How to pray Witr, step by step

If you do not know Al-Fatiha yet, you can still pray while you learn it. Here is how

These steps follow what the four Sunni schools share. Where they differ, the notes below show the other ways you may see.

Rakat by rakat

Other ways you may see

• The Hanafi way: 3 rakat together, with Al-Fatiha and a surah in all three and a sitting after rakat 2. In rakat 3, after the surah, say Allahu akbar raising the hands, recite the qunut, then bow.
• The qunut in Witr: the Hanbali school says it every night after ruku, the Shafi'i school in the second half of Ramadan, and the Maliki school does not say it in Witr. Leaving it out does not harm your Witr.
• Witr can be 1 rakat, or more: 5, 7, 9 or 11.
• Raising the hands: everyone raises them for the first takbir, to the shoulders or the earlobes. The Shafi'i and Hanbali schools also raise them before and after ruku and when standing up from the first sitting.
• Where the hands rest: on the chest, under the chest or under the navel, depending on the school. Many Malikis let the arms hang at the sides.
• The opening: this page uses "Subhanaka". The Shafi'i school often uses another opening dua, and the Maliki school goes straight to Al-Fatiha.
• The tashahhud has several authentic wordings. This page uses the one of Ibn Mas'ud, used by the Hanafi and Hanbali schools.
• Sitting: on the left foot with the right foot upright. In the last sitting of a 3 or 4 rakat prayer, many sit with the left foot under the right shin (tawarruk).
• Between the two prostrations, the Hanafi school sits a moment in silence, others say "Rabbighfir li".
• Women pray the same prayer. Some schools teach a more gathered posture, with the arms closer to the body in ruku and sujud, and a woman recites quietly where unrelated men can hear her.

Common questions

Every prayer

• Fajr
• Dhuhr
• Asr
• Maghrib
• Isha
• Jumu'ah
• Witr
• How many rakat in each prayer