Importance of Witr Prayer For Blessing Life

Witr prayer is one types of Sunnah prayer that is done at night as a cap of other prayer like benefits of tahajud prayer and tarawih prayer (See also types of salat prayer). The law of Witr prayer is sunnah muakkad and there are some ulama who agreed that the law of witr prayer is obligatory to cover night prayers.

The Messenger of Allah never left witr prayer during his life and any conditions. Witr prayer is also called as an additional prayer and some of the following hadith explain about the virtue of Witr prayer :

1. As an additional prayer

Witr prayer is an additional prayer. This following hadith explains that witr prayer is a prayer that is recommended to be done between the time of isya prayer and before subh prayer. If we did witr prayer, we can add prayers and of course we can get a reward from that prayer as the following hadith :

إِنَّ اللهَ زَادَكُمْ صَلاَةً، وَهِيَ الْوِتْرُ، فَصَلُّوْهَا فِيْمَا بَيْنَ صَلاَةِ الْعِشَاءِ إِلَى صَلاَةِ الْفَجْرِ

“Indeed Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala has given you an additional prayer, it is witr prayer, then do witr prayer between the time of isya prayer to subh prayer.” (Ahmad)

نَّ اللهَ زَادَكُمْ صَلاَةً، فَحَافِظُوْا عَلَيْهَا، وَهِيَ اَلْوِتْرُ

“Indeed Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala has given you an additional prayer, then take care it, it is witr prayer.”

2. As a perfect night prayer

Witr prayer is a cover from night prayers that is done both before and after waking up and without witr prayer, your night prayer or your qiyamul lail will not be perfect. As it is mentioned in the following hadith :

جْعَلُوْا آخِرَ صَلاَتِكُمْ بِاللَّيْلِ وِتْرًا

“Make the end of your prayers at night with witr prayer.”

3. Witr prayer is loved by Allah SWT

Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala really loves odd things because Allah is one. As the rakaat of witr prayer, it is odd. So that, Allah SWT really likes witr prayer and He makes it as one of worship that is really loved.   As it is mentioned in the following hadith of Rasulullah SAW :

نَّ اللهَ وِتْرٌ يُحِبُّ الْوِتْرَ، فَأَوْتِرُوْا يَاأَهْلَ الْقُرْآنِ

“Indeed Allah is odd and He likes people who done witr prayer, then do witr prayer, O experts of the Quran.”

As a faithful servant of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala, of course we as His ummah will love what is loved by Allah SWT and try to do every commands from Him according to do witr prayer.  [AdSense-B]

4. It is a better prayer than a red camel

Hadith mentioned that the virtue of witr prayer is better than a red camel. It means that the value of witr prayer is bigger than the value of a red camel, especially if it was done before importance of Subh prayer. Here is a hadith that mentioned that virtue.

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْوَلِيدِ الطَّيَالِسِيُّ وَقُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ الْمَعْنَى قَالَا حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ أَبِي حَبِيبٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ رَاشِدٍ الزَّوْفِيِّ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي مُرَّةَ الزَّوْفِيِّ عَنْ خَارِجَةَ بْنِ حُذَافَةَ قَالَ أَبُو الْوَلِيدِ الْعَدَوِيُّ خَرَجَ عَلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ قَدْ أَمَدَّكُمْ بِصَلَاةٍ وَهِيَ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ مِنْ حُمْرِ النَّعَمِ وَهِيَ الْوِتْرُ فَجَعَلَهَا لَكُمْ فِيمَا بَيْنَ الْعِشَاءِ إِلَى طُلُوعِ الْفَجْرِ

“He has narrated to us [Abu Walid Ath Thayalisi] and [Qutaibah bin Sa’id] from [Kharijah bin Hudzafah], Abu Al Walid Al Adawi said Rasulullah Shallallahu wa’alaihi wa sallam came out to meet us and said : “Indeed Allah has obliged for you a prayer that it is better for you than the red camel, the witr prayer, and He has made it between isha prayer until dawn.” (Abu Dawud)

5. Your dua will be accepted
   

The time of witr prayer is the right time to pray and it is a close time to Allah SWT. The dua after witr prayer can be one of prayers that will be granted by Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala. You may also read best time to make dua for acceptance in Islam.

6. Your prayer is witnessed by angels

Witr prayer at the end of night is witnessed by angles and of course angels will bring blessings and come to pray us to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala. That thing is mentioned in this following hadith that was narrated by Imam Muslim.

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ حَدَّثَنَا حَفْصٌ وَأَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ عَنْ الْأَعْمَشِ عَنْ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ عَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَنْ خَافَ أَنْ لَا يَقُومَ مِنْ آخِرِ اللَّيْلِ فَلْيُوتِرْ أَوَّلَهُ وَمَنْ طَمِعَ أَنْ يَقُومَ آخِرَهُ فَلْيُوتِرْ آخِرَ اللَّيْلِ فَإِنَّ صَلَاةَ آخِرِ اللَّيْلِ مَشْهُودَةٌ وَذَلِكَ أَفْضَلُ و قَالَ أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ مَحْضُورَةٌ

It has told to us [Abu Bakr bin Abu Syaibah] has told to us [Hafsh] and [Abu Mu’awiyah] from [Al A’masy] from [Abu Sufyan] from [Jabir] he said : Rasulullah Shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said : “Whoever is worried can not get up in the enf of night, let him to do witr in the early evening. And who whishes to wake up in the end of night, let him do witr at night, because the prayer at the end of night is witnessed (by the angels) and that ting is more fdlal (main).” Abu Mu’awiyah said, “Madhlurah (attanded by the angels).” (Muslim)

7. Rasulullah SAW never left witr prayer

There are three thing that were never left by Rasulullah in his life. They are fasting during three days every month, doing importance of Duha prayer and Witr prayer,The Prophet saw never left witr prayer and if he left it, he would do qada that witr prayer. This is confirmed by the following hadith of Rasulullah :

أَوْصَانِى خَلِيلِى بِثَلاَثٍ لاَ أَدَعُهُنَّ حَتَّى أَمُوتَ صَوْمِ ثَلاَثَةِ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ ، وَصَلاَةِ الضُّحَى ، وَنَوْمٍ عَلَى وِتْرٍ

“My beloved Rasulullah gave me a tastement that I fast three days every month,do the two rakaat of Duha prayer and Witr prayer before I sleep.” (Bukhori) [AdSense-C]

8. You will be given a guidance and strengthen by Allah SWT

The person who do witr prayer will always feel strong to face temptations in this world. His dua will always be heard by Allah SWT. Allah SWT always gives guidance for His people who carry out His commands and do everything what He loves. At the time of witr prayer, there is a qunut prayer that we can read as asking for guidance and salvation to Allah SWT. This is the qunut prayer that can be read in witr prayer.

اللَّهُمَّ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَلَكَ نُصَلِّيْ وَنَسْجُدُ وَإِلَيْكَ نَسْعَى وَنَحْفِدُ نَرْجُوْ رَحْمَتَكَ وَنَخْشَى عَذَابَكَ إِنَّ عَذَابَكَ بِالْكَافِرِيْنَ مُلْحِقٌ،
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْتَعِيْنُكَ، وَنَسْتَغْفِرُكَ، وَنُثْنِيْ عَلَيْكَ الْخَيْرَ، وَلاَ نَكْفُرُكَ، وَنُؤْمِنُ بِكَ، وَنَخْضَعُ لَكَ، وَنَخْلَعُ مَنْ يَكْفُرُكَ

“O Allah, to You we worship, to You we do prayer and prostration, to You we try and hasten (perform worship). We hope Your grace, we fear with Your torments. Indeed Your punishment  will befall the unbelievers. O Allah, we ask for help and ask forgiveness for You, we praise Your goodness, we do not disagree with You, we believe in You, we submit to You and leave those who disbelieve in You.”

Thus, the importance of witr prayer in Islam that we can know and hopefully we can practice it, especially after doing tarawih prayer in Ramadhan. Thank you.