Sayyiduna Amr bin Abasah (may Allah be pleased with him) reports this saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): "The night prayer is to be offered two by two, and in the latter middle part of the night (supplication or worship) is most readily answered (ajwab)." He said: I asked: "Is it awjab (most binding)?" He said: "No, ajwab," meaning by that the answering (of supplication).
Ahmad recorded it; its chain contains Abu Bakr bin Abi Maryam, who is da'if (weak). He also recorded it through his route, except that in it he said: "And the latter middle part of the night is awjab (most fitting) for supplication." I asked: "Is it ajwab?" He said: "No, rather it is awjab."
Sayyiduna Ammar bin Yasir (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to me: Offer the witr before you sleep, and the (voluntary) night prayer is offered two by two.
Al-Tabarani recorded it in al-Mu'jam al-Kabir; its chain contains al-Rabi' bin Badr, who is da'if (weak).
Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The night prayer is offered two by two, and the witr is one rak'ah in the last part of the night."
Al-Tabarani recorded it in al-Mu'jam al-Kabir; its chain contains Layth bin Abi Sulaym, who is thiqah (trustworthy), but he is a mudallis (one who practised tadlis).
Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to offer the (voluntary) prayer of the day two by two.
Al-Tabarani recorded it in al-Mu'jam al-Kabir; its chain contains al-Ala' bin Hilal, who is da'if (weak).