Witr (Odd-Numbered Prayer)
A strongly recommended prayer with an odd number of rak'ah, prayed after Isha.
Witr (Arabic: وتر) means "odd" and is a prayer performed with an odd number of rak'ah (1, 3, 5, 7 or 9), typically after the Isha prayer and before Fajr. Witr is strongly recommended (wajib according to the Hanafi school) and was a prayer that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) never omitted.
The most common form is three rak'ah, either prayed as a continuous three rak'ah or as two rak'ah followed by one. In the last rak'ah of Witr, the Qunut supplication (a special du'a) is typically recited after ruku.
The Prophet said: "Allah is Witr (One) and He loves Witr. So pray Witr, O followers of the Quran." Witr is the last prayer one prays at night — if one plans to pray Tahajjud, one should postpone Witr until after Tahajjud.
Related terms
Taslim (Concluding Greeting)
The concluding peace greeting that marks the end of the prayer.
Salat al-Musafir (Traveler's Prayer)
The shortened prayers that travelers perform while traveling.
Adl (God's Justice)
The doctrine of God's absolute justice — the second article of faith in Shia Islam.
Khutbah (Sermon)
The Islamic sermon delivered before the Friday prayer and at the Eid prayers.
Isha (Night Prayer)
The fifth and final daily prayer, performed when darkness has fallen.
Janamaz (Prayer Rug)
The prayer rug that the worshipper uses to mark a clean prayer area.