The Ruling on Praying the Night Prayer in Congregation

Question:
The presenter says: Your brother in Allah, Muhammad 'Umar Hamid bin Inkras Buraq from the Czech Republic, says in his first question: We are a group of Muslims of different nationalities who, praise be to Allah, perform the night prayer in congregation behind an imam. This is due to the fact that many of us do not have the Qur'an memorized. Is our congregational prayer valid? Please clarify this for us, may Allah reward you with good. In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds.

Answer:
(Peace and blessings be upon him) upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions. As for what follows, the regular practice of praying the night prayer in congregation is not prescribed, except for the prayer of Ramadan (Qiyam Ramadan). The Muslims pray behind the imam because the Companions prayed behind the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in Qiyam Ramadan for several nights. Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) left them, fearing that the Tarawih prayer would become obligatory upon them and they would be unable to fulfill it. So the Muslims continued to pray it in scattered groups until 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) gathered them under one imam during his caliphate, just as they had been behind the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in those nights. Sometimes there is no harm in this. However, making it a regular practice is not prescribed; rather, it is an innovated action. If it is done occasionally, there is no harm. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed the voluntary prayer in congregation with some of his Companions for certain reasons. For instance, when he visited some of his Companions, he prayed in congregation with them in a part of the house. He (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed the voluntary prayer, and Anas ibn Malik and an orphan with him prayed behind him, and Umm Sulaym was behind them in the house of Umm Sulaym. This is if it is done occasionally, in which case there is no harm. However, organizing it and making it a regular practice outside of Ramadan is not prescribed. Rather, every Muslim who gets up at night should pray whatever is easy for him without associating with a congregation or organizing a congregation for this purpose.