Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith 1434 ⓘ
Narrated AbuQatadah: The Prophet asked AbuBakr: When do you observe the witr? He replied: I observe the witr prayer in the early hours of the night. The Prophet asked Umar: When do you observe the witr? He replied: At the end of the night. He then said to AbuBakr: This has followed it with care; and he said to Umar: He has followed it with strength.
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَبِي خَلَفٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو زَكَرِيَّا، يَحْيَى بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ السَّيْلَحِينِيُّ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ ثَابِتٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ رَبَاحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ لأَبِي بَكْرٍ " مَتَى تُوتِرُ " قَالَ أُوتِرُ مِنْ أَوَّلِ اللَّيْلِ . وَقَالَ لِعُمَرَ " مَتَى تُوتِرُ " . قَالَ آخِرَ اللَّيْلِ . فَقَالَ لأَبِي بَكْرٍ " أَخَذَ هَذَا بِالْحَزْمِ " . وَقَالَ لِعُمَرَ " أَخَذَ هَذَا بِالْقُوَّةِ " .
also referenced under: Hadith 1429 (Hasan) & Book 8, Hadith 1429 (USC-MSA)