Praise be to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah.
It is authentically established in the Sunnah that Allah is described as “Witr.” A group of scholars have counted it among His Beautiful Names, although there is scholarly disagreement over whether it should be considered a Name. According to the view that it is one of Allah’s Names, it is permissible to call upon Him by this name while keeping its meaning in mind: Allah is One, without partner or equal, unique in His Lordship, Divinity, Names, and Attributes.
Al-Bukhari (6410) and Muslim (2677) narrated from Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
“Allah has ninety-nine names; whoever preserves them will enter Paradise, and indeed Allah is Witr, and He loves the Witr.”
The meaning of “Al-Witr” with regard to Allah is: the One who has no partner or equal, and who is unique from His creation in His Attributes.
Al-Khattabi, may Allah have mercy on him, explained the meaning of “Witr” as:
“The One who has no partner and no equal, who is unique from His creation and distinct from them through His Attributes.”
The word “Witr” may be pronounced with either a fatḥah or a kasrah on the wāw.
A group of scholars held that “Al-Witr” is one of Allah’s Names, including al-Bayhaqi, Ibn ʿUthaymin, Shaykh ʿAlawi al-Saqqaf, and others.
Shaykh Ibn ʿUthaymin, may Allah have mercy on him, mentioned that the matter can be understood in two ways. Some scholars distinguish between a Name and an Attribute according to whether the expression is transmitted with the definite article “Al-,” while others hold that anything authentically established regarding Allah or reported from His Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, as an Attribute of Allah may also be considered a Name.
Therefore, this matter depends on the scholars’ differing criteria for determining Allah’s Names. What is unquestionably established, however, is that Allah is described in the hadith as Witr.
“Al-Witr” means the One who is unique and alone, without partner or equal.
Allah is One in His Lordship: He has no partner in creation or administration. He is One in His Divinity: no one besides Him deserves worship. He is perfect in His Names and Attributes, and nothing is comparable to Him.
Allah the Exalted says:
“Say: He is Allah, One. Allah, the Self-Sufficient. He neither begets nor is born, nor is there to Him any equivalent.” [Al-Ikhlas: 1–4]
One implication of believing in this Name is that the Muslim singles out Allah alone for worship, does not associate any partner or rival with Him, and directs no form of worship to anyone besides Him.
According to the view that “Al-Witr” is one of Allah’s Beautiful Names, it is permissible for a Muslim to call upon his Lord by this Name, while keeping its meaning in mind and seeking Allah through what the Name entails of affirming His Oneness and uniqueness.
Examples include:
“O Allah, I ask You by virtue of the fact that You are Allah, the One, the Unique, the Self-Sufficient, the Witr, to forgive my sin and fulfill my need.”
One may also say:
“O Allah, I testify that You are Allah, the One, the Unique, the Self-Sufficient, the Witr, who has no partner. So forgive my sin and fulfill my need.”
Likewise:
“O Witr, make me among Your sincere servants who affirm Your Oneness.”
These supplications involve asking Allah by His Names and Attributes while keeping in mind the meaning of the Name by which He is invoked.
The purpose of knowing the Name “Al-Witr” is not merely to memorize the word, but for its meaning to appear in the Muslim’s beliefs and worship.
Whoever knows that Allah is Witr, without partner or equal, singles Him out in worship, supplication, seeking help, hope, and fear, and does not associate anyone with Him in any of His exclusive rights.
Allah the Exalted says:
“And to Allah belong the Most Beautiful Names, so call upon Him by them.” [Al-A'raf: 180]
Calling upon Allah by His Beautiful Names should therefore be accompanied by understanding their meanings and keeping in mind what they indicate of Allah’s perfection.
It is authentically established in the hadith that Allah is “Witr and loves the Witr.” A group of scholars have counted “Al-Witr” among Allah’s Beautiful Names, while there is disagreement concerning this because of their differing criteria for Allah’s Names. “Al-Witr” means the One who is unique, without partner or equal. According to the view that it is one of Allah’s Names, it is permissible to call upon Him by it, such as: “O Allah, O Witr, make me among Your servants who affirm Your Oneness,” while keeping in mind His absolute Oneness and worshipping Him alone.
And Allah knows best.