Caution: Translations of Quran and Ḥadīth may lead to possible misapplications and misinterpretations. This site is intended for students of sacred knowledge that are proficient in comprehending classical Arabic and have a strong foundation in Islamic sciences. Also note that religious injunctions rely on several aspects beyond what one may glean through reading individual aḥādīth.

ذِكْرُ خَبَرٍ ثَانٍ يُصَرِّحُ بِصِحَّةِ مَا ذَكَرْنَاهُ

ibnhibban:2543ʿAbdullāh b. Muḥammad al-Azdī > Isḥāq b. Ibrāhīm al-Ḥanẓalī > ʿAbdullāh b. al-Ḥārith al-Makhzūmī > Yūnus b. Yazīd al-Aylī > al-Zuhrī > ʿUrwah b. al-Zubayr > ʿĀʾishah

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ went out in the middle of the night and prayed in the mosque. The people followed him and prayed as well. In the morning, people were talking about it, so more people came the next night and the Messenger of Allah went out and prayed, and the people prayed with him. This continued for the third night, and the people talked about it so much that the mosque became crowded and unable to accommodate everyone. The Messenger of Allah did not come out to them anymore, so the people became upset and said that they missed the prayer. He then came out for the Fajr prayer and after finishing it, he faced the people and testified to the correctness of their intentions. He said, "What prevented me from coming out to you was my fear that the night prayer would become obligatory for you, and you would have difficulty fulfilling it." He always encouraged them to observe the nights of Ramadan without explicitly commanding them to do so. He used to say, "Whoever stands in prayer on Laylat al-Qadr (Night of Decree) out of faith and seeking reward, Allah will forgive his previous sins." The Messenger of Allah passed away while this tradition was still practiced during the caliphate of Abu Bakr and the early years of Umar's caliphate. Umar eventually gathered the people behind a single reciter during the month of Ramadan, and this was the first time people congregated for one reciter during Ramadan.  

ابن حبّان:٢٥٤٣أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الْأَزْدِيُّ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الْحَنْظَلِيُّ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْحَارِثِ الْمَخْزُومِيُّ عَنْ يُونُسَ بْنِ يَزِيدَ الْأَيْلِيِّ عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عُرْوَةُ بْنُ الزُّبَيْرِ أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ أَخْبَرَتْهُ

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ خَرَجَ فِي جَوْفِ اللَّيْلِ فَصَلَّى فِي الْمَسْجِدِ فَصَلَّى النَّاسُ فَأَصْبَحَ النَّاسُ يَتَحَدَّثُونَ بِذَلِكَ فَكَثُرَ النَّاسُ فَخَرَجَ عَلَيْهِمُ اللَّيْلَةَ الثَّانِيَةَ فَصَلَّى فَصَلَّوْا بِصَلَاتِهِ فَأَصْبَحُوا يَتَحَدَّثُونَ بِذَلِكَ حَتَّى كَثُرَ النَّاسُ فَخَرَجَ مِنَ اللَّيْلَةِ الثَّالِثَةِ فَصَلَّى فَصَلَّوْا بِصَلَاتِهِ فَأَصْبَحَ النَّاسُ يَتَحَدَّثُونَ بِذَلِكَ فَكَثُرَ النَّاسُ حَتَّى عَجَزَ الْمَسْجِدُ عَنْ أَهْلِهِ فَلَمْ يَخْرُجْ إِلَيْهِمْ فَطَفِقَ النَّاسُ يَقُولُونَ الصَّلَاةَ فَلَمْ يَخْرُجْ إِلَيْهِمْ حَتَّى خَرَجَ لِصَلَاةِ الْفَجْرِ فَلَمَّا قَضَى صَلَاةَ الْفَجْرِ أَقْبَلَ عَلَى النَّاسِ فَتَشَهَّدَ ثُمَّ قَالَ «أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنَّهُ لَمْ يَخْفَ عَلَيَّ شَأْنُكُمُ اللَّيْلَةَ وَلَكِنِّي خَشِيتُ أَنْ تُفْرَضَ عَلَيْكُمْ صَلَاةُ اللَّيْلِ فَتَعْجِزُوا عَنْ ذَلِكَ» وَكَانَ يُرَغِّبُهُمْ فِي قِيَامِ رَمَضَانَ مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَأْمُرَهُمْ بِعَزِيمَةٍ يَقُولُ «مَنْ قَامَ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غَفَرَ اللَّهُ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ» قَالَ فَتُوُفِّيَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَالْأَمْرُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ كَذَلِكَ كَانَ فِي خِلَافَةِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَصَدْرٍ مِنْ خِلَافَةِ عُمَرَ حَتَّى جَمَعَهُمْ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ عَلَى أُبَيِّ بْنِ كَعْبٍ فَقَامَ بِهِمْ فِي رَمَضَانَ وَكَانَ ذَلِكَ أَوَّلَ اجْتِمَاعِ النَّاسِ عَلَى قَارِئٍ وَاحِدٍ فِي رَمَضَانَ»  


See similar narrations below:

Collected by Bukhārī, Muslim, Aḥmad, Ibn Ḥibbān, Bayhaqī
bukhari:2012Yaḥyá b. Bukayr > al-Layth > ʿUqayl > Ibn Shihāb > ʿUrwah > ʿĀʾishah

That he was informed by ʿAisha, "Messenger of Allah ﷺ went out in the middle of the night and prayed in the mosque and some men prayed behind him. In the morning, the people spoke about it and then a large number of them gathered and prayed behind him (on the second night). In the next morning the people again talked about it and on the third night the mosque was full with a large number of people. Messenger of Allah ﷺ came out and the people prayed behind him. On the fourth night the Mosque was overwhelmed with people and could not accommodate them, but the Prophet ﷺ came out (only) for the morning prayer. When the morning prayer was finished he recited Tashah-hud and (addressing the people) said, "Amma ba'du, your presence was not hidden from me but I was afraid lest the night prayer (Qiyam) should be enjoined on you and you might not be able to carry it on." So, Allah's Apostle died and the situation remained like that (i.e. people prayed individually). "  

البخاري:٢٠١٢حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ بُكَيْرٍ حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ عَنْ عُقَيْلٍ عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ أَخْبَرَنِي عُرْوَةُ أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ ؓ أَخْبَرَتْهُ

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ خَرَجَ لَيْلَةً مِنْ جَوْفِ اللَّيْلِ فَصَلَّى فِي الْمَسْجِدِ وَصَلَّى رِجَالٌ بِصَلاَتِهِ فَأَصْبَحَ النَّاسُ فَتَحَدَّثُوا فَاجْتَمَعَ أَكْثَرُ مِنْهُمْ فَصَلَّوْا مَعَهُ فَأَصْبَحَ النَّاسُ فَتَحَدَّثُوا فَكَثُرَ أَهْلُ الْمَسْجِدِ مِنَ اللَّيْلَةِ الثَّالِثَةِ فَخَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَصَلَّى فَصَلَّوْا بِصَلاَتِهِ فَلَمَّا كَانَتِ اللَّيْلَةُ الرَّابِعَةُ عَجَزَ الْمَسْجِدُ عَنْ أَهْلِهِ حَتَّى خَرَجَ لِصَلاَةِ الصُّبْحِ فَلَمَّا قَضَى الْفَجْرَ أَقْبَلَ عَلَى النَّاسِ فَتَشَهَّدَ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنَّهُ لَمْ يَخْفَ عَلَىَّ مَكَانُكُمْ وَلَكِنِّي خَشِيتُ أَنْ تُفْتَرَضَ عَلَيْكُمْ فَتَعْجِزُوا عَنْهَا فَتُوُفِّيَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَالأَمْرُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ  

muslim:761bḤarmalah b. Yaḥyá > ʿAbdullāh b. Wahb > Yūnus b. Yazīd > Ibn Shihāb > ʿUrwah b. al-Zubayr > ʿĀʾishah

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ came out during the night and observed prayer in the mosque and some of the people prayed along with him. When it was morning the people talked about this and so a large number of people gathered there. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ went out for the second night, and they (the people) prayed along with him. When it was morning the people began to talk about it. So the mosque thronged with people on the third night. He (the Holy Prophet) came out and they prayed along with him. When it was the fourth night, the mosque was filled to its utmost capacity but the Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not come out. Some persons among then cried:" Prayer." But the Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not come to them till he came out for the morning prayer. When he had completed the morning prayer, he turned his face to the people and recited Tashahhud (I bear testi- mony that there is no god but Allah and I bear testimony that Muhammad is His Messen- ger) and then said: Your affair was not hidden from me in the night, but I was afraid that (my observing prayer continuously) might make the night prayer obligatory for you and you might be unable to perform it.  

مسلم:٧٦١bوَحَدَّثَنِي حَرْمَلَةُ بْنُ يَحْيَى أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ وَهْبٍ أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ بْنُ يَزِيدَ عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عُرْوَةُ بْنُ الزُّبَيْرِ أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ أَخْبَرَتْهُ

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ خَرَجَ مِنْ جَوْفِ اللَّيْلِ فَصَلَّى فِي الْمَسْجِدِ فَصَلَّى رِجَالٌ بِصَلاَتِهِ فَأَصْبَحَ النَّاسُ يَتَحَدَّثُونَ بِذَلِكَ فَاجْتَمَعَ أَكْثَرُ مِنْهُمْ فَخَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي اللَّيْلَةِ الثَّانِيَةِ فَصَلَّوْا بِصَلاَتِهِ فَأَصْبَحَ النَّاسُ يَذْكُرُونَ ذَلِكَ فَكَثُرَ أَهْلُ الْمَسْجِدِ مِنَ اللَّيْلَةِ الثَّالِثَةِ فَخَرَجَ فَصَلَّوْا بِصَلاَتِهِ فَلَمَّا كَانَتِ اللَّيْلَةُ الرَّابِعَةُ عَجَزَ الْمَسْجِدُ عَنْ أَهْلِهِ فَلَمْ يَخْرُجْ إِلَيْهِمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَطَفِقَ رِجَالٌ مِنْهُمْ يَقُولُونَ الصَّلاَةَ فَلَمْ يَخْرُجْ إِلَيْهِمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ حَتَّى خَرَجَ لِصَلاَةِ الْفَجْرِ فَلَمَّا قَضَى الْفَجْرَ أَقْبَلَ عَلَى النَّاسِ ثُمَّ تَشَهَّدَ فَقَالَ أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنَّهُ لَمْ يَخْفَ عَلَىَّ شَأْنُكُمُ اللَّيْلَةَ وَلَكِنِّي خَشِيتُ أَنْ تُفْرَضَ عَلَيْكُمْ صَلاَةُ اللَّيْلِ فَتَعْجِزُوا عَنْهَا  

ahmad:25362ʿAbd al-Razzāq And Ibn Bakr > Ibn Jurayj > Ibn Shihāb > ʿUrwah

[Machine] "Aisha narrated: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ went out one night during the middle of the night and prayed in the mosque. Some men joined him in his prayer. When the people talked about it in the morning, saying that the Prophet ﷺ had gone out and prayed in the mosque during the middle of the night, the next night more people gathered than the previous night. Aisha said: The Prophet ﷺ went out during the middle of the night and prayed, and they prayed with him. Then it was morning, and they talked about it. The third night, a large number of people gathered, to the point where the mosque could not accommodate them all. Aisha said: The Prophet ﷺ went out during the middle of the night and prayed, and they prayed with him. When the fourth night came, the people gathered until the mosque could not accommodate its people. The Prophet ﷺ sat, but did not go out to them. Aisha said: I heard some of them saying that the prayer had started, but the Prophet ﷺ did not come out to join them. When he finished the Fajr prayer and gave the salam, he stood amongst the people, recited the Tashahhud and then said: 'Now, it was not that I missed out on your matter last night, but I feared that it may become obligatory upon you and you would be unable to fulfill it.'"  

أحمد:٢٥٣٦٢حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ وَابْنُ بَكْرٍ قَالَا أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي ابْنُ شِهَابٍ قَالَ قَالَ عُرْوَةُ قَالَتْ

عَائِشَةُ خَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ لَيْلَةً مِنْ جَوْفِ اللَّيْلِ فَصَلَّى فِي الْمَسْجِدِ فَثَابَ رِجَالٌ فَصَلَّوْا مَعَهُ بِصَلَاتِهِ فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحَ النَّاسُ تَحَدَّثُوا أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ قَدْ خَرَجَ فَصَلَّى فِي الْمَسْجِدِ مِنْ جَوْفِ اللَّيْلِ فَاجْتَمَعَ اللَّيْلَةَ الْمُقْبِلَةَ أَكْثَرُ مِنْهُمْ قَالَتْ فَخَرَجَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ مِنْ جَوْفِ اللَّيْلِ فَصَلَّى وَصَلَّوْا مَعَهُ بِصَلَاتِهِ ثُمَّ أَصْبَحَ فَتَحَدَّثُوا بِذَلِكَ فَاجْتَمَعَ اللَّيْلَةَ الثَّالِثَةَ نَاسٌ كَثِيرٌ حَتَّى كَثُرَ أَهْلُ الْمَسْجِدِ قَالَتْ فَخَرَجَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ مِنْ جَوْفِ اللَّيْلِ فَصَلَّى فَصَلَّوْا مَعَهُ فَلَمَّا كَانَتِ اللَّيْلَةُ الرَّابِعَةُ اجْتَمَعَ النَّاسُ حَتَّى كَادَ الْمَسْجِدُ يَعْجَزُ عَنْ أَهْلِهِ فَجَلَسَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فَلَمْ يَخْرُجْ قَالَتْ حَتَّى سَمِعْتُ نَاسًا مِنْهُمْ يَقُولُونَ الصَّلَاةَ فَلَمْ يَخْرُجْ إِلَيْهِمُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فَلَمَّا صَلَّى صَلَاةَ الْفَجْرِ سَلَّمَ ثُمَّ قَامَ فِي النَّاسِ فَتَشَهَّدَ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنَّهُ لَمْ يَخْفَ عَلَيَّ شَأْنُكُمُ اللَّيْلَةَ وَلَكِنِّيخَشِيتُ أَنْ تُفْرَضَ عَلَيْكُمْ فَتَعْجَزُوا عَنْهَا  

ذِكْرُ الْبَيَانِ بِأَنَّ الْفَرْضَ الَّذِي جَعَلَهُ اللَّهُ جَلَّ وَعَلَا نَفْلًا جَائِزٌ أَنْ يُفْرَضَ ثَانِيًا، فَيَكُونُ ذَلِكَ الْفِعْلُ الَّذِي كَانَ فَرَضًا فِي الْبِدَايَةِ فَرْضًا ثَانِيًا فِي النِّهَايَةِ

ibnhibban:141ʿUmar b. Saʿīd b. Sinān al-Ṭāʾī Bimanbaj > Saʿīd b. Ḥafṣ al-Nufaylī > Qaraʾnā > Maʿqil b. ʿUbaydullāh > al-Zuhrī > ʿUrwah > ʿĀʾishah

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ went out one night in Ramadan and prayed in the mosque. Some men prayed behind him. The people spoke about it and more of them gathered. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ went out again and they prayed behind him. The people talked about it again. The people of the mosque gathered on the third night. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ went out and they prayed behind him. On the fourth night, the mosque was crowded, but the Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not go out to them except for the Fajr prayer. After the Fajr prayer, he faced the people and made the testimony of faith, then he said, "It was not hidden from me your presence, but I feared that it would be made obligatory upon you, and you would be unable to fulfill it." The Messenger of Allah ﷺ encouraged them to stand in prayer during the month of Ramadan without imposing it on them. He said, "Whoever stands in prayer during Ramadan out of faith and seeking reward, all his previous sins will be forgiven." The Messenger of Allah ﷺ went out, and this practice continued during the caliphates of Abu Bakr, Umar, and thereafter.  

ابن حبّان:١٤١أَخْبَرَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ سَعِيدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ الطَّائِيُّ بِمَنْبَجَ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ حَفْصٍ النُّفَيْلِيُّ قَالَ قَرَأْنَا عَلَى مَعْقِلِ بْنِ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ عَنْ عُرْوَةَ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ أَنَّهَا أَخْبَرَتْهُ

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ خَرَجَ لَيْلَةً فِي رَمَضَانَ فَصَلَّى فِي الْمَسْجِدِ فَصَلَّى رِجَالٌ وَرَاءَهُ بِصَلَاتِهِ فَأَصْبَحَ النَّاسُ فَتَحَدَّثُوا بِذَلِكَ فَاجْتَمَعَ أَكْثَرَهُمْ مِنْهُمْ فَخَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الثَّانِيَةَ فَصَلَّوْا بِصَلَاتِهِ فَأَصْبَحَ النَّاسُ فَتَحَدَّثُوا بِذَلِكَ فَاجْتَمَعَ أَهْلُ الْمَسْجِدِ لَيْلَةَ الثَّالِثَةِ فَخَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَصَلَّوْا بِصَلَاتِهِ فَلَمَّا كَانَتِ اللَّيْلَةُ الرَّابِعَةُ عَجَزَ الْمَسْجِدُ عَنْ أَهْلِهِ فَلَمْ يَخْرُجْ إِلَيْهِمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِلَّا لِصَلَاةِ الْفَجْرِ فَلَمَّا قُضِيَتْ صَلَاةُ الْفَجْرِ أَقْبَلَ عَلَى النَّاسِ فَتَشَهَّدَ ثُمَّ قَالَ «أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنَّهُ لَمْ يَخْفَ عَلَيَّ مَكَانُكُمْ وَلَكِنِّي خَشِيتُ أَنْ تُفْرَضَ عَلَيْكُمْ فَتَقْعُدُوا عَنْهَا» وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُرَغِّبُهُمْ فِي قِيَامِ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَأْمُرَهُمْ بِقَضَاءِ أَمْرٍ فِيهِ يَقُولُ «مَنْ قَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ» فَخَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَالْأَمْرُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ كَانَ الْأَمْرُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ فِي خِلَافَةِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَصَدْرًا مِنْ خِلَافَةِ عُمَرَ رِضْوُانُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِمْ أَجْمَعِينَ  

ذِكْرُ الْبَيَانِ بِأَنَّ قَوْلَهُ ﷺ «وَلَكِنِّي خَشِيتُ أَنْ تُفْرَضَ عَلَيْكُمْ فَتَعْجِزُوا عَنْهَا» أَرَادَ بِذَلِكَ قِيَامَ اللَّيْلِ

ibnhibban:2544Muḥammad b. al-Ḥasan b. Qutaybah Biʿasqalān > Ḥarmalah b. Yaḥyá > Ibn Wahb > Yūnus > Ibn Shihāb > ʿUrwah b. al-Zubayr > ʿĀʾishah

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ came out during the night and observed prayer in the mosque and some of the people prayed along with him. When it was morning the people talked about this and so a large number of people gathered there. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ went out for the second night, and they (the people) prayed along with him. When it was morning the people began to talk about it. So the mosque thronged with people on the third night. He (the Holy Prophet) came out and they prayed along with him. When it was the fourth night, the mosque was filled to its utmost capacity but the Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not come out. Some persons among then cried:" Prayer." But the Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not come to them till he came out for the morning prayer. When he had completed the morning prayer, he turned his face to the people and recited Tashahhud (I bear testi- mony that there is no god but Allah and I bear testimony that Muhammad is His Messen- ger) and then said: Your affair was not hidden from me in the night, but I was afraid that (my observing prayer continuously) might make the night prayer obligatory for you and you might be unable to perform it. (Using translation from Muslim 761b)  

ابن حبّان:٢٥٤٤أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ قُتَيْبَةَ بِعَسْقَلَانَ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا حَرْمَلَةُ بْنُ يَحْيَى قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا يُونُسُ عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عُرْوَةُ بْنُ الزُّبَيْرِ أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ أَخْبَرَتْهُ

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ خَرَجَ فِي جَوْفِ اللَّيْلِ فَصَلَّى فِي الْمَسْجِدِ فَصَلَّى رِجَالٌ بِصَلَاتِهِ فَأَصْبَحَ النَّاسُ يَتَحَدَّثُونَ بِذَلِكَ فَاجْتَمَعَ أَكْثَرُ مِنْهُمْ فَخَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي اللَّيْلَةِ الثَّانِيَةِ فَصَلَّى فَصَلَّوْا بِصَلَاتِهِ فَأَصْبَحَ النَّاسُ يَتَذَاكَرُونَ ذَلِكَ فَكَثُرَ أَهْلُ الْمَسْجِدِ فِي اللَّيْلَةِ الثَّالِثَةِ فَخَرَجَ فَصَلَّى بِهِمْ فَصَلَّوْا بِصَلَاتِهِ فَلَمَّا كَانَتِ اللَّيْلَةُ الرَّابِعَةُ عَجَزَ الْمَسْجِدُ عَنْ أَهْلِهِ فَلَمْ يَخْرُجْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَطَفِقَ رِجَالٌ مِنْهُمْ يَقُولُونَ الصَّلَاةَ فَلَمْ يَخْرُجْ إِلَيْهِمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ حَتَّى خَرَجَ لِصَلَاةِ الْفَجْرِ فَلَمَّا قَضَى الْفَجْرَ أَقْبَلَ عَلَى النَّاسِ ثُمَّ تَشَهَّدَ فَقَالَ «أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنَّهُ لَمْ يَخْفَ عَلَيَّ شَأْنُكُمُ اللَّيْلَةَ وَلَقَدْ خَشِيتُ أَنْ تُفْرَضَ عَلَيْكُمْ صَلَاةُ اللَّيْلِ فَتَعْجِزُوا عَنْهَا»  

ذِكْرُ الْخَبَرِ الْمُدْحِضِ قَوْلَ مَنْ زَعَمَ أَنَّ صَلَاةَ النَّاسِ التَّرَاوِيحَ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ لَيْسَتْ سُنَّةً

ibnhibban:2545Muḥammad b. al-Ḥasan b. Qutaybah > Ḥarmalah b. Yaḥyá > Ibn Wahb > Yūnus > Ibn Shihāb > ʿUrwah b. al-Zubayr > ʿĀʾishah

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ came out during the night and observed prayer in the mosque and some of the people prayed along with him. When it was morning the people talked about this and so a large number of people gathered there. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ went out for the second night, and they (the people) prayed along with him. When it was morning the people began to talk about it. So the mosque thronged with people on the third night. He (the Holy Prophet) came out and they prayed along with him. When it was the fourth night, the mosque was filled to its utmost capacity but the Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not come out. Some persons among then cried:" Prayer." But the Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not come to them till he came out for the morning prayer. When he had completed the morning prayer, he turned his face to the people and recited Tashahhud (I bear testi- mony that there is no god but Allah and I bear testimony that Muhammad is His Messen- ger) and then said: Your affair was not hidden from me in the night, but I was afraid that (my observing prayer continuously) might make the night prayer obligatory for you and you might be unable to perform it. (Using translation from Muslim 761b)  

ابن حبّان:٢٥٤٥أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ قُتَيْبَةَ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا حَرْمَلَةُ بْنُ يَحْيَى قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا يُونُسُ عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عُرْوَةُ بْنُ الزُّبَيْرِ أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ أَخْبَرَتْهُ

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ خَرَجَ مِنْ جَوْفِ اللَّيْلِ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ فَصَلَّى رِجَالٌ بِصَلَاتِهِ فَأَصْبَحَ النَّاسُ يَتَحَدَّثُونَ بِذَلِكَ فَاجْتَمَعَ أَكْثَرُ فَخَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي اللَّيْلَةِ الثَّانِيَةِ فَصَلَّوْا بِصَلَاتِهِ فَأَصْبَحَ النَّاسُ يَتَذَاكَرُونَ ذَلِكَ فَكَثُرَ أَهْلُ الْمَسْجِدِ مِنَ اللَّيْلَةِ الثَّالِثَةِ فَخَرَجَ يُصَلِّي بِهِمْ فَصَلَّوْا بِصَلَاتِهِ فَلَمَّا كَانَتِ اللَّيْلَةُ الرَّابِعَةُ عَجَزَ الْمَسْجِدُ عَنْ أَهْلِهِ فَلَمْ يَخْرُجْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ حَتَّى خَرَجَ لِصَلَاةِ الْفَجْرِ فَلَمَّا قَضَى الْفَجْرَ أَقْبَلَ عَلَى النَّاسِ ثُمَّ تَشَهَّدَ فَقَالَ «أَمَّا بَعْدُ إِنَّهُ لَمْ يَخْفَ عَلَيَّ شَأْنُكُمُ اللَّيْلَةَ وَلَكِنِّي خَشِيتُ أَنْ تُفْرَضَ عَلَيْكُمْ صَلَاةُ اللَّيْلِ فَتَعْجِزُوا عَنْهَا»  

bayhaqi:4602Abū al-Ḥusayn ʿAbd al-Ṣamad b. ʿAlī b. Mukram > Muḥammad b. ʿAbd al-Wāḥid > Yaḥyá b. ʿAbdullāh b. Bukayr > al-Layth > ʿUqayl > Ibn Shihāb > ʿUrwah b. al-Zubayr > ʿĀʾishah

[Machine] The Prophet's wife informed him that the Messenger of Allah went out one night in the middle of the night to pray in the mosque. Some men prayed with him and the people spoke about it. More people gathered the next night and the Messenger of Allah went out to pray and they prayed with him. The number of people increased on the third night and the Messenger of Allah went out to pray and they prayed with him. However, on the fourth night, the mosque was unable to accommodate its people and the Messenger of Allah did not come out to them. Some of the men said that they should pray and the Messenger of Allah did not come out to them until he came out for the morning prayer. After completing the Fajr prayer, he turned to the people and said, "Indeed, your matter did not escape me tonight, but I feared that it would be imposed upon you and you would be unable to fulfill it." The Messenger of Allah used to encourage them to observe the night prayers in Ramadan without explicitly commanding them to do so. He used to say, "Whoever observes Ramadan with faith and seeking reward, his past sins will be forgiven for him." The Messenger of Allah passed away and this continued to be the practice during the caliphate of Abu Bakr and the beginning of the caliphate of Umar ibn Al-Khattab. Uruwah reported, and Abdur Rahman ibn Abdir Rahim, who used to work with Umar, reported that Umar went out one night during Ramadan and Abdur Rahman went out with him. They walked around the mosque and the people were praying individually, and some were praying in groups. Umar said, "By Allah, I think if we gather them behind one reciter, it would be better than what they are doing." Umar decided to gather them behind one reciter and commanded Ubayy ibn Ka'b to lead them in prayer during Ramadan. Umar went out with the people and they prayed behind the reciter, and Abdur Rahman ibn Abdir Rahim was with him. Umar said, "What an excellent innovation this is, and the one who neglects it is better than the one who stays up till the end of the night." The people used to pray in the early part of the night.  

البيهقي:٤٦٠٢وَأنبأ أَبُو الْحُسَيْنِ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ بِشْرَانَ الْعَدْلُ بِبَغْدَادَ ثنا أَبُو الْحُسَيْنِ عَبْدُ الصَّمَدِ بْنُ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُكْرَمٍ ثنا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْوَاحِدِ ثنا يَحْيَى بْنُ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ بُكَيْرٍ ثنا اللَّيْثُ عَنْ عُقَيْلٍ عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ أَخْبَرَنِي عُرْوَةُ بْنُ الزُّبَيْرِ أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ

زَوْجَ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ أَخْبَرَتْهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ خَرَجَ لَيْلَةً مِنْ جَوْفِ اللَّيْلِ يُصَلِّي فِي الْمَسْجِدِ فَصَلَّى رِجَالٌ يُصَلُّونَ بِصَلَاتِهِ فَأَصْبَحَ النَّاسُ فَتَحَدَّثُوا بِذَلِكَ فَاجْتَمَعَ أَكْثَرُ مِنْهُمْ فَخَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ اللَّيْلَةَ الثَّانِيَةَ فَصَلَّى فَصَلَّوْا مَعَهُ فَتَحَدَّثُوا بِذَلِكَ فَكَثُرَ أَهْلُ الْمَسْجِدِ مِنَ اللَّيْلَةِ الثَّالِثَةِ فَخَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ فَصَلَّوْا بِصَلَاتِهِ فَلَمَّا كَانَتِ اللَّيْلَةُ الرَّابِعَةُ عَجَزَ الْمَسْجِدُ عَنْ أَهْلِهِ فَلَمْ يَخْرُجْ إِلَيْهِمْ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ فَطَفِقَ رِجَالٌ مِنْهُمْ يَقُولُونَ الصَّلَاةَ فَلَمْ يَخْرُجْ إِلَيْهِمْ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ حَتَّى خَرَجَ لِصَلَاةِ الصُّبْحِ فَلَمَّا قَضَى صَلَاةَ الْفَجْرِ أَقْبَلَ عَلَى النَّاسِ فَتَشَهَّدَ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَمَا بَعْدُ فَإِنَّهُ لَمْ يَخْفَ عَلَيَّ شَأْنُكُمُ اللَّيْلَةَ وَلَكِنِّي خَشِيتُ أَنْ تُفْرَضَ عَلَيْكُمْ فَتَعْجَزُوا عَنْهَا وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ يُرَغِّبُهُمْ فِي قِيَامِ رَمَضَانَ مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَأْمُرَهُمْ بِعَزِيمَةِ أَمْرٍ فِيهِ فَيَقُولُ مَنْ قَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ فَتُوُفِّيَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ وَالْأَمْرُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ كَانَ الْأَمْرُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ خِلَافَةَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَصَدْرًا مِنْ خِلَافَةِ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ ؓ 4603 قَالَ عُرْوَةُ وَأَخْبَرَنِي عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ عَبْدٍ الْقَارِيُّ وَكَانَ مِنْ عُمَّالِ عُمْرَ ؓ وَكَانَ يَعْمَلُ مَعَ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ الْأَرْقَمِ عَلَى بَيْتِ مَالِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ أَنَّ عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ ؓ خَرَجَ لَيْلَةً فِي رَمَضَانَ فَخَرَجَ مَعَهُ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ فَطَافَ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ وَأَهْلُ الْمَسْجِدِ أَوْزَاعٌ مُتَفَرِّقُونَ يُصَلِّي الرَّجُلُ لِنَفْسِهِ وَيُصَلِّي الرَّجُلُ فَيُصَلِّي بِصَلَاتِهِ الرَّهْطُ قَالَ عُمَرُ ؓ وَاللهِ لَأَظُنُّ لَوْ جَمَعْنَاهُمْ عَلَى قَارِئٍ وَاحِدٍ لَكَانَ أَمْثَلَ فَعَزَمَ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ ؓ عَلَى أَنْ يَجْمَعَهُمْ عَلَى قَارِئٍ وَاحِدٍ فَأَمَرَ أُبَيَّ بْنَ كَعْبٍ ؓ أَنْ يَقُومَ بِهِمْ فِي رَمَضَانَ فَخَرَجَ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ ؓ وَالنَّاسُ يُصَلُّونَ بِصَلَاةِ قَارِئٍ لَهُمْ وَمَعَهُ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ عَبْدٍ الْقَارِيُّ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ ؓ نِعْمَ الْبِدْعَةُ هَذِهِ وَالَّتِي يَنَامُونَ عَنْهَا أَفْضَلُ مِنَ الَّتِي يَقُومُونَ يُرِيدُ آخِرَ اللَّيْلِ وَكَانَ النَّاسُ يَقُومُونَ فِي أَوَّلِهِ  

رَوَاهُ الْبُخَارِيُّ فِي الصَّحِيحِ عَنِ ابْنِ بُكَيْرٍ دُونَ حَدِيثِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عَبْدٍ الْقَارِيِّ وَإِنَّمَا أَخْرَجَ حَدِيثَ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَنْ حَدِيثِ مَالِكٍ عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ