The ruling on voluntary prayer at the end of the night after the witr at the beginning of the night

Question:
You say: I remember the meaning of a hadith from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him): . I intend to pray the night prayer, but I fear that drowsiness will overcome me; therefore, I pray the odd number and the witr before I sleep. Is it permissible for me to pray the night prayer after the odd number and the witr? Or should I postpone the odd number and the witr with the night prayer? May Allah reward you with good.


Answer:
If you fear that you will not be able to get up at the end of the night, then pray at the beginning of the night. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) advised a group of the Companions to pray at the beginning of the night before sleeping, specifically to perform the witr; the reason for this is that they feared they would not be able to get up at the end of the night.
So, if a person fears that he will not be able to get up at the end of the night, it is the recommended practice (sunnah) for him to perform the witr at the beginning of the night. If he does get up at the end of the night, Allah will make it easy for him to stand in prayer; he prays whatever Allah makes easy for him: two or four or more, saying the closing salam after every two, and he does not need to perform another witr, as the first witr is sufficient. This is based on his (peace and blessings be upon him) saying: . So, if Allah makes it easy for him to stand in prayer in the middle of the night or at the end of it, he prays whatever is easy, two by two, and the first witr is sufficient for him, and praise be to Allah.

The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.