What is the meaning of 'Umar ibn al-Khattab's statement, "What a good innovation this is"?

Question:
A questioner asks: What is the authenticity of the statement of 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), "What a good innovation this is," and what is the response to the Sufis regarding this doubt?

Answer:
This is a linguistic bid'ah (religious innovation). Tarawih is not a bid'ah, my brother. 'Umar is referring to tarawih, is he not? Gathering the people behind a single imam is what 'Umar intended. This is not a bid'ah; it is the Sunnah (recommended practice) of the Messenger. He (peace and blessings be upon him) did it before his death. He prayed with the people for three or four nights, then he refrained from it out of fear that it would become obligatory upon them, out of mercy for them. So the Sunnah became established at that time, and the obligation was lifted. Thus, tarawih became a confirmed Sunnah from the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) and from the righteous Salaf (the earliest generations). It is a Sunnah, not a bid'ah.
But 'Umar said, "What a good innovation," meaning gathering them behind a single imam. The people had forgotten that, so it was as if it were a new, innovated act that the people had forgotten. So 'Umar revived this Sunnah and gathered them behind a single imam, just as they had prayed it behind the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Yes.