Witr and Nawaafil

Tahiyyatul Musjid

Q: When entering my local masjid shortly before fard salat starts, some people avoid sitting down before the fard prayer. They say this is so that they will be able to include the intention of tahiyyatul masjid in their fard prayer (they say that according to their madhab which I think is Shafie, the opportunity of tahiyatul masjid disappears when you sit down). I know that the opportunity of tahiyatul masjid is not nullified for us Hanafis by sitting down, but is it still recommendable for us to stand together with the others (i.e. not sit) even if we are Hanafis, to be on the safe side and to avoid ikhtilaf? I mean just as our books of fiqh says that it is mustahabb for us to redo wudhu after having touched a person of the opposite gender in order to avoid ikhtilaf.

Can one perform the Sunnats of fajr after the Fardh?

Q: I overslept and was late awakening for the fajr Salaah. Thinking it to be very late, I prayed wudhu and only the two fard of Fajr. However after reading this, I checked the perpetual calendar and realised there was still 11 minutes before sunrise. I immediately prayed both my sunnah and my fard of fajr, with 3 minutes still left for sunrise. Was this correct of me? What should I have done in this situation. Is my salaah valid?

Tahajjud Salaah

Q: I want to know is it compulsory to sleep before performing tahujjud Salaah? If a person is awake till 3 am, can he/she then perform the Salaah? I have heard from many people that it's necessary to sleep before.

Witr Salaah

Q: My question is regarding witr Salaah. In one Hadith the prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) forbade praying witr like maghrib but in the hanafi fiqh it is prayed like maghrib and I am a bit confused. Please clarify.