Q 1: One day I offered the `isha' (Night) Prayer but I did not perform Witr (Prayer with an odd number of units) after it until the Adhan (call to Prayer) of Fajr (Dawn) Prayer was pronounced. I was then at a loss whether I should offer Witr first then offer the supererogatory Prayer before Fajr. I did not know which to do first.

A: Witr Prayer is a stressed Sunnah and its due time includes the period from after the `Isha' Prayer until the break of Al-Fajr-ul-Sadiq (true dawn). This is indicated by the Hadith narrated on the authority of Kharijah ibn Hudhafah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: The Messenger of Allah came out to us and said: Allah has given you an extra Salah (Prayer) which is better for you than red camels (i.e. high bred camels). We said: What is it, Messenger of Allah? He said: This is the Witr (which Allah has appointed for you) between the `Isha' Prayer and break of dawn. (Related by the Five Compilers of Hadith (Imams Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Al-Tirmidhy, Al-Nasa'y and Ibn Majah) except for Al-Nasa'y and Al-Hakim ranked it as Sahih (authentic)) It was also authentically reported from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) that he said: Perform Witr before the morning. (Related by Imam Muslim in (Part No. 6; Page No. 68) his Sahih Book of Hadith) Accordingly, if anyone does not offer the Witr before the break of Al-Fajr-ul-Sadiq, they should start by offering the Sunnah Ratibah (supererogatory Prayer performed on a regular basis) before the Fajr Prayer after the Adhan, then they should offer the obligatory Fajr Prayer. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: There is no Salah (to be offered) after dawn except the two Rak`ahs (units of Prayer) of the Fajr Prayer. (Related by Imam Ahmad in his Musnad (Hadith compilation), vol. 2, p. 23, 104; Abu Dawud in his Sunan (Hadith compilations classified by jurisprudential themes), vol. 2, p. 58; and Al-Tirmidhy in Al-Gami`, vol. 2, p. 279) In this case, they are permitted to make up for the Witr Prayer at the time of Salat-ul-Duha (supererogatory Prayer after sunrise) and offer it as a two-Rak`ah Prayer. In light of this, if they are used to offer Witr as one Rak`ah, they should offer it as two Rak`ahs; and if they are used to offer it as two Rak`ahs, they should offer it as four Rak`ahs; and six Rak`ahs if they are used to offer it as five Rak`ahs. They should say Taslim (salutation of peace ending the Prayer) after each pair of Rak`ahs according to the Hadith narrated on the authority of `Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) who said: When sleep or pain overpowered the Prophet (peace be upon him) and made it impossible (for him) to observe the Night Prayer, he used to offer twelve Rak`ahs during the daytime. (Related by Imam Muslim in his Sahih, vol. 1, p. 514; and Imam Ahmad in his Musnad, vol. 1, p. 54, 95, 109, 258)) Al-Tirmidhy, Abu Dawud, and Al-Nasa'y also related a similar Hadith. The Prophet (peace be upon him) offered twelve Rak`ahs, because he used to offer eleven Rak`ahs at night, and he added one Rak`ah to make it twelve Rak`ahs as he (peace be upon him) said: The (optional) Salah during the night should consist of pairs of Rak`ahs, but if one of you fears morning is near, they should offer one Rak`ah, which will make their Salah an odd number for them. (Agreed upon by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.