The Ruling on Performing Voluntary Prayer at Muzdalifah

Question:
Some people, when they see someone praying on the night of Muzdalifah, object to him and say: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) did not pray in it; rather, he lay down until he prayed the Fajr prayer?

Answer:
This is an error; because it came in some reports that Jabir said: He lay down. This does not indicate that he did not pray; he may have gotten up in the last part of the night, or he may have gotten up in the middle of the night. Also, the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is established in all travels. It is reported that he (peace and blessings be upon him) used to perform the Witr prayer in the last part of the night while traveling. This clarifies that it is a Sunnah. The authentic hadiths indicate that he (peace and blessings be upon him) performed the Witr prayer while traveling, in the two Sahihs and others.