What is the minimum number of units (rak'ah) for Witr prayer?
Chapter on the Times When Prayer is Prohibited
Al-Mughni
Book of Prayer
Primary text
The Witr prayer is a single unit (rak'ah). This opinion is attributed to Uthman ibn Affan, Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas, Zayd ibn Thabit, Ibn Abbas, Ibn Umar, Ibn al-Zubayr, Abu Musa, Mu'awiyah, and Aisha, peace be upon them. It is also the view held by Sa'id ibn al-Musayyab, 'Ata', Malik, al-Awza'i, al-Shafi'i, Ishaq, and Abu Thawr. Evidence supporting the single rak'ah view includes the Prophet's saying: "Witr is a single rak'ah from the last part of the night," and Aisha's report that the Prophet's night prayer was eleven rak'ahs, one of which was Witr. Another narration states the Prophet commanded: "The night prayer is two by two, so when you fear the dawn, pray Witr with one unit." This understanding is also supported by the Prophet's established practice and the statement of Ibn Umar that the Witr of the Messenger of Allah, Abu Bakr, and Umar was one rak'ah.
Supporting text
A second interpretation is that 'one rak'ah' refers to the minimum amount for Witr, meaning three or more units are also permissible. Imam Ahmad affirmed that Witr is one rak'ah but it may be preceded by ten rak'ahs before establishing the final single unit. Furthermore, some scholars permit Witr with three, five, seven, nine, or eleven units. The view that one may choose to pray Witr with one, three, or five units is supported by the hadith of Abu Ayyub: "Witr is incumbent upon every Muslim; whoever wishes to pray five, let him do so, and whoever wishes to pray three, let him do so, and whoever wishes to pray one, let him do so."