6/21. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 755a — Best Time to Pray Witr Based on Ability
One who fears that he will not get up at the end of the night, then he should pray Witr at the beginning of the night
Best Time to Pray Witr: Early Night or End of Night?
Sahih Muslim : 755a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 755a
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا حَفْصٌ، وَأَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ جَابِرٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَنْ خَافَ أَنْ لاَ يَقُومَ مِنْ آخِرِ اللَّيْلِ فَلْيُوتِرْ أَوَّلَهُ وَمَنْ طَمِعَ أَنْ يَقُومَ آخِرَهُ فَلْيُوتِرْ آخِرَ اللَّيْلِ فَإِنَّ صَلاَةَ آخِرِ اللَّيْلِ مَشْهُودَةٌ وَذَلِكَ أَفْضَلُ " . وَقَالَ أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ مَحْضُورَةٌ .
Jabir Narrated from:
Jabir reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: If anyone is afraid that he may not get up in the latter part of the night, he should observe Witr in the first part of it; and if anyone is eager to get up in the last part of it, he should observe Witr at the end of the night, for prayer at the end of the night is witnessed (by the angels) and that is preferable.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 755aIn-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 195USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1650
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 755a
This Hadith gives practical guidance for choosing when to pray Witr. The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said that whoever fears he may not get up in the latter part of the night should pray Witr in the first part of it. But whoever is eager to get up in the last part of the night should pray Witr at the end of the night. The text also says that prayer at the end of the night is witnessed and that this is preferable. For searches like best time to pray Witr, Witr before sleep, and Witr after Tahajjud, this Hadith speaks to a person's real ability. It gives a way for both people: the one who may sleep through, and the one who expects to rise.
What we learn from this hadith
- If someone fears missing the end of the night, he should pray Witr early.
- If someone expects to rise later, he should pray Witr at the end of the night.
- The Hadith states that prayer at the end of the night is witnessed and preferable.
