6/21. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 755b — Pray Witr Before Sleep or at Night's End
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
Witr Before Sleep or After Tahajjud: Guidance from the Hadith
Sahih Muslim : 755b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 755b
وَحَدَّثَنِي سَلَمَةُ بْنُ شَبِيبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ أَعْيَنَ، حَدَّثَنَا مَعْقِلٌ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ - عَنْ أَبِي الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ جَابِرٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " أَيُّكُمْ خَافَ أَنْ لاَ يَقُومَ مِنْ آخِرِ اللَّيْلِ فَلْيُوتِرْ ثُمَّ لْيَرْقُدْ وَمَنْ وَثِقَ بِقِيَامٍ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَلْيُوتِرْ مِنْ آخِرِهِ فَإِنَّ قِرَاءَةَ آخِرِ اللَّيْلِ مَحْضُورَةٌ وَذَلِكَ أَفْضَلُ " .
Jabir Narrated from:
Jabir reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: He who amongst you is afraid that he may not be able to get up at the end of the night should observe Witr (in the first part) and then sleep, and he who is confident of getting up and praying at night (i. e. Tahajjud prayer) should observe it at the end of it, for the recitation at the end of the night is witnessed*, and that is better. *: meaning, "by angels" (Sharh an-Nawawi)
Reference : Sahih Muslim 755bIn-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 196USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1651
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 755b
This Hadith speaks to two kinds of people. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said that whoever fears he may not get up at the end of the night should pray Witr and then sleep. Whoever is confident of getting up and praying at night should pray Witr at the end of it. The text also says that the recitation at the end of the night is witnessed, and that this is better. For people searching for Witr before sleep, Witr after Tahajjud, or Sahih Muslim 755b, this narration is very practical. It does not make people pretend to have the same routine. It teaches each person to plan Witr based on whether he expects to wake before dawn.
What we learn from this hadith
- One who fears missing the end of the night may pray Witr before sleeping.
- One who is confident of rising may pray Witr at the end of the night.
- The Hadith states that recitation at the end of the night is witnessed and better.
