Salatul Witr
Contributed by,
Mujahid J.
Imam Muhammad Baqir has said… “One who has true faith in Allah (SWT) and the last day, will not allow the night to pass into the day without performing Salatul-Witr.”
It was a cold, windy night. Zahra and Yaseer each in their own rooms drew their blankets tight around themselves to stay warm. The eerie sound of the branches hitting their windows scared them as they tried to go back to sleep.
All of a sudden Zahra and Yaseer hear footsteps in the hallway. Their teeth are chattering, who could that be they wondered. It was 4:30 a.m.! Was it a thief? It couldn’t be, they had recited Ayatul Kursi three times, before they went to sleep. Allah SWT was protecting them.
Yaseer opens his room door and peers into the hallway. No one was there. Zahra hears the squeaky door and runs to open her door and peeks as well. She sees two white eyes admit the darkness staring back at her.
“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” Yaseer and Zahra both scream not realizing they were staring at each other!
Grandfather quickly comes running out of the Namaaz Room. “What’s the matter children? Is everything ok?”
“Grandfather, what are you doing up so early? It’s not Fajr time yet. We thought there was a thief in the house.” Yaseer says with relief. Grandfather smiles and tells them, my dears, our fifth Imam, Imam Muhammad Baqir has said, “One who has true faith in Allah (SWT) and the last day, will not allow the night to pass into the day without performing Salatul-Witr.”
Zahra cringed her forehead but before she could ask him Yaseer beats her to it, “What is Salatul Witr, Grandfather?”
They followed Grandfather into the Namaaz Room as he explained. “Salatul Witr is part of Salatul Layl, which means The Night Prayer. It is a special prayer that one recites after Isha and before Fajr prayers. The Masumeen have highly recommended this prayer. Allah SWT loves the one who gives up his or her warm, comfy bed and wakes up in the middle of the night for this prayer. It is a secret prayer between the Creator and the created.”
“Salatul Layl. I remember those words from Kerbala- Imam Hussain (AS) told Bibi Zainab not to forget him in her Salatul Layl.” Zahra added.
“How do you pray Salatul Layl?” Yaseer asked.
Grandfather instructed Zahra and Yaseer to their Prayer Mats and explained.
1-First recite eight rakaats of namaaz in sets of two, with the intention of nafilah of Salatul Layl. You pray this just like you recite your Fajr prayers.
“So it’s like you recite the Fajr prayers 4 times?” Zahra asked.
“Exactly! Grandfather nodded and continued. “Then you recite another two rakaat namaaz with the niyyat of “Shafah’. Again this is just like the Fajr prayers.
After that you recite Salatul Witr:
1-Make your Niyyat
2-Recite Suratul Hamd once
3-Then recite Suratul Ikhlaas three times
4- After that recite Suratul Falaq
5- Recited Surah Naas
6- Then you do qunoot- you can recite any dua in qunoot.
7-Keep your hands in the same position and repeat 100 time ”Astaghfirullaha rabbi wa atubu ilayh” which means. “I ask God, my Lord, to cover up my sins and unto Him I turn repentant.” You can keep a tasbih in your hands to help you count.
8- After that keep your hands still in the same postion and recite 40 times “Allah hoom Maghfirlil.. and say someone’s name. Continue this until you have remembered 40 people. They can be alive or dead. It’s good to try to remember you family, neighbors, friends..
9-After that recite “Allahumaghfir lil Muminina wal Muminat wal Muslimina wal Muslimat” once which means “O our Lord, Forgive the faults of the believing men and women.”
10- Keep your hands in Qunoot still and recite “Al Afw” 300 times.” Which means please forgive
11- Lastly end the qunoot with “Haza maqamul auzubika minan naar” which means O Lord! I beg of Thee to save me from the Fire of Hell.
12- Then go into ruku, sajdah and finish the pray with thashahud and salaam.
13- After the completion of the prayer you can ask for your wishes.
“Wow, that’s a lot to do.” said Yaseer.
“You know what, that’s exactly what I thought when I was your age. Even though it sounds like a lot, it really isn’t that much… maybe 25 minutes at the most. Don’t’ stress though, Allah SWT is so merciful. This special prayer can be done after Isha if you or right before you go to bed, and you can recite as much as you can. You will see you take one step towards the Almighty, HE will take TEN towards you and before you know it you will be reciting the entire Salatul Layl with ease.” Grandfather said, relieving the kids.
“Whew” said Zahra graciously as she remembered how cozy her bed was in this cold winter night. “You know children, Prophet Isa’s mother who was one of the most blessed ladies, said she would want to return to the world only to wake up in the middle of a cold night to recite this prayer!“
“Hey, Yaseer, let’s go do wudu and recite Salatul Layl and Witr with Grandfather, the warm cozy bed isn’t anything compared to having Allah SWT’s mercy surrounding us!
“Totally agree with you on that sis!” Yaseer smiled.
As the children walked away to do wudu, Grandfather went into Sajdah thanking the Almighty for giving Zahra and Yaseer clarity in their hearts to always want to come closer to the almighty. He prayed to the almighty to keep them on the right path.
Zahra and Yaseer and trying their best to recite Salatul Layl. They can’t wake up in the middle of the night sometimes, so they recite it before they go to bed. There is another hadith that’s says if you do something for 40 days you will make it a habit- so let’s try and recite Salatul Layl! Remember you don’t have to do all the duas, so as many as you can! You take ONE step towards the Almighty and he will take TEN towards you!