What is the benefit of the Shafa and Witr prayers? Are they obligatory? And what is their reward?

The majority of scholars hold that the Witr prayer is a confirmed Sunnah (supererogatory act) and not obligatory. Voluntary (Nafl) prayers have many benefits, including:

1. They engender Allah's love. In the Hadith Qudsi (sacred narration), it is stated: "My servant continues to draw near to Me with supererogatory deeds until I love him..." 2. They compensate for deficiencies in obligatory prayers. In the Hadith, it is stated: "Indeed, the first thing a servant will be called to account for on the Day of Judgment is his prayer. If it is found to be deficient, it will be said: 'Look, does My servant have any voluntary prayers with which to complete his obligatory ones?'" 3. They are a means to enter Paradise. In the Hadith, it is stated: "Whoever prays twelve rak'ahs in a day and night, a house will be built for him in Paradise." These rak'ahs are: two rak'ahs before Fajr, four before Dhuhr and two after it, two after Maghrib, and two after Isha.