Is It Compulsory To Perform Witr After Tahajjud? Are Adhan and Iqama Required for it?

Answered by Shaykh Abdullah Anik Misra

Question

Does one need to perform the adhan and the iqama before Tahajjud and Witr prayers, and is it necessary to always perform Witr after Tahajjud (instead of doing it right after Isha)?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful and Compassionate

The adhan is only called for the fard prayers, not for one’s tahajjud or witr. Imam Abu al-Su’ud, commenting on the line of Nur al-Idah, which mentions that the adhan is given for the fard prayers only, says, “…as opposed to the witr prayer… and the supererogatory (nafl) and sunnah prayers.” [Abu al-Su‘ud, Daw’ al-Misbah Sharh Nur al-Idah]

The witr prayer can be performed before or after one’s tahajjud. Imam Shurunbulali writes, “And if he prayed witr before sleeping, then prayed tahajjud, he would not have to repeat his witr.” [Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah]

Wassalam,
[Shaykh] Abdullah Anik Misra
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Shaykh Abdullah Misra was born in Toronto, Canada, in 1983. His family hails from India, and he was raised in the Hindu tradition. He embraced Islam in 2001 while at the University of Toronto, from where he completed a Bachelor of Business Administration. He then traveled overseas in 2005 to study the Arabic language and Islamic sciences in Tarim, Yemen, for some time, as well as Darul Uloom in Trinidad, West Indies. He spent 12 years in Amman, Jordan, where he focused on Islamic Law, Theology, Hadith Sciences, Prophetic Biography, and Islamic Spirituality while also working at the Qasid Arabic Institute as Director of Programs. He holds a BA in Islamic Studies (Alimiyya, Darul Uloom) and authorization in the six authentic books of Hadith and is currently pursuing specialized training in issuing Islamic legal verdicts (ifta’). He holds a certificate in Counselling and often works with new Muslims and those struggling with religious OCD. He is an instructor and researcher in Sacred Law and Theology with the SeekersGuidance The Global Islamic Seminary. Currently, He resides in the Greater Toronto Area with his wife and children. His personal interests include Indian history, comparative religion, English singing, and poetry.