after the Dhuhr, so these are they." Both were narrated by Muslim (14). This indicates that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, only performed them for a cause, which is making up for the Sunnah prayer he missed, and that he prohibited prayer after the Asr, as narrated by others. The hadith of Aisha indicates that this was specific to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and that he prohibited others from it. This is a proof against those who disagree with this, for the dispute is only regarding those other than the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and this has been established with no contradiction to it.
Section: As for supererogatory prayer performed for a reason other than what al-Khiraqi mentioned, the textual ruling from Ahmad, may Allah have mercy on him, regarding the Witr is that he [permits its performance] (15) before the Fajr prayer. Al-Athram said: I heard Abu Abd Allah being asked: Should a man perform Witr after the Fajr rises (16)? He said: Yes. This was also narrated from Ibn Mas'ud, Ibn Umar, Ibn Abbas, Hudhayfah, Abu al-Darda, Ubadah ibn al-Samit, Fadalah ibn Ubayd (17), Aisha, Abdullah ibn Amir ibn Rabi'ah (18), and Amr ibn Shurahbil. Ayyub al-Sakhtiyani and Humayd al-Tawil said: Most of our Witr was after
(14) In: "Chapter on the Knowledge of the Two Rak'ahs which the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to perform after the Asr," from the Book of the Prayer of Travelers. Sahih Muslim 1/571, 572. The first was also recorded by al-Nasa'i in: "Chapter on the Concession for Prayer after the Asr," from the Book of Prayer Times. al-Mujtaba 1/226. And Imam Ahmad in: al-Musnad 6/188. The second was also recorded by al-Bukhari in: "Chapter on What is Performed after the Asr of Missed Prayers and the Like," from the Book of Prayer Times; and in: "Chapter on If One is Spoken to while Praying, He Signals with His Hand and Listens," from the Book of Forgetfulness; and in: "Chapter on the Delegation of Abd al-Qays," from the Book of Military Expeditions. Sahih al-Bukhari 1/153, 2/88, 5/214. And by Abu Dawud in: "Chapter on Prayer after the Asr," from the Book of Supererogatory Prayers. Sunan Abi Dawud 1/293. And al-Darimi in: "Chapter on the Two Rak'ahs after the Asr," from the Book of Prayer. Sunan al-Darimi 1/334, 335. (15) In (A) and (M): "performs it." (16) In (A): "rises (tala')." (17) Abu Muhammad Fadalah ibn Ubayd ibn Naqid al-Ansari al-Awsi, the Companion. His first attendance was at Uhud, and he witnessed the conquest of Egypt. He died in the year 53 AH. Usd al-Ghabah 4/363, 364. (18) Abu Muhammad Abdullah ibn Amir ibn Rabi'ah al-'Anzi, the Companion. He is the younger one; the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, died while he was four years old. He died in the year 85 AH. Usd al-Ghabah 3/287, 288. In (I): "Abd al-Rahman ibn Amir" is an error.
