Performing Witr Salaah after 10 Rakaats of Taraweeh in the Haram

Nasihah (Advice): The Virtue of Taraweeh Salaah

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah radiyallahu anhu reported that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, “Whoever stands in Prayer during the month of Ramadan out of faith and in hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.” [Sahih Bukhari]

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Question and Answer:

1. Q. Assalamu Alaykum. This year, only 10 Rakaats of Taraweeh will be performed in the Haram. Thereafter, Witr will be performed. Should the Imaam be joined in Witr and thereafter the remaining 10 Rakaats of Taraweeh be performed or should the Witr be performed after reading the remaining ten?

(Question published as received)

1. The time of Taraweeh commences after the Fard of Esha is completed and can be performed before or after the Witr Salaah. (Shaami 2/43)

Under normal circumstances, the Witr Salaah should be performed after the Taraweeh is completed as this is the traditional method for performing these Salaah from the time of the Sahaabah Radhiyallahu Anhum. (Majamul Anhur 1/136)

However, if a person finds themselves in a situation wherein the Imaam performs the Witr before they complete twenty Rakaats of Taraweeh, they should perform the Witr with the Imaam and thereafter complete the remaining Rakaats so that the virtue of performing congregational Witr is achieved. (Shaami 2/43)

Nonetheless, if a person delays the Witr until the completion of twenty Rakaats of Taraweeh this would also be valid.

Important clarification regarding Witr Salaah in the Haram for Hanafis

If the Imaam makes Salaam after two Rakaats of Witr, the Hanafi followers should not make Salaam. They should pause and wait for the Imaam to stand up. When the Imaam stands up for the third Rakaat, they should stand and continue following the Imaam.

However, they should not raise their hands and say Allahu Akbar as is done when commencing Salaah as they are continuing their existing Witr Salaah and are not starting a new Salaah. (Fataawa Uthmani Vol. 1 Pg. 473)

(N.B. this is most precautionary method of performing this Salaah)

And Allah Ta’ala Knows Best

Mufti Moosa Salie

Mufti Hamza Farooqi

(The answer hereby given is specifically based on the question asked and should be read together with the question asked. Islamic rulings on this Q&A newsletter are answered in accordance to the Hanafi Fiqh unless otherwise stated.) 

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