Arabic (Original)
حَدَّثَنَا يُوسُفُ بْنُ مُوسَى وَأَبُو كُرَيْبٍ قَالَا نا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ قَالَ نا الْحَجَّاجُ عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ عَنْ عَاصِمِ بْنِ ضَمْرَةَ عَنْ عَلِيٍّ أَنَّهُ سُئِلَ عَنِ الْوِتْرِ وَاجِبٌ هُوَ قَالَ أَمَّا الْفَرِيضَةُ فَلَا وَلَكِنَّهَا سُنَّةٌ سَنَّهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَأَصْحَابُهُ حَتَّى مَضَوْا عَلَى ذَلِكَ وَلَكِنَّهَا سُنَّةٌ سَنَّهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَأَصْحَابُهُ حَتَّى مَضَوْا عَلَى ذَلِكَ
English Translation
Hadrat Ali (may Allah be well pleased with him) narrated that he was asked about the witr prayer — is it obligatory? He said: "As for being a prescribed obligation (faridah), no. But it is a sunnah that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and his Companions practiced, and they continued upon it."