A person who has memorized the Book of Allah well, but does not stand in prayer at night at all and performs the witr prayer before sleeping: does he sin by doing so?

The questioner : A person who has memorized the Book of Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, with a strong memorization, but does not stand in prayer at night at all and performs the witr prayer before sleeping: does he sin by doing so?

The Shaykh : He does not sin by doing so, for a person has the choice between performing the witr prayer at the beginning of the night or at its end. However, whoever hopes to be able to stand in prayer at the end of the night should perform the witr at the end of the night, for the prayer at the end of the night is witnessed, and it is better. And whoever fears that he will not be able to get up should perform the witr at the beginning of the night. It is established that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) advised Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) to perform the witr before sleeping, because he was occupied at the beginning of the night with memorizing the hadiths of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), so the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) guided him to perform the witr before sleeping. Yes.

The questioner : Your Eminence, this listener, Abu 'Abd Allah, says in this question about trials.