Witr is [to be performed] between the two prayers. A similar view is narrated from Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, based on the hadith of Abu Basrah. The correct view is that its time extends until the rising of the dawn, based on the hadith of Mu'adh and the other hadith, and the statement of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): "If one of you fears the [arrival of] dawn, let him pray one rak'ah, and it will make what he has prayed an odd number [Witr]" (51). He also said: "Make the last of your prayer at night Witr" (agreed upon) (52). He further said: "Perform Witr before the morning comes." He said: "Witr is one rak'ah at the end of the night," and he said: "Whoever fears that he will not wake up at the end of the night, let him perform Witr at the beginning of it." Muslim recorded these (53).
Section: It is better to perform it at the end of the night, due to the statement of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): "Whoever fears that he will not wake up at the end of the night, let him perform Witr at the beginning of it, and whoever is keen to wake up at its end, let him perform Witr at the end of the night; for the prayer of the end of the night is witnessed, and that is better" (54). This is explicit. And he said
(51) Its documentation was previously mentioned on page 443. Refer to what was previously mentioned on page 578. (52) Recorded by al-Bukhari, in: The Chapter of Making the Last of One’s Prayer Witr, from the Book of Witr. Sahih al-Bukhari 2/31. And Muslim, in: The Chapter of Prayer at Night Being Two by Two, from the Book of the Traveler's Prayer. Sahih Muslim 1/518. And Imam Ahmad, in: Al-Musnad 2/30, 39, 102, 119, 135, 143. (53) The first was recorded by Muslim, in: The Chapter of Prayer at Night Being Two by Two, from the Book of the Traveler's Prayer. Sahih Muslim 1/519. It was also recorded by al-Tirmidhi, in: The Chapter of What Has Been Said Regarding Hastening to Perform Witr Before the Morning, from the Chapters of Witr. ‘Aridat al-Ahwadhi 2/253. And al-Nasa'i, in: The Chapter of the Command [to perform it] Before the Morning, from the Book of Staying Awake at Night. Al-Mujtaba 1/189. And Ibn Majah, in: The Chapter of One Who Sleeps Through Witr or Forgets It, from the Book of Establishing Prayer. Sunan Ibn Majah 1/375. And al-Darimi, in: The Chapter of What Has Been Said Regarding the Time of Witr, from the Book of Prayer. Sunan al-Darimi 1/372. And Imam Ahmad, in: Al-Musnad 2/150, 3/13, 35, 37, 71. The second was recorded by Muslim, in: The Previously Mentioned Chapter, Sahih Muslim 1/518. It was also recorded by Abu Dawud, in: The Chapter of How Many [Rak'ahs] is Witr, from the Book of Witr. Sunan Abi Dawud 1/328. And al-Nasa'i, in: The Chapter of How Many [Rak'ahs] is Witr, from the Book of Staying Awake at Night. Al-Mujtaba 3/191. And Imam Ahmad, in: Al-Musnad 2/33, 34, 51, 83, 100, 154. The third was recorded by Muslim, in: The Chapter of Whoever Fears He Will Not Wake Up at the End of the Night, from the Book of the Traveler's Prayer. Sahih Muslim 1/520. It was also recorded by al-Tirmidhi, in: The Chapter of What Has Been Said Regarding the Dislike of Sleeping Before Witr, from the Chapters of Witr. ‘Aridat al-Ahwadhi 2/243. And Ibn Majah, in: The Chapter of What Has Been Said Regarding Witr at the End of the Night, from the Book of Establishing Prayer. Sunan Ibn Majah 1/375. And Imam Ahmad, in: Al-Musnad 3/300, 315, 337, 348, 389. (54) It is the one previously mentioned. Likewise, the following hadith was previously mentioned.
