Hadith 755 b - The Book of Prayer - Travellers - Sahih Muslim - صحيح مسلم - Collection of Actions, Sayings and Teachings of Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم) - Kutub as-Sittah

6. The Book of Prayer - Travellers - كتاب صلاة المسافرين وقصرها

21) Chapter: He Who Fears That He Would Not Be Able To Observe (tahajjud) Prayer At The End Of Night Should Observe Witr In The First Part Of It

Jabir reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:

He who amongst you is afraid that he may not be able to get up at the end of the night should observe Witr (in the first part) and then sleep, and he who is confident of getting up and praying at night (i. e. Tahajjud prayer) should observe it at the end of it, for the recitation at the end of the night is witnessed*, and that is better.

*: meaning, "by angels" (Sharh an-Nawawi)

Reference: 755 b
English reference: Book 4, Hadith 1651
In-book reference: Book 6, Hadith 196
Grade: Sahih
Read this hadith from Darussalam Collection

21) باب مَنْ خَافَ أَنْ لاَ يَقُومَ مِنْ آخِرِ اللَّيْلِ فَلْيُوتِرْ أَوَّلَهُ ‏

وَحَدَّثَنِي سَلَمَةُ بْنُ شَبِيبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ أَعْيَنَ، حَدَّثَنَا مَعْقِلٌ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ - عَنْ أَبِي الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ جَابِرٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ‏‏ ‏.‏ "‏ أَيُّكُمْ خَافَ أَنْ لاَ يَقُومَ مِنْ آخِرِ اللَّيْلِ فَلْيُوتِرْ ثُمَّ لْيَرْقُدْ وَمَنْ وَثِقَ بِقِيَامٍ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَلْيُوتِرْ مِنْ آخِرِهِ فَإِنَّ قِرَاءَةَ آخِرِ اللَّيْلِ مَحْضُورَةٌ وَذَلِكَ أَفْضَلُ ‏"