Mishkat al-Masabih #1218
Prayer
The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
وَعَنْ ثَوْبَانَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «إِنَّ هَذَا السَّهَرَ جُهْدٌ وَثِقَلٌ فَإِذَا أَوْتَرَ أَحَدُكُمْ فَلْيَرْكَعْ رَكْعَتَيْنِ فَإِنْ قَامَ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ وَإِلَّا كَانَتَا لَهُ» . رَوَاهُ الدَّارِمِيُّ
Thauban reported the Prophet as saying, “This wakefulness is a toil and a burden, so when one of you observes a witr he should pray two rak'as. If he gets up during the night, well and good; otherwise they will serve for him."
Tirmidhi transmitted it.
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About Mishkat al-Masabih
This hadith is #1218 from Mishkat al-Masabih, in the Book of Prayer.