The witr prayer

Where the schools differ

Wajib for Abu Hanifa, and a narration from him says obligatory; a stressed Sunnah for the majority, the Malikis, Shafi'is and Hanbalis, who cite the man who asked whether anything was due on him besides the five prayers and was told no, unless he prayed voluntarily. islamweb's fatwa prefers the majority view.

Where the schools differ

For the Hanafis witr is three rak'ahs joined, sitting for the tashahhud after the second and giving the salam only at the end, and a single rak'ah is not allowed. For the majority a single rak'ah is enough, and three, five or seven are more complete; when praying three, islamweb's fatwa says they should not be prayed like maghrib, but with a salam after two or all joined without sitting after the second.

Where the schools differ

For the Hanafis, after the recitation in the third rak'ah one says the takbir while standing and makes the qunut supplication, then bows; in the Hanafi way the first rak'ah has al-A'la, the second al-Kafirun and the third al-Ikhlas.

Where the schools differ

For the Hanafis, since it is wajib, it must be prayed standing and made up whenever it is missed. For the majority making it up is recommended, not required; islamweb's fatwa says it may be made up during the day as an even number.