Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
I wanted to know how can one make up their missed witr prayers. I didn’t start praying until I was a little older and now I am making up my missed prayers but I wanted to know how I can make up my witr prayers. Is it okay to pray 1 rakat with the dua qunoot or do I have to pray the 3 rakats? When is the best time to make up these prayers?
Walaikum assalam,
The Witr prayer has to be made up because it is necessary (wajib) to perform. It should be made up with other prayers.
The witr prayer is only 3 rakats in the Hanafi prayer, with a dua for qunut being necessary (wajib), though there is no specifically dua that is necessary. (Rather, the specific Prophetic dua is a sunna.)
The witr prayer cannot be prayed as one rakat.
The way to get one’s make up prayers done is to have a reasonable, sustainable amount of makeups that one performs every single day, without fail. If one has a lot of makeups, it is like running a marathon… But the scholars say that everyone, if they are serious about their religion, their obligation to their Lord, and fear being taken to account, should be able to pray at least 5 days worth of makeup prayers every day. Many do much more. But do what you can. This is more important than any supererogatory worship. It is a debt you owe Allah that is long overdue…
Wassalam,
Faraz Rabbani.