In The Month Of Ramadan Is It Better To Perform Witr Salah With Jamaat Or At Home With Tahajjud?

Darulifta Ahlesunnat

(Dawateislami)

Question

   What do the noble scholars and the jurist of Islamic laws say regarding the following matter:

Jama’at of Witr salaah is established in the month of Ramadaan, so is it better for the one performing Esha Salah with Jamaat to perform witr salah with jama’at or at the time tahajjud? Kindly guide us according to Islamic Laws.

بِسْمِ اللہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ

اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِکِ الْوَھَّابِ اَللّٰھُمَّ ھِدَایَۃَ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ

   What is superior time to offer Witr in Ramadan-ul-Mubarak? Is it superior to offer it congregationally or at home? Concerning this, the verdict is based on this opinion: It is superior to offer the Ramadan Witr congregationally in a Masjid.

   According to one of the opinion regarding performing witr salaah in the blessed month of Ramadaan, one should perform it alone at the time of Tahajjud. Some Hanafi Jurist have declared that, it is better to perform witr salah with Jama’at which is established at the masjid. This is also proven from the practice of the Holy Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم. Both the opinions are preferred, so one may act upon either of the two. But normally the muslims perform witr salah with jama’at at the masjid and it is better to act upon this practice.

   It is stated in Durr e mukhtar and Raddul muhtar regarding performing witr salah with jama’at in Ramadaan:

”(فی وتر رمضان مستحبۃ علی قول )و غیر مستحبۃ  علی قول آخر بل یصلیھا وحدہ فی بیتہ و ھما قولان مصححان“

[Durr e mukhtar/Raddul muhtar, V-2, P.342, Quetta]

   It is stated in Noorul Idaah with Maraqi al Falah:

”(صلاتہ مع الجماعۃ فی رمضان افضل من ادائہ منفردا آخر اللیل فی اختیار قاضیخان قال ھو الصحیح)لانہ لما جازت الجماعۃ کانت افضل و لان عمر رضی اللہ عنہ کان یومھم فی الوتر۔۔۔۔فی ’’الفتح‘‘  و” البرھان“ ما یفیدان قول قاضیخان ارجح لانہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم اوتر بھم فیہ“

[Noorul Idaah with Maraqi al Falah, P.199, Makatabatul Madina, Karachi]

   It is mentioned in Ghunyah Dhawil Ahkaam:

”ذکر الکمال ما یرجح کلام قاضی خان فینبغی اتباعہ“

[ghunyah dhawil ahkaam, V-1, P.120, Karachi]

   Allama Shami رحمۃ اللہ علیہ states in Minhat ul Khaliq regarding performing Witr Salah with Jama’at in the month of Ramadaan:

”قال الرملی: و فی شرح المنیۃ للعلامہ الحلبی : والصحیح ان ا لجماعۃ فیھا افضل ۔۔۔و ھذا الذی علیہ عامۃ الناس الیوم“

[Minhat ul Khaliq with A Bahr al Raaiq, V-2, P.123, Queta]

   Imam e Ahle Sunnat Imam Ahmed Raza Khan رحمۃ اللہ علیہ states in Fatawa Razawiyya: Our Noble Scholars have difference of opinion regarding witr Salah in the month of Ramadaan, whether it should be performed with Jama’at in the masjid or individually at home. Both opinions are strong and both are prioritised and considered correct. The first opinion has the advantage, that now the common people are practicing it and it is also supported by a Hadith. In Conclusion, whatever is most appropriate considering the time, Condition and the people with regard to acting upon this ruling, should be practised.

[Fatawa Razawiyya, V-7, P.398 & 399, Raza Foundation, Lahore]

   Imam e Ahle sunnat has further stated in reply to a question in another place: Whether performer of salah is punctual of tahajjud or not, it is not necessary for either of them. There is Difference of opinion regarding superiority. According to our Main Mazhab, it is better to perform it individually at home and according to another opinion, it is better to perform it with Jama’at at the Masjid. Nowadays this is the practice of the Muslims. Anyway, it is not necessary according to anyone.

[Fatawa Razawiyya, V-7, P.400, Raza Foundation, Lahore]

   It is stated in Bahar e Shari’at: It is better to perform witr salah with jama’at in the month of Ramadaan.

[Bahar e shari’at, V-1, Part-4, P.692, Maktabatul Madina, Karachi]

وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَرَسُوْلُہ اَعْلَم صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم

Answered By: Mufti Abu Muhammad, Ali Asghar Attari

Ref No: Gul -2206

Date: 14 Ramadan ul Mubarak 1442/27th April, 2021