Nasai

1686. Commentary:

➊ The intent of Ibn Mas'ud radi Allahu anhu is that a missed prayer should be performed even after its prescribed time has passed. Similarly, if the witr (odd-numbered night prayer) is missed, it should also be performed, regardless of the time. This is the correct view. Other hadiths of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam regarding witr also support this. He sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: "Whoever slept through his witr (and did not perform it) or forgot it, then let him perform it whenever he remembers (or wakes up)." (Sunan Abi Dawud, al-Witr, Hadith: 1431) From this, it cannot be deduced that witr is obligatory or compulsory, because just as obligatory and compulsory acts are made up, so too can supererogatory (nafl) and every emphasized act be made up, as the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam performed the missed sunnahs of Zuhr after Asr, and performed the sunnahs of Fajr after sunrise. Clearly, the sunnahs of Zuhr and Fajr are not obligatory but emphasized. Similarly, even though witr is not obligatory, its makeup (qada) can be performed.

➋ Some scholars are of the opinion that whoever misses witr should make it up after sunrise in an even number, i.e., two rak‘ahs in place of one witr, four rak‘ahs in place of three witr. However, in our view, this would be necessary for the one who is accustomed to qiyam al-layl (night prayer, tahajjud). For the common person, making up the missed witr in the form of witr itself seems more appropriate. And Allah knows best.