I asked Ibn `Umar, "What is your opinion about the two rak`at before the Fajr (compulsory) prayer, as to prolonging the recitation in them?" He said, "The Prophet (ﷺ) used to pray at night two rak`at followed by two and so on, and end the prayer by one rak`ah witr. He used to offer two rak`at before the Fajr prayer immediately after the Adhan." (Hammad, the sub-narrator said, "That meant (that he prayed) quickly.)"
Commentary on the Witr Prayer
This narration from Sahih al-Bukhari 995, transmitted through the esteemed companion Abdullah ibn Umar, provides profound insight into the Prophet's nightly prayer practice. The Witr prayer, being the final prayer of the night, holds special significance in Islamic worship as it concludes one's nightly devotion.
The Prophet's Night Prayer Pattern
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would pray two rak'at at a time throughout the night, demonstrating the recommended method of performing voluntary night prayers in pairs. This pattern maintains the sunnah of praying in units of two rak'at, which preserves the proper structure of prayer.
The wisdom behind concluding with a single rak'ah of Witr signifies the completion of night prayers with an odd number, as the name "Witr" itself means "odd." This follows the divine command to make the night prayer odd in number, as mentioned in various authentic traditions.
The Two Rak'at Before Fajr
The two rak'at before Fajr, known as Sunnat al-Fajr, were offered by the Prophet immediately after the Adhan, as indicated by Hammad's clarification that this meant praying quickly. This demonstrates the urgency and importance of performing these two rak'at between the Fajr Adhan and the Iqamah.
Scholars note that while recitation in night prayers can be prolonged, these two rak'at before Fajr should be shortened to ensure they are completed before the compulsory Fajr prayer begins. This practical guidance ensures Muslims can fulfill both the sunnah and obligatory prayers properly.
Legal Rulings and Recommendations
The Witr prayer is considered a confirmed sunnah (sunnah mu'akkadah) by scholarly consensus. While it is permissible to pray Witr as three rak'at with one tasleem, the method described here—praying two rak'at followed by one—is the most preferred according to the majority of scholars.
The two rak'at before Fajr are among the most emphasized sunnah prayers, with the Prophet never neglecting them even while traveling. They carry immense reward and should be made brief in recitation to distinguish them from the night prayers and to ensure their completion before the Fajr prayer commences.