It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) that a man asked the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) about the night prayer. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "The night prayer is in sets of two rak'ahs. So when you fear that dawn is approaching, then pray one rak'ah, which will make your prayer odd."

It is narrated from Abdullah bin Muhairiz that a man from Banu Kinanah, who was called Mukhdaaji, heard from a man of Syria whose kunyah was Abu Muhammad (he was an Ansari companion), that he used to say Witr is obligatory. Mukhdaaji said that I went to Sayyiduna Ubadah bin Samit (may Allah be pleased with him) and conveyed to him the statement of Abu Muhammad. He said, "Abu Muhammad has lied. I heard from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), he said: 'Allah the Exalted has made five prayers obligatory upon His servants. Whoever performs them and does not take them lightly and abandon them, then Allah the Mighty and Majestic has made a covenant to admit him to Paradise. And whoever abandons them, then he has no covenant with Allah; if He wills, He will punish him, and if He wills, He will admit him to Paradise.'"

It is narrated from Sa'id bin Yasar that I was traveling at night on the way to Makkah with Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them). Sa'id says that when I feared the coming of morning, I got down from the camel and performed Witr, then caught up with him ahead. So Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) asked me, "Where were you?" I said, "I feared that morning would come, so I got down and performed Witr." Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) said, "Do you not follow the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)?" I said, "Of course, why not." Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) said, "The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to perform Witr on the camel."

It is narrated from Sa'id bin al-Musayyib that when Sayyiduna Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, would come to his bed to sleep, he would perform Witr. And Sayyiduna Umar bin al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, would perform Witr after Tahajjud in the last part of the night. And Sa'id bin al-Musayyib said: As for me, when I come to my bed to sleep, I perform Witr.

Imam Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) received the information that a person asked Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) whether Witr is obligatory. So Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) said that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and the Muslims used to perform Witr.

Imam Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) received the information that Umm al-Mu'minin Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) used to say that whoever fears that his eyes may not open until morning should perform Witr before sleeping, and whoever hopes to wake up in the last part of the night should delay Witr.

It is narrated from Hazrat Nafi that I was with Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) on the way to Makkah and there were clouds covering the sky, so Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) feared that morning had come. Thus, he performed one rak'ah of witr, then the clouds cleared and he saw that the night was still remaining, so he performed another rak'ah and made it two rak'ahs. After that, he performed two rak'ahs at a time, and then when he feared that morning had come, he performed one rak'ah of witr.

It is narrated from Hazrat Nafi that Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) would offer two rak'ahs of Witr and say salam, and if he had some work, he would tell him (i.e., Nafi), then he would offer one rak'ah of Witr.

It is narrated from Ibn Shihab that Sayyiduna Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas (may Allah be pleased with him) used to perform one rak'ah of Witr after the 'Isha prayer.
Imam Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Our practice is not upon this, rather the minimum for Witr is three rak'ahs.

Imam Malik, may Allah have mercy on him, said: Whoever performs Witr in the early part of the night, then wakes up and wishes to offer voluntary prayers, I prefer that he prays two by two units.