What is Jami` at-Tirmidhi 455 about?

This hadith from Jami` at-Tirmidhi (Book of The Book on Al-Witr), narrated by Sufyan Ath-Thawri and others reported from Abu Ishaq, from Asim bin Damrah, that :, states: "Ali said: "Al-Witr is not incumbent like the status of the obligatory prayers, but it is a Sunnah which Allah's Messenger practiced.""

Is this hadith authentic?

This hadith is graded Hasan. Hasan hadiths are considered good and acceptable in hadith classification.

Which collection is this hadith from?

This hadith is from Jami` at-Tirmidhi, which contains 4,053 hadiths across 49 books. It is hadith number 455 in the Book of The Book on Al-Witr.

I searched for a different number — is this the right hadith?

Hadith numbering varies across editions and translations (USC-MSA, Dar as-Salam, Fath al-Bari, and others). If you followed a link citing a different number but landed here, you may have been redirected to the canonical version in our library. If you were looking for a different hadith entirely, use the search bar to find it by text.

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#454

#455

Jami` at-Tirmidhi

#456

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Jami` at-Tirmidhi #455

The Book on Al-Witr

Hasan

The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.

وَرَوَى سُفْيَانُ الثَّوْرِيُّ، وَغَيْرُهُ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ عَاصِمِ بْنِ ضَمْرَةَ، عَنْ عَلِيٍّ، قَالَ الْوِتْرُ لَيْسَ بِحَتْمٍ كَهَيْئَةِ الصَّلاَةِ الْمَكْتُوبَةِ وَلَكِنْ سُنَّةٌ سَنَّهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏.‏ حَدَّثَنَا بِذَلِكَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ مَهْدِيٍّ عَنْ سُفْيَانَ عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ ‏.‏ وَهَذَا أَصَحُّ مِنْ حَدِيثِ أَبِي بَكْرِ بْنِ عَيَّاشٍ ‏.‏ وَقَدْ رَوَاهُ مَنْصُورُ بْنُ الْمُعْتَمِرِ عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ نَحْوَ رِوَايَةِ أَبِي بَكْرِ بْنِ عَيَّاشٍ ‏.‏

Ali said: "Al-Witr is not incumbent like the status of the obligatory prayers, but it is a Sunnah which Allah's Messenger practiced."

Narrated by Sufyan Ath-Thawri and others reported from Abu Ishaq, from Asim bin Damrah, that :

Context

Ali narrates that the Witr prayer is not obligatory like the five daily prayers but is a Sunnah established by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. This distinction highlights the importance of voluntary acts of worship and the flexibility within Islamic practice.

Modern Application

For many Muslims, understanding that Witr is a Sunnah rather than an obligation allows them to incorporate it into their nightly prayers without feeling pressured. It encourages a personal approach to worship and the pursuit of additional good deeds.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Prayer and Prophetic Conduct because it outlines the status of the Witr prayer and reflects the practices of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

Prayer Prophetic Conduct