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The virtue of voluntary Night Prayer in Ramadhaan and Its rulings
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All about Ramadan
3096
2012/07/28
2024/11/21
It was narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah 
that the Prophet, 
, said: "Whoever stands (in voluntary payers on the nights of) Ramadhaan out of faith and hoping for reward from Allaah, his past sins will be forgiven." [Al-Bukhaari] This Hadeeth means that when the Muslim performs voluntary prayers at night during Ramadhaan while having faith that he will indeed be rewarded, seeking the pleasure of Allaah The Almighty, being free of ostentation and fame, and hoping for the reward of Allaah The Almighty, his past sins will be overlooked and he will not be taken to account for them.
It was narrated on the authority of Ibn ‘Umar that the Prophet, , said: "Allaah will bring the believer close to Him, envelop him in His mercy, and cover him. He will then make him confess his sins by saying: 'Do you remember (doing) this sin and this sin?' He will reply, 'My Lord, I remember,' till the believer thinks he is doomed. Then Allaah will say: 'I covered it up for you in the worldly life, and I forgive it for you today.' Then the record of his good deeds will be handed to him. The disbelievers and the hypocrites, however, will be called out in front of the creation, ‘These are the ones who lied against their Lord. Unquestionably, the curse of Allaah is upon the wrongdoers.’" [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]
that the Prophet, , said: "Allaah will bring the believer close to Him, envelop him in His mercy, and cover him. He will then make him confess his sins by saying: 'Do you remember (doing) this sin and this sin?' He will reply, 'My Lord, I remember,' till the believer thinks he is doomed. Then Allaah will say: 'I covered it up for you in the worldly life, and I forgive it for you today.' Then the record of his good deeds will be handed to him. The disbelievers and the hypocrites, however, will be called out in front of the creation, ‘These are the ones who lied against their Lord. Unquestionably, the curse of Allaah is upon the wrongdoers.’" [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]The Prophet, , encouraged voluntary night prayers in Ramadhaan in the previous Hadeeth which was narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah and made it an act of the Sunnah by his practice. ‘Aa’ishah 
said,
, encouraged voluntary night prayers in Ramadhaan in the previous Hadeeth which was narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah and made it an act of the Sunnah by his practice. ‘Aa’ishah said,People were performing prayers in the Masjid (Mosque) of the Prophet in Ramadhaan in groups. One man would lead a group of five or six men or more or less. One night, the Prophet requested that I spread a mat for him in front of my room's door, and I did. The Prophet left after performing the ‘Ishaa’ Prayer, and people who were gathered and present in the Masjid and he led them in prayer for a long time. Then, the Prophet left, entered his house, and kept the mat in its place. In the morning, the people talked about the congregational prayer of the Prophet that night the people crowded in the Masjid and the Prophet led them in ‘Ishaa’ Prayer, then, entered his house. When people kept waiting in the Masjid, the Prophet asked: “Why are the people waiting, O ‘Aa’ishah?” I said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah, the people heard of your congregational prayer last night and gathered tonight so that you may lead them in prayer.’ He said:“O ‘Aa’ishah, move your mat away.”I removed the mat and the Prophet kept awake that night, and the people remained in the Masjid. In the morning, the Prophet left and said: ‘O people, by Allaah, I did not sleep last night, nor was I unaware of your location. I only feared that it would become obligatory for you. Carry out the acts you are able to do, for Allaah does not withhold His reward and mercy until you despair.’"[Ahmad]
in Ramadhaan in groups. One man would lead a group of five or six men or more or less. One night, the Prophet requested that I spread a mat for him in front of my room's door, and I did. The Prophet left after performing the ‘Ishaa’ Prayer, and people who were gathered and present in the Masjid and he led them in prayer for a long time. Then, the Prophet left, entered his house, and kept the mat in its place. In the morning, the people talked about the congregational prayer of the Prophet that night the people crowded in the Masjid and the Prophet led them in ‘Ishaa’ Prayer, then, entered his house. When people kept waiting in the Masjid, the Prophet asked: “Why are the people waiting, O ‘Aa’ishah?” I said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah, the people heard of your congregational prayer last night and gathered tonight so that you may lead them in prayer.’ He said:“O ‘Aa’ishah, move your mat away.”I removed the mat and the Prophet kept awake that night, and the people remained in the Masjid. In the morning, the Prophet left and said: ‘O people, by Allaah, I did not sleep last night, nor was I unaware of your location. I only feared that it would become obligatory for you. Carry out the acts you are able to do, for Allaah does not withhold His reward and mercy until you despair.’"[Ahmad]This Hadeeth teaches us some lessons:
1- The permissibility of the Taraaweeh prayer, as the Prophet, , led the people in prayer after the ‘Ishaa’ Prayer.
, led the people in prayer after the ‘Ishaa’ Prayer.2- The Prophet, , did not perform voluntary night prayers with people in the rest of the month of Ramadhaan for fear that it would become obligatory for them. This fear no longer exists because of the death of the Prophet, , and the final ruling is thatTaraaweeh in Ramadhaan is something permissible.
, did not perform voluntary night prayers with people in the rest of the month of Ramadhaan for fear that it would become obligatory for them. This fear no longer exists because of the death of the Prophet, , and the final ruling is thatTaraaweeh in Ramadhaan is something permissible.3- The Companions 
were keen on worship and diligent in following the Prophet, .
were keen on worship and diligent in following the Prophet, .4- The Prophet, , cared for and was kind to his Ummah (nation), as Allaah The Almighty Says (what means):{There has certainly come to you a Messenger from among yourselves. Grievous to him is what you suffer; [he is] concerned over you and to the believers is kind and merciful.} [Quran 9:128]
, cared for and was kind to his Ummah (nation), as Allaah The Almighty Says (what means):{There has certainly come to you a Messenger from among yourselves. Grievous to him is what you suffer; [he is] concerned over you and to the believers is kind and merciful.} [Quran 9:128]Muslims should know that it is recommended to perform the voluntary night prayer behind the Imaam and remain with him till he finishes the Witr prayer. It was narrated on the authority of Abu Tharr that the Prophet, , said: "Whoever remained performing the prayer behind the Imaam until he left would receive the reward of performing voluntary prayers for the whole night." [Ibn Khuzaymah] ThisHadeeth is general and women share the same reward, exactly as Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {Whoever does righteousness - it is for his [own] soul.} [Quran 41:46] However, it is not permissible for a woman to attend the Masjid wearing perfume as the Prophet, , said: "Any woman who applies scent should not attend the ‘Ishaa’ prayer with us [in the Masjid]." [Muslim] ‘Aa’ishah remarked in later years, "Had the Prophet seen what women have introduced after him, he would have banned them from attending the Masjids just as the women of the children of Israel were banned from places of worship." [Muslim] Scholars have commented that this refers to the adornment, perfume, and dazzling clothes that some women use.
that the Prophet, , said: "Whoever remained performing the prayer behind the Imaam until he left would receive the reward of performing voluntary prayers for the whole night." [Ibn Khuzaymah] ThisHadeeth is general and women share the same reward, exactly as Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {Whoever does righteousness - it is for his [own] soul.} [Quran 41:46] However, it is not permissible for a woman to attend the Masjid wearing perfume as the Prophet, , said: "Any woman who applies scent should not attend the ‘Ishaa’ prayer with us [in the Masjid]." [Muslim] ‘Aa’ishah remarked in later years, "Had the Prophet seen what women have introduced after him, he would have banned them from attending the Masjids just as the women of the children of Israel were banned from places of worship." [Muslim] Scholars have commented that this refers to the adornment, perfume, and dazzling clothes that some women use.
