Salatul Layl

The time for praying Salatul-Layl is from midnight (midnight is reckoned as the time which is exactly half the time between sunset and the actual dawn) to the time of Adhan for Fajr prayers. However, it can be prayed at anytime after Isha prayers but it is better to pray during the last part of the night near to the time of Fajr prayers. If it is not possible to pray after midnight or before Fajr, then it can be recited in the morning or any part of the day with the niyyah (intention) of Qadha. It is better to recite with the niyyah of Qadha during the day time than to pray in the early part of the night.

is made up of Eleven Rak’ats.

• The first 8(eight) Rak’ats are prayed as normal in pairs of two Rak’ats each with the niyyah of Nawafilatul-Layl.
• The next 2 (two) Rak’ats are prayed with the Niyyah of 'Salatul Shaf’a'.
• The remaining 1(one) Rak’at is prayed (as below) with the Niyyah of 'Salatul Witr.'

Salat of Witr (1 unit)

1. Make Niyah and say Takbir
2. Recite Al Fatiha

   بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

   In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

   ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ

   All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.

   ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

   The Beneficent, the Merciful.

   مَٰلِكِ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّينِ

   Master of the Day of Judgment.

   إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ

   Thee do we serve and Thee do we beseech for help.

   ٱهْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَٰطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمَ

   Keep us on the right path.

   صِرَٰطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ ٱلْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا ٱلضَّآلِّينَ

   The path of those upon whom Thou hast bestowed favors. Not (the path) of those upon whom Thy wrath is brought down, nor of those who go astray.

3. Recite Surat al Ikhlaas 3 times

   بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

   In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

   قُلْ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ

   Say: He, Allah, is One.

   ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَدُ

   Allah is He on Whom all depend.

   لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ

   He begets not, nor is He begotten.

   وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌۢ

   And none is like Him.

4. Recite Surat al Falaq once

   بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

   In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

   قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ ٱلْفَلَقِ

   Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of the dawn,

   مِن شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ

   From the evil of what He has created,

   وَمِن شَرِّ غَاسِقٍ إِذَا وَقَبَ

   And from the evil of the utterly dark night when it comes,

   وَمِن شَرِّ ٱلنَّفَّٰثَٰتِ فِى ٱلْعُقَدِ

   And from the evil of those who blow on knots,

   وَمِن شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ

   And from the evil of the envious when he envies

5. Recite Surat an Naas once

   بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

   In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

   قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ ٱلنَّاسِ

   Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of men,

   مَلِكِ ٱلنَّاسِ

   The King of men,

   إِلَٰهِ ٱلنَّاسِ

   The god of men,

   مِن شَرِّ ٱلْوَسْوَاسِ ٱلْخَنَّاسِ

   From the evil of the whisperings of the slinking (Shaitan),

   ٱلَّذِى يُوَسْوِسُ فِى صُدُورِ ٱلنَّاسِ

   Who whispers into the hearts of men,

   مِنَ ٱلْجِنَّةِ وَٱلنَّاسِ

   From among the jinn and the men.

6. Say Takbir and recite this Qunoot

   لآ اِلَهَ اِلاَّ اللّهُ الْحَلِيْمُ الْكَرِيْمُ

   There is none worth worshipping but Allah Who is Forbearing and Generous

   لآ اِلَهَ اِلاَّ اللّهُ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيْمُ

   There is none worth worshipping but Allah Who is Most High and Great

   سُبْحَانَ اللّهِ رَبِّ السَّمَاوَاتِ السَّبْعِ

   Glory be to Allah, Who is the Sustainer of the seven heavens and of the seven earth

   وَ رَبِّ الاَرْضِيْنَ السَّبْعِ

   And Who is the Sustainer of all the things

   وَ مَا فِيْهِنَّ وَ مَا بَيْنَهُنَّ وَ

   in them, and between them,

   رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيْمِ

   And Who is the Lord of the great ‘Arsh (Divine Center of Authority & Power)

   وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ

   And all praise for Allah, the Sustainer of the worlds.

7. Pray for forgiveness of 40 or more believers (living or dead) as follows

   You may hold tasbih in the right hand to keep a count, and only raise the left hand for qunoot

   اَللّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ ل...

   O Allah forgive (so and so)

8. Continuing the qunoot, recite the following Istighfar 70 times

   اَسْتَغْفِرُ اللّهَ رَبِّي وَ اَتُوْبُ اِلَيْه

   I seek forgiveness of Allah my Lord and I turn to Him

9. Still continuing further while raising the left hand, recite the following dua 7 times

   هذَا مَقَامُ الْعَآئِذِ بِكَ مِنَ النَّارِ

   This is the position of one who seeks refuge in You from the fire [of Hell]

10. Continuing yet further while still raising the left hand, seek forgiveness 300 times

    اَلْعَفْوَ

    (I ask for) forgiveness

11. Finally, utter this dua of Holy Prophet once

    رب اغفر لي و ارحمني و تب علي

    Lord, please forgive me and have mercy upon me and turn back towards me. Verily You are the Oft-Turning back, Most Merciful

12. Complete the rest of the salat in a normal way.

    Go to Ruku, followed by Sajdah, Tashhud and Salam, thus ending salatul layl