What Is The Textual Proof For Witr Prayer? Why Are There Differences Among Madhhabs (Jurisprudential Schools) About Witr Prayer?

What is the textual proof for witr prayer? Why are there differences among madhhabs (jurisprudential schools) about witr prayer?

We learn about witr prayer through the words and practices of Prophet Muhammad (saw). He (saw) said, “The witr is a duty upon every Muslim.” (Abu Dawud, Witr, 2; Nasa’i, Qiyam al-lail, 40), and advised and encouraged people to establish witr prayer as the last prayer of the night and in odd-numbered rakats (Muslim, Salat al-Musafirin, 148).

Although fiqh schools agree that witr prayer is establishedby the sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (saw), they have some dissensus about its ruling, number of rakats, and Qunut duas. The main reason for that is the difference in the interpretation of the relevant narratives. According to the Hanafi school, witr prayer is accepted as “wajib” as Prohet Muhammad (saw) established it all the time and it was commanded in a strict language although it is a dhanni (conjectural) evidence. (Kasani, Bada’i, I, 270; Ibn Nujaym, al-Bahr, II, 40). According to other schools, witr is one of “sunnah” prayers (Ibn Qudamah, al-Mughni, II, 591-595).

Source: Presidency Of Religious Affairs The Turkey, High Board of Religious Affairs FATWA