Answered by Shaykh Irshaad Sedick
Question Summary
Is the witr Prayer obligatory according to Shafi’i School, and is missing it sinful?
Question Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate
May Allah guide our hearts, tongues, and deeds to that which perpetually pleases Him.
Witr Prayer in the Shafi’i School
Witr prayer is a confirmed Sunnah (mu’akkada) according to the Shafi’i School, and therefore, omitting it is not sinful. [Nawawi, Al-Majmu’ Sharh Muhadhdhab]
The Shafi’i School’s evidence that it is not obligatory is the Prophetic narration in which a man came to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace) and said: “Oh Messenger of Allah, which prayers have Allah enjoined on me?” He said: “The five prayers unless you do anything voluntarily.” The version that says: “Five prayers every day and night.” He said: “Do I have to do anything else?’ He said, “No, unless you do it voluntarily,” which indicates that the witr prayer is not obligatory. [Nawawi, Sharh Sahih Muslim]
Advice to Observe Witr
While a person who omits witr is not sinful in the Shafi’i School, they are missing out on great reward as well as the chance to make up any shortfall in obligations (waajibat). On the Day of Resurrection, shortfalls in obligations may be compensated with one’s recommended actions if there are any to his credit. Doing Sunnah actions is also a means of maintaining the practice of obligatory deeds. Furthermore, witr is mandatory according to the Hanafi School, and one should try to avoid contravening the laws of all Schools wherever possible.
[Shaykh] Irshaad Sedick
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Shaykh Irshaad Sedick was raised in South Africa in a traditional Muslim family. He graduated from Dar al-Ulum al-Arabiyyah al-Islamiyyah in Strand, Western Cape, under the guidance of the late world-renowned scholar, Shaykh Taha Karaan.
Shaykh Irshaad received Ijaza from many luminaries of the Islamic world, including Shaykh Taha Karaan, Mawlana Yusuf Karaan, and Mawlana Abdul Hafeez Makki, among others.
He is the author of the text “The Musnad of Ahmad ibn Hanbal: A Hujjah or not?” He has served as the Director of the Discover Islam Centre and Al Jeem Foundation. For the last five years till present, he has served as the Khatib of Masjid Ar-Rashideen, Mowbray, Cape Town.
Shaykh Irshaad has thirteen years of teaching experience at some of the leading Islamic institutes in Cape Town). He is currently building an Islamic online learning and media platform called ‘Isnad Academy’ and pursuing his Master’s degree in the study of Islam at the University of Johannesburg. He has a keen interest in healthy living and fitness.