3- The time allotted for Witr ends at daybreak.

4- It is preferable to perform Witr after an even-numbered prayer (shafʿ); placing two rakʿahs before the single-rakʿah Witr is the Sunnah. Nonetheless, restricting Witr to one rakʿah without any preceding supererogatory prayer is permissible, for the marfūʿ report of Abū Ayyūb states, “Whoever wishes may pray Witr with a single rakʿah.” This was recorded by Abū Dāwūd and al-Nasāʾī and declared sound by Ibn Ḥibbān and al-Ḥākim. Authentic reports likewise show that several Companions prayed a lone-rakʿah Witr with no voluntary units beforehand.

5- Answering a questioner in the presence of other people so that the benefit becomes widespread.

6- The recommendation (istiḥbāb) of Witr. Although some scholars considered it obligatory, the stronger position is that it is not mandatory. Even so, it ranks among the finest supererogatory acts because of the abundance of texts urging it and extolling its merit, and because the Prophet ﷺ never abandoned it whether resident or travelling.

The Second Ḥadīth

ʿĀʾishah narrated: “During every part of the night the Messenger of Allah ﷺ performed Witr—at the beginning, the middle, and the end of the night—yet his Witr finally settled in the last portion before dawn.”

Overall meaning:

The time for Witr commences once the ʿIshāʾ prayer has been completed and lasts until daybreak. For that reason the Prophet ﷺ sometimes performed Witr at the start of the night, sometimes in its middle, and sometimes at its end. Because offering it toward the end of the night is superior, his practice eventually stabilized on praying it in the pre-dawn hours (saḥar), thereby concluding his night worship with it.

Legal rulings:

1- It is permissible to pray Witr at the beginning, middle, or end of the night, for all of these fall within its appointed time.

2- The best time for Witr is the end of the night, provided a person is confident that he will rise to pray.

Scholarly disagreement:

The scholars concur that its starting time is after the ʿIshāʾ prayer, but they differ regarding when it ends. Mālik, al-Shāfiʿī, and one narration from Aḥmad maintain that it lasts until the dawn (Ṣubḥ) prayer, whereas the authoritative opinion in the Ḥanbalī school