What is the validity of intending the Witr prayer mid-prayer after starting with voluntary prayer?
Chapter on the Times When Prayer is Prohibited
Al-Mughni
Book of Prayer
Primary text
It is invalid to change the intention of a voluntary rak'ah mid-prayer to make it the Witr rak'ah, as this constitutes changing the intention ('قلب نيته'). One must commence the Witr prayer with the specific intention of Witr.