حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ عَنْ عَاصِمِ بْنِ ضَمْرَةَ عَنْ عَلِيٍّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ الْوَتْرُ لَيْسَ بِحَتْمٍ مِثْلَ الصَّلَاةِ وَلَكِنَّهُ سُنَّةٌ سَنَّهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ
مسند امام احمد بن حنبل · Hadith 652
It was narrated that 'Ali (RA) said: Witr is not an essential like regular prayer, but it is a Summit that was established by the Messenger of Allah (PBUH).
Translated by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan · Reviewed by Islamic University of Madinah · Published March 2020