عَنْ جَابِرٍ رَضِيَ اللّهُ عَنْهُ، قَالَ: قالَ رسُولُ اللّهِ صَلّى اللّهُ عَلَيْهِ وسَلَّمَ: «مَنْ خَافَ أَلّا يَقُومَ مِنْ آخِرِ اللَّيْلِ فَلْيُوتِرْ أَوَّلَهُ، وَمَنْ طَمِعَ أَنْ يَقُومَ آخِرَهُ فَلْيُوتِرْ آخِرَ اللَّيْلِ، فَإِنَّ صَلاةَ آخِرِ اللَّيْلِ مَشْهُودَةٌ، وذَلِكَ أَفْضَلُ» رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ.
Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever fears that he will not rise in the last part of the night, let him pray the witr at its beginning; and whoever is hopeful of rising at its end, let him pray the witr at the last part of the night, for the prayer at the last part of the night is witnessed, and that is more excellent." Reported by Muslim.
الشرح · explanation
من خاف: أي ظن عدم قدرته على الاستيقاظ. ومن طمع أن يقوم: أي كان الغالب على ظنه الاستيقاظ بحسب عادته، أو وجود من يوقظه. مشهودة: أي تشهدها الملائكة المتعاقبون الذين ينزلون بالخير والبركات.
"Whoever fears": that is, he thinks it likely that he will be unable to wake. "And whoever is hopeful of rising": that is, waking is what he most likely expects, according to his habit or the presence of someone to wake him. "Witnessed": that is, it is attended by the angels who succeed one another, descending with goodness and blessings.
الدروس · lessons
بيان فضل تأخير صلاة الوتر لمن تأكد الاستيقاظ قبل الفجر الصادق من الحكمة في تأخير الوتر تحصيل ما في آخر الليل من الهدوء والنفحات الربانية المباركة.
An explanation of the merit of delaying the witr prayer for one who is certain of waking before the true dawn. Part of the wisdom in delaying the witr is attaining the tranquility and the blessed divine breezes of grace found in the last part of the night.