From the hadith table: The virtue of Witr
On the authority of Ali, may God be pleased with him, he said: The Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, said:“O people of the Qur’an, recite Witr. God is a string and He loves string»[1].
Explanation:
Witr is a confirmed Sunnah. The Prophet, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, did not abandon it while traveling or at home, or in health or illness. This is because Witr is one of the names of God Almighty. It is one in itself, its attributes, and its actions. As for His creation, it is an intercessor. They were created in pairs, and He, Glory be to Him, loves what matches His names and attributes. He is All-Knowing, loves knowledge, a doer of good, loves beauty, and Witr. He loves string.
Therefore, the Prophet, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, urged his nation to perform Witr, and he singled out the urging for the people of the Qur’an, who are the people of its memorization and its recitation, and he was singled out for dhikr due to their increased honor and attention to them, and because they have an advantage over others. They are the role models, and they are the people of God and His special ones, and they have knowledge that calls them to perform acts of sacrifice, so this matter is definitely applicable to them, even if it is required of everyone.
A Muslim may pray Witr at any part of the night. At the beginning, middle, or end of it, and whoever fears that he will fall asleep should perform Witr prayers before sleeping, even with one rak’ah, and whoever thinks that he will wake up at the end of the night, performing the Witr prayer at the end of the night is better. Where the Lord Glory be to Him descends, and His response to the supplications of His servants.
What can be learned from the hadith:
1-Witr is a confirmed Sunnah and should not be neglected or taken lightly.
2-Proving the quality of love for God Almighty.
3-The Witr prayer is the most emphatic and best of the voluntary prayers.
4-It is part of God Almighty’s mercy and His facilitation for His servants that the Witr prayers vary in number and description.
[1]Narrated by Abu Dawud (1416).