Is it preferable to perform the witr prayer at the beginning of the night, or to postpone it until the end of the night, and perform it at home?

The witr prayer and other supererogatory prayers are preferably performed at home. This is based on the hadith narrated by Zayd ibn Thabit (may Allah be pleased with him) in which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “O people, pray in your homes, for the best prayer of a person is in his home, except for the obligatory prayers” (recorded by Bukhari and Muslim).

In another hadith, Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said,
“When one of you finishes his prayer in the mosque, let him direct a portion of it toward his home, for indeed Allah places goodness in his home through his prayer”
(recorded by Muslim in his Sahih).

 

Postponing the witr prayer is better for one who believes that he will most likely wake up at the end of the night, rather than performing it at its beginning. This is supported by the hadith narrated by Jabir ibn ‘Abd Allah (may Allah be pleased with them both), who reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said,
“Whoever fears that he will not wake up at the end of the night, should perform witr at its beginning, and whoever hopes to wake up at the end of the night should perform witr at its end. Indeed, prayer at the end of the night is witnessed [by the angels], and that is better” (recorded by Muslim).

And Allah Almighty knows best.