Mustahab Surahs to Recite during the Witr Salaah

Q: Salaah-470: Kabeeri, which is the commentary of Munya states that it is Mustahab to recite Surah A'laa during the first Rakaah of the Witr salaah, Surah Kaafiroon in the second and Surah Ikhlaas in the third. It states that this is reported from Hadhrat Ubay bin Ka'b RADI. and Hadhrat Aa'isha RADI. The same is stated by Hadhrat Mufti Kifaayatullaah RAH. in the fourth volume of. Ta'leemul Islaam. With this in mind, can a person practice on this all the time or not? Can the Imaam inform the Muqtadis of this and always recite it during Ramadhaan when the Witr salaah is performed in Jamaa'ah? Have any other Surahs been reported from Rasulullaah SAW.?

Answer: It is Mustahab to recite Surah A'laa during the first Rakaah of the Witr salaah, Surah Kaafiroon in the second and Surah Ikhlaas in the third. This has been proven from Rasulullaah SAW. but should not be practiced all the time because it would then appear to be Waajib (compulsory) and result in forsaking other Surahs.

There are other Surahs that are also Masnoon during the Witr salaah, such as Surah Zilzaal during the first Rakaah, Surah Kowthar in the second and Surah Ikhlaas in the third. And Allaah knows best what is most correct.

Fatawa Rahimiyyah vol.2