1132/1 - ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: Witr is not incumbent like the status of the obligatory prayers, but it is a Sunnah that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) prescribed and said: “Verily, Allah is Witr (One) and He likes what is Witr (odd-numbered); so offer the Witr prayer, O people of the Qur’an.”
[Narrated by Abu Dāwūd and Al-Tirmidhi, who classified it as Hasan (sound)]
1133/2 - ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: “At every part of the night, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) prayed Witr: at its beginning, middle, and end. The latest he prayed Witr was just before dawn.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
1) The Witr prayer is a very confirmed Sunnah. It is the best prayer after the obligatory prayers.
2) It is recommended to delay Witr to the latter part of the night to conclude Qiyām al-Layl (voluntary night prayer) therewith.
3) The effects of Allah’s love for Witr are apparent in the creation and the Shariah. Many universal structures and Shar‘i rulings are odd-numbered, like the heavens and the earth, the days of the week, the pillars of Islam, the obligatory prayers, the Rak‘ahs of Qiyām al-Layl, and the rounds of Tawāf.
134 - Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Make your last prayer in the night Witr (odd-numbered).” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
1135/4 - Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Perform the Witr prayer before dawn.” [Narrated by Muslim]
1136/5 - ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) used to perform Qiyām al-Layl while she was lying in front of him, and when only the Witr prayer remained, he would awaken her, and she would observe Witr. [Narrated by Muslim]
In another version also narrated by Muslim: When the Witr remained, he would say: “Wake up, O ‘Ā’ishah, and observe Witr.”
1137/6 - Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Make haste to perform the Witr prayer before dawn.”
[Narrated by Abu Dāwūd and Al-Tirmidhi, who classified it as Hasan Sahīh (sound and authentic)]
1) The time of the Witr prayer extends from the first part of the night to the time of the Fajr prayer.
2) A man should urge his family to perform Qiyām al-Layl and Witr prayer, something the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) used to do with ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her).
1138/7 - Jābir (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “If anyone fears that he will not wake up at the end of the night, let him offer the Witr prayer at the beginning of the night; and if anyone expects to wake up at the end of the night, let him offer the Witr prayer at the end of the night. Indeed, prayer at the end of the night is witnessed, so that is better.” [Narrated by Muslim]
1) The best time for the Witr prayer is the last part of the night.
2) He who fears that he will not wake up in the end of the night is urged to perform the Witr prayer early in the night.
3) Prayer in the last part of the night is witnessed by the Almighty Lord as He descends in the last third of the night and says: “Is there anyone who asks so that I may grant his request? Is there anyone who supplicates Me so that I may answer his supplication?” He continues to say so until daybreak.