Hadith 114
Establishing the Prayer and the Sunnah Regarding Them
‘Ali bin Abu Talib said:
“Witr is not definite (obligatory) nor is it like your prescribed prayers. But the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prayed Witr, then he said: ‘O people of the Qur’an! Perform Witr, for Allah is Witr* and He loves the odd (numbered).’” * Meaning 'one' which is the first of the odd numbers; He is unique, and there is nothing like Him, similar or equal.
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الصَّبَّاحِ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ عَيَّاشٍ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ عَاصِمِ بْنِ ضَمْرَةَ السَّلُولِيِّ، قَالَ قَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ إِنَّ الْوِتْرَ لَيْسَ بِحَتْمٍ وَلاَ كَصَلاَتِكُمُ الْمَكْتُوبَةِ وَلَكِنْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ أَوْتَرَ . ثُمَّ قَالَ
يَا أَهْلَ الْقُرْآنِ أَوْتِرُوا. فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ وِتْرٌ يُحِبُّ الْوِتْرَ
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