The preferred time for the witr and the precaution reported concerning it

Abu Sufyan narrates from Sayyiduna Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever fears that he will not be able to wake up in the last part of the night, let him pray witr in the early part of the night and then sleep; and whoever is eager to get up in the last part of the night, let him pray witr in the last part of the night, for the recitation of the last part of the night is presented (before Allah), and that is better."

Abu al-Zubayr narrates from Sayyiduna Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: I heard the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) say: "Whoever fears that he will not be able to wake up in the last part of the night, let him pray witr and then sleep; and whoever is firmly certain that he will wake up in the last part of the night, let him offer the witr in the last part of the night, for the recitation of the last part of the night is presented (before Allah), and that is better."

Abdullah bin Rabah (may Allah have mercy on him) narrates from Sayyiduna Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asked Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him): "When do you pray witr?" He said: I pray witr before sleeping. He (peace and blessings be upon him) asked Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him): "When do you pray witr?" He said: I pray witr after sleeping and getting up. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said to Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him): "You have adopted caution," and said to Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him): "You have adopted resolve (azimah)."

In the narration of Yahya bin Ishaq there are these additional words, that he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "He has taken caution," and he expressed no doubt.

Nafi' narrates from Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him): "When do you pray witr?" He said: I pray witr and then sleep. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "You have adopted caution." And he asked Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him): "When do you pray witr?" He said: I get up after sleeping and then pray witr. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "You have done the deed of the strong."

Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) says: My dear friend, that is, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), advised me of three things: "Fasting three days of every month, the two rak'ahs of Duha, and that I pray witr before sleeping."

This is a chain of the previous hadith.