What is the legal ruling on performing the Witr prayer?
Chapter on the Times When Prayer is Prohibited
Al-Mughni
Book of Prayer
Primary text
The Witr prayer is an emphasized Sunnah (*Sunnah Mu'akkadah*). Imam Ahmad stated that one who deliberately abandons the Witr prayer is a wicked man whose testimony should not be accepted, intending to stress its importance due to the numerous Hadiths commanding and encouraging it. However, in another narration, Imam Ahmad clarified that Witr is not equivalent to an obligatory prayer (*Fard*), stating that if a person only performs the obligatory prayers, it is permissible for him. Furthermore, if one misses the Witr prayer, he has the option to make it up (*qada*) or not.
Supporting text
There is a difference of opinion among our companions regarding the emphasis of Witr versus the two rak'ahs before the Fajr prayer (Sunnah of Fajr). Al-Qadi asserts that the two rak'ahs of Fajr are more emphasized than Witr because their number is fixed and cannot be increased or decreased, making them resemble an obligatory prayer. Others hold that Witr is more emphasized, which is the sounder opinion because its obligation is debated, and it has more reported narrations concerning it than the two rak'ahs of Fajr, though the Sunnah of Fajr closely follows it in emphasis.