Question:

I would like to pray more in the night time. What is the difference between Tahajjud and Witr prayer? Can Sunnah prayers be made aloud and quietly?

Fatwa:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

Some jurists define Tahajjud as an optional night prayer that a Muslim offers at night after sleeping at the beginning of the night; some other jurists define it as optional night prayer as praying immediately after 'Ishaa' prayer before going to bed. According to the latter definition, Tahajjud is equal to Qiyaam-ul-Lail, but according to the first definition Tahajjud is more specific than Qiyaam; as for Witr it is the odd number of Raka's with which one concludes his prayers at night whether after Qiyaam or after 'Ishaa'. The least number of Raka's to be considered Witr is one single Raka'h whereas the highest rank of perfectness is to pray three Raka's for Witr. This means that Witr prayer is included in Tahajjud so it is desirable for a Muslim who performs Tahajjud at night to finish his night prayers with Witr no matter how many Raka's he prayed. Ibn 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet said: "Make Witr prayer the last of your prayer at night." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

The predominant view among Muslim scholars is that it is a confirmed Sunnah while some others consider it to be obligatory, so a Muslim should be keen to pray it.

Allah Knows best.

Fatwa answered by: The Fatwa Center at Islamweb