This chapter is about the Witr prayer, the prayer whose very name means single or odd. It is not one of the five obligatory prayers, yet the Prophet (peace be upon him) kept it as a constant practice, so much so that it became one of the marks of a person who lives close to the night. The central idea is that the believer seals the day with an odd number of units, turning to Allah privately before sleep.
Notice across these hadith how the Prophet (peace be upon him) gives the believer room. Witr can be prayed early in the night or at its very end, and the guidance simply matches each person to what they can keep up. The recurring instruction is to make it the last of your night prayer and to complete it before dawn, with the deeper night being the more blessed time for those who can reach it.
Hadith 1132
'Ali (bin Abu Talib) (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
عن علي رضي الله عنه قال: الوتر ليس بختم كصلاة المكتوبة ولكن سن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: "إن الله وتر يحب الوتر، فأوتروا يا أهل القرآن" . ((رواه أبو داود والترمذي)). وقال: حديث حسن.
The Witr prayer is not obligatory as the prescribed Salat (prayers), but the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) observed it as his regular practice (Sunnah). He (ﷺ) said, "Allah is Witr (single, odd) and loves what is Witr. So perform Witr prayer. O followers of Qur'an, observe Witr (prayer)." [At-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud].
In plain words
The Witr prayer is not obligatory like the five daily prayers, yet the Prophet kept it constantly. He said Allah is single and loves what is single, and urged the people of the Quran to pray Witr.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1132 In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 142
Hadith 1133
'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported:
وعن عائشة رضي الله عنها قالت: من كل الليل قد أوتر رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: من أول الليل ومن أوسطه، ومن آخره. وانتهى وتره إلى السحر. ((متفق عليه))
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) observed Witr prayer in every part of night at the beginning, middle and at the last part. He (ﷺ), however, would finish his Witr prayer before dawn. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
Aishah reports that the Prophet prayed Witr at every part of the night, its beginning, middle, and end, but always finished it before dawn. It shows the flexibility in its timing.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1133 In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 143
Hadith 1134
Ibn 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
وعن ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما، عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: " اجعلوا آخر صلاتكم بالليل وترًا" . ((متفق عليه))
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Make Witr prayer the last of your Salat at night." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
The Prophet taught that Witr should be the last of one's night prayer, so the day's worship closes on an odd note.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1134 In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 144
Hadith 1135
Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أبي سعيد الخدري رضي الله عنه أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: "أوتروا قبل أن تصبحوا" . ((رواه مسلم)).
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Perform Witr prayer before dawn." [Muslim].
In plain words
The Prophet instructed that the Witr prayer be performed before dawn, giving the outer limit of its time.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1135 In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 145
Hadith 1136
'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported:
وعن عائشة رضي الله عنها أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم كان يصلي بالليل، وهي معترضة بين يديه، فإذا بقي الوتر، أيقظها فأوترت. ((رواه مسلم)). وفي رواية له: فإذا بقي الوتر قال: "قومي فأوتري يا عائشة"
The Prophet (ﷺ) used to perform his voluntary prayer at night (i.e., Tahajjud prayer) while she was sleeping in front of him; and when the Witr prayer was yet to be observed, he would awaken her to perform her Witr prayer. [Muslim].
In plain words
The Prophet would pray his voluntary night prayer while Aishah slept nearby, and when the time for Witr came he would wake her so she too could pray it. A gentle encouragement to keep this prayer.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1136 In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 146
Hadith 1137
Ibn 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
وعن ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: "بادروا الصبح بالوتر" ((رواه أبو داود والترمذي)). وقال: حديث حسن صحيح.
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Hasten to perform the Witr prayer before dawn." [Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi].
In plain words
The Prophet urged people to be prompt with the Witr prayer and pray it before dawn, so it is not left until the time runs out.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1137 In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 147
Hadith 1138
Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him)reported:
وعن جابر رضي الله عنه قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : "من خاف أن لا يقوم الليل فليوتر أوله، ومن طمع أن يقوم آخره، فليوتر آخر الليل، فإن صلاة آخر الليل مشهودة، وذلك أفضل" . ((رواه مسلم)).
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "He who apprehends that he may not get up in the later part of the night, should observe the Witr prayer in the first part of it; and he who is certain to get up in the last part of it, he should observe Witr at the end of the night, because Salat at the end of the night is attended (by the angels), and that is better." [Muslim].
In plain words
The Prophet advised that whoever fears not waking later should pray Witr early in the night, while one sure of rising should pray it at the night's end, since that later time is attended by angels and is better.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1138 In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 148