Ibn Khuzaymah

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asked Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), "When do you perform Witr?" He replied, "I perform Witr before sleeping." Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asked Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), "When do you perform Witr?" He replied, "I sleep first, then (after waking up) I perform Witr." So the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), "You have chosen caution and firmness." And to Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) he said, "You have chosen strength and determination." Imam Abu Bakr (may Allah have mercy on him) says that according to our companions, this narration is Mursal from the chain of Hammad; in it, the intermediary of Sayyiduna Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) is not mentioned.

And the evidence that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, commanded performing Witr before sleeping, as a means of precaution and firmness, out of fear that a person may not wake up at the end of the night to perform Witr then. And that he only commanded performing Witr at the end of the night for those who are able to stand in prayer at the end of the night, along with the evidence that performing Witr at the end of the night is better for those who are able to stand in prayer at the end of the night.

And the evidence that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, commanded performing Witr before sleeping, as a means of precaution and firmness, out of fear that a person may not wake up at the end of the night to perform Witr then. And that he only commanded performing Witr at the end of the night for those who are able to stand in prayer at the end of the night, along with the evidence that performing Witr at the end of the night is better for those who are able to stand in prayer at the end of the night.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asked Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), "When do you perform Witr?" He replied, "I perform Witr before sleeping." Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asked Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), "When do you perform Witr?" He replied, "I sleep first, then (after waking up) I perform Witr." So the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), "You have chosen caution and firmness." And to Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) he said, "You have chosen strength and determination." Imam Abu Bakr (may Allah have mercy on him) says that according to our companions, this narration is Mursal from the chain of Hammad; in it, the intermediary of Sayyiduna Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) is not mentioned.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asked Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), "When do you perform Witr?" He replied, "I perform Witr and then sleep." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "You have chosen the cautious way." And he asked Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), "When do you perform Witr?" He replied, "I sleep, then (after waking up) I pray at night and also perform Witr." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "You have chosen my way." Muhammad bin Yahya narrated in the story of Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) these words: "You do the work of a strong man."

Sayyiduna Jabir bin Abdullah narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Whoever among you fears that he will not be able to wake up in the last part of the night, then he should offer Witr at the beginning of the night and go to sleep. And whoever among you hopes to wake up in the last part of the night, then he should offer Witr in the last part, for indeed, the angels are present in the prayer of the last part of the night, and it is more virtuous." This is the narration of Isa. In the narration of Jarir and Abu Awanah, these words are present: "I heard the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)."