The Witr Prayer: Some Answers, Reasons & Proofs

Question: I would like some references to authentic hadith/sunnah that explain the manner in which we pray the Witr prayer.  In particular, is it allowed to pray the Witr prayer, in 3 consecutive ra'kahs, with saying the tashahud in both the 2nd and 3rd ra'kahs?

Walaikum assalam,

The Sunni schools of fiqh differed as to how witr is prayed. All of them have their legitimate proofs, and only Allah knows who is ultimately right. We have been made responsible to follow one of these schools in each of one's actions.

In the Hanafi school, witr is only prayed as 3 rakats, like Maghrib in form, though one recites in every rakat, and performs a qunut dua before the ruku` of the final rakat.