Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Hazrat Saeed bin Musayyib states that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) declared the Witr prayer to be Sunnah like the Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha prayers.

Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) says that Witr is not obligatory like the obligatory prayers.

Hazrat Mujahid says that Witr is Sunnah.

Hazrat Muslim Mawla ‘Abd al-Qais reports that a man asked Hazrat Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with them), “In your opinion, is Witr a Sunnah or something else?” He replied, “What is Sunnah? The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and the Muslims have performed Witr!” The man said, “No, is it Sunnah or not?” Hazrat Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) replied, “Stop, do you not understand? The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and the people of Islam have performed Witr.”

Hazrat Asim narrates that Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) was asked whether performing Witr is obligatory. He replied that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) performed Witr, and the Muslims also performed Witr.

A man from Banu Kinana, whose name was Mukhdaaji, narrates that an Ansari companion in Syria, Abu Muhammad, used to say that Witr is obligatory. Mukhdaaji says that when this was mentioned in the presence of Hazrat Ubadah bin Samit, Hazrat Ubadah said, "Abu Muhammad is lying. I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say that there are five prayers which Allah has made obligatory upon His servants. Whoever performs these prayers without neglecting their due rights, it is incumbent upon Allah to admit him to Paradise. Whoever falls short in fulfilling their rights, Allah has no responsibility towards him; if He wills, He may punish him, and if He wills, He may admit him to Paradise."

Hazrat Mutarrif narrates that Hazrat Aamir was asked about the person who forgets to perform Witr. He replied that forgetting it is not as harmful as forgetting an obligatory prayer.

Hasan did not consider Witr to be obligatory.

Hazrat Ata and Hazrat Muhammad bin Ali (may Allah be pleased with them) say that Eid al-Adha and Witr are Sunnah.

Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) says that Witr is not obligatory. Rather, it is a Sunnah which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) has declared as Sunnah.