with her narration, so he said: "She has spoken the truth." Recorded by Muslim and Abu Dawud (16). In the wording of Abu Dawud, Ibn Abbas said: "This is the hadith." It also contains: "He performed Witr with seven, not sitting except in the sixth and the seventh, and did not perform the taslim except in the seventh." It further contains, via another path: "And he would perform the taslim with a loud taslim, nearly waking the people of the house due to the intensity of his taslim." This is explicit that in the seven, one sits after (18) the sixth. Perhaps the Qadi uses as evidence the hadith of Ibn Abbas: "He prayed seven, or five, performing Witr with them, and did not perform the taslim except at the end of them" (19). From Umm Salamah, she said: "The Messenger of God (peace and blessings of God be upon him) used to perform Witr with seven, or five, not separating between them with a taslim or speech." Recorded by Ibn Majah (20). Both hadiths contain uncertainty regarding the seven, and there is nothing in either of them stating that he did not sit after the sixth, whereas the hadith of Aishah contains explicit mention of that, and it is a confirmation (21), so it is mandatory to prioritize it.

Section: Witr is not obligatory. This is the position of Malik and al-Shafi'i. Abu Bakr said: It is obligatory. Abu Hanifah also held this view, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of God be upon him) said: "If you fear the morning, then perform Witr with one" (22). He also commanded it in many hadiths, and a command implies obligation. Abu Ayyub narrated, saying that the Messenger of God (peace and blessings of God be upon him) said: "Witr is a right [upon every Muslim]. Whoever likes to perform Witr with five, let him do so; and whoever likes to perform Witr with three, let him do so; and whoever likes to