and
blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and Companions.
The Permanent Committee for Scholarly
Research and Ifta’
~
Source: http://www.alifta.net/Fatawa/FatawaChapters.aspx?languagename=en&View=Page&PageID=2330&PageNo=1&BookID=7
