Question

Please provide the source for the following Hadith:

“Witr is a duty, so he who does not observe it is not of us.”

Are there variations of this Hadith in which the last part, “he is not of us”, is repeated multiple times and is there a difference of opinion regarding its grading?

 

Answer

The Hadith in question is recorded in the following Hadith collections:

1) Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith: 1414

2) Mustadrak Hakim, vol. 1, pg. 306

3) Musnad Ahmad, vol. 5, pg. 357

4) Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Hadith: 6934

5) Sharhu Muskilil Athar, (Tuhfatul Akhyar, vol. 1, pg. 206)

6) As Sunanul Kubra of Imam Bayhaqi, vol. 2, pg. 470

Variations in the wordings

In three of the above mentioned Hadith sources viz. Sunan Abi Dawud, Musnad Ahmad and Sharhu Muskilil Athar the entire Hadith is repeated thrice, not just the last part. In the other three sources mentioned, the words are not repeated.

Authenticity

There does exist a difference of opinion with regards to the grading of the narration in question like you have stated. Some Muhaddithun have deemed a narrator in the chain of the above Hadith as weak.

However many Muhaddithun have not agreed with this. Imam Yahya ibn Ma’in (rahimahullah) has declared this narrator as reliable (thiqah). Imam Hakim (rahimahullah) has graded this narration as authentic (sahih) and he further states that this narrator is reliable (thiqah). Ibnul Humam (rahimahullah) has declared this Hadith as sound (hasan). Muhaddith An Nimawi and Muhaddith Zafar Ahmad Tahanawi (rahimahumallah) have also declared this Hadith as sound (hasan). ‘Allamah Ibnut Turkumani (rahimahullah) has disagreed with the fact that this narrator is weak.

Shaykh Muhammad ‘Awwamah (May Allah preserve him), The grand Syrian Muhaddith has also declared the narrations of this narrator as sound.

(Refer: I’laus Sunan, vol. 6, pg. 3, Al Jawharun Naqiy, vol. 2, pg. 470, and footnotes on Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah by Shaykh Muhammad ‘Awwamah, under Hadith: 6934)

Note: This Hadith is not the only narration supporting those Fuqaha (jurists) who opine that Witr is compulsory. There are numerous other narrations that support this view.

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar