Importance of the Witr Prayer

The person is drawn close to God when he performs the Witr prayer, which is the most important part of the Isha prayer at night. The scholars have emphasised on performing witr prayer because it is obligatory. Imam Ahmad said ” Whoever neglects Witr is a bad man whose testimony should not be accepted.”

These words clearly mean that Witr prayer is so important in Islam for a Muslim.  Muslims are not allowed to ignore or negletct is in any case.But your Fard or obligatory prayers are just as important as Witr prayer.

Timings For Witr Prayer

The Isha prayer is normally performed after the sun goes down and darkness falls. The  Isha prayer is mandatory and a part of five daily prayers in a day of Muslim. When the Isha prayer is completed, the  the time for Witr prayer starts.

 Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Allah has prescribed for you a prayer (by which He may increase your reward), which is Witr; Allah has enjoined it for you during the time between ‘Isha’ prayer until dawn begins.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 425; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi. 

The best Time

The best time fot the Witr prayer is the third  and final part of the night.  The angels of Allah witness all human beings who pray at the late hours of night before dawn. When  a Muslim has fear of Allah in their mind, they  can make an arrangement to get up at the last third of the night then he or she can pray. 

 Jaabir said (may Allah be pleased with him)  said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever fears that he will not get up at the end of the night, let him pray Witr at the beginning of the night, but whoever thinks that he will be able to get up at the end of the night, let him pray Witr at the end of the night, for prayer at the end of the night is witnessed (by the angels) and that is better.” Narrated by Muslim, 755. 

Method To Pray Witr

  Witr prayer is an odd number of rakkahs. One should not perform the even number of rakkahs, there are more than one ways to perform the Witr prayer however. A Muslim can  pray 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, rakkahs. Mostly people perform 3 rakkahs is the dawn is near and there is less time remaining in Fajr.

Qanoot Prayer Recitation

In the final rakkah of the Witr prayer, the prayer of Qanoot is recited.  It is recited either just before going to Raku (i.e. bowing position) or just after straightening up after the Raku (i.e. just before going down to Sajda,).  

 Here are some words that are taught in the prayer of Qanoot (Dua Qanoot in Witr)

“Allaahumma ihdini feeman hadayta wa ‘aafini feeman ‘aafayta wa tawallani feeman tawallayta wa baarik li feema a’tayta, wa qini sharra ma qadayta , fa innaka taqdi wa la yuqda ‘alayk, wa innahu laa yadhillu man waalayta wa laa ya’izzu man ‘aadayta, tabaarakta Rabbana wa ta’aalayta la manja minka illa ilayk

(O Allah, guide me among those whom You have guided, pardon me among those whom You have pardoned, turn to me in friendship among those on whom You have turned in friendship, and bless me in what You have bestowed, and save me from the evil of what You have decreed. For verily You decree and none can influence You; and he is not humiliated whom You have befriended, nor is he honored who is Your enemy. Blessed are You, O Lord, and Exalted. There is no place of safety from You except with You).” 
 
Al-Daaraqutni added the word: Rabb al-Malaa’ikah wa’l-Rooh (Lord of the angels and the Spirit), with a saheeh isnaad. See Zaad al-Ma’aad by Ibn al-Qayyim, 1/337.

Ref link http://www.missionislam.com/knowledge/witrprayer.html