Learn the correct Sūrahs for Witr prayer according to the Hanafi school. Discover why the sequence Nās, Falaq, Ikhlāṣ is not Sunnah and what the preferred recitation is

Answer:

In the Hanafī school, the sunnah recitation for Witr Ṣalāh is as follows:

| Rak‘ah | Sūrah (after Sūrat al-Fātiḥah) | |--------|--------------------------------| | 1st | Sabbihisma Rabbikal A‘lā (Sūrat al-A‘lā) | | 2nd | Qul Yā Ayyuhal Kāfirūn (Sūrat al-Kāfirūn) | | 3rd | Qul Huwallāhu Aḥad (Sūrat al-Ikhlās) |

This is the most authentic and preferred practice established from the Prophet ﷺ and reported in the major Ḥadīth collections (Sunan Abī Dāwūd, al-Tirmidhī, Ibn Mājah).

Regarding your question:

“Is the serial Nās, Falaq & Ikhlās respectively?”

No, that is not the established sequence.

• The three Sūrahs you mentioned – al-Ikhlāṣ, al-Falaq, and al-Nās – are collectively known as al-Mu‘awwidhāt. Some Companions (e.g., ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ would recite Sūrat al-Ikhlāṣ alone in the third rak‘ah, while others (e.g., ʿUbayy ibn Ka‘b رضي الله عنه) mentioned adding al-Mu‘awwidhatayn (al-Falaq and al-Nās) as well.
• However, the Ḥanafī school maintains the first narration as the stronger sunnah.
• If one wishes to recite all three Quls, the correct order according to the generally accepted practice is: al-Ikhlāṣ, then al-Falaq, then al-Nās – not the reverse (Nās, Falaq, Ikhlāṣ).
• Nevertheless, repeating all three in the third rak‘ah is permissible but khilāf al-awlā (not the preferred way). It is better to stick to the sunnah recitation as listed above.

Ḥanafī References

1. Radd al-Muhtār (Ibn ‘Ābidīn) – Bāb al-Witr:

   “The sunnah in Witr is to recite in the first rak‘ah Sabbihisma Rabbikal A‘lā, in the second Qul Yā Ayyuhal Kāfirūn, and in the third Qul Huwallāhu Aḥad.”
   (Radd al-Muhtār, 2/458)

2. Al-Fatāwā al-‘Ālamgīriyyah – Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Bāb al-Witr:

   “It is mustaḥabb to recite Sūrah al-A‘lā in the first rak‘ah, Sūrah al-Kāfirūn in the second, and Sūrah al-Ikhlāṣ in the third.”
   (Fatāwā ‘Ālamgīriyyah, 1/115)

3. Bahishtī Zewar (Ashraf ‘Alī Thānwī) – Chapter on Witr:

   “In the first rak‘ah of Witr, recite Sūrah Al-A‘lā; in the second, Sūrah Al-Kāfirūn; and in the third, Sūrah Al-Ikhlāṣ.”
   (Bahishtī Zewar, Part 2, Ṣalāh Section)

4. Imdād al-Fatāwā – Fatwā on Witr Recitation:

   “The sunnah recitation in Witr is as stated by the fuqahā’. Adding al-Mu‘awwidhatayn is permissible but not the preferred practice.”
   (Imdād al-Fatāwā, 1/320)

5. Fatāwā Usmānī (Muftī Taqī ‘Usmānī) – Bāb al-Witr:

   “According to the Ḥanafī madhhab, the sunnah recitation in Witr is Sūrah Al-A‘lā, Sūrah Al-Kāfirūn, and Sūrah Al-Ikhlāṣ. There is no harm if one recites the Mu‘awwidhatayn together with Sūrah Al-Ikhlāṣ in the third rak‘ah, but the order should be Sūrah al-Ikhlāṣ first, then al-Falaq, then al-Nās.”
   (Fatāwā Usmānī, 1/300)

Conclusion

• Best practice (sunnah): First rak‘ah – Sabbihisma Rabbikal A‘lā; Second rak‘ah – Qul Yā Ayyuhal Kāfirūn; Third rak‘ah – Qul Huwallāhu Aḥad.
• The sequence Nās, Falaq, Ikhlāṣ is not correct – neither as sunnah nor as a permissible substitute.
• If you wish to recite the three Quls together, the order is Ikhlāṣ, Falaq, Nās – but following the sunnah is far more virtuous.