The hadith of Abū Hurayrah also states that the Prophet advised him to pray Witr before going to sleep. Such advice is given only to someone who does not habitually observe the night prayer. For someone who habitually observes it and usually wakes during the night, praying Witr at the end of the night is better, as established in an authentic hadith from the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace):

“Whoever fears that he will not wake at the end of the night should pray Witr at its beginning. Whoever hopes to wake at its end should pray Witr then, for prayer at the end of the night is witnessed, and that is better.”

It is also authentically reported that the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) was asked:

“Which prayer is best after the obligatory prayer?”

He replied: “The night prayer.”

Section

The third category consists of practices for which it is established that the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) instituted both alternatives, yet some scholars prohibited one of them or deemed it disliked because the report concerning it had not reached them, or because they gave the hadith an interpretation resting on weak grounds. The correct position in such cases is that everything the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) instituted for his community is Sunnah; none of it should be prohibited, even if some forms are better than others.

Examples include the different forms of the tashahhud (the testimony recited while seated in prayer). Ibn Mas‘ūd’s form of the tashahhud is authentically reported from the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) in both Sahīh collections, and there is also an authentic report from him in Sahīh