Continuation of the discussion on the prayer of tarawih.

The questioner : It appears that this was the case in the time of Abu Bakr, that the people were praying in scattered groups.

The Shaykh : And that is correct.

The questioner : So why did not Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) or 'Umar gather them? Or why did no one advise Abu Bakr in his time?

The Shaykh : This is like if the opposite were said: What is your opinion? Why did 'Umar gather them?

The questioner : The answer, as I said, is that this is the sunnah (recommended practice), and the cause for its discontinuation had ceased.

The Shaykh : Well, if we do not know...

The questioner : So the cause ceased with the death of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).

The Shaykh : Well, no problem. If we do not know what so-and-so did, what is the consequence? Nothing!

The questioner : The issue is that it is the sunnah (recommended practice) for Muslims to gather for the night prayer in Ramadan. This is the sunnah (recommended practice). And the issue for which the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) left the gathering of people, fearing that it would be written as an obligation upon them, that issue ceased with the death of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). So the revival of the sunnah (recommended practice) remained...

The Shaykh : You are repeating what is agreed upon, but you are not addressing my answer to the problem you raised at the beginning of the question. If we do not know why Abu Bakr did not revive the sunnah (recommended practice), what is the problem with that? There is no problem. We do not know, but we have learned and understood, and praise be to Allah, that 'Umar revived the sunnah (recommended practice), and praise be to Allah, and the matter ended. But the answer is known to the scholars. And therefore, without blame, I objected to the word "negligence." Even if it did not come from you, we should not say, "Why did Abu Bakr neglect reviving this sunnah (recommended practice)?" Rather, as I said last, "Why did he not revive this sunnah (recommended practice)?" The answer among the jurists is that Abu Bakr's entire caliphate was two and a half years, and he was occupied with establishing this caliphate, then his jihad against the people of apostasy, and so on. So the tasks of the caliphate that were placed on his shoulders for the first time after the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) occupied him with such matters. We want to give two answers: If we know the sunnah (recommended practice) and so-and-so revived it, the question of why so-and-so did not revive it does not arise. It does not concern us at all. The important thing is that this person revived it, and may Allah reward him well, and he established a good sunnah (recommended practice) in Islam. As for why? If it is a person of knowledge and virtue like Abu Bakr, he must have an excuse, and it is not necessary for us to know it and reveal it, although the scholars revealed it and said his caliphate was short. The burdens of the caliphate placed on his shoulders were heavy, and very heavy, especially when a group of Muslims apostatized there in Najd, so he was occupied with securing this newly established state. So Abu Bakr, as the professor said, and all the Companions, it is certain that they do not contradict the sunnah (recommended practice) of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). And the fact that they were praying in groups is a reality that has no motive. But this gathering mentioned by 'Umar, by which he revived the sunnah (recommended practice), and this sunnah (recommended practice) is established by what was mentioned before, and praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds.
Abu Malik: Can it not be said, our Shaykh, I mean, I said that Abu Bakr followed and did not neglect reviving this sunnah (recommended practice). Should we not look at the attention of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) that Aisha pointed to when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer, and Aisha said: "Order someone else to lead, for he is a man of deep emotion"?

The Shaykh: Allahu Akbar.
Abu Malik: So Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) was quick to weep, and the position of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was a position that shook him to be in his place!

The Shaykh: Allahu Akbar.
Abu Malik: And therefore I pay attention to this incident and say that Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), in addition to what the scholars mentioned and explained regarding his preoccupation with the great matters of his caliphate, was a man of deep emotion who did not want to stand in the position of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in the congregational night prayer, because his soul could not bear this matter. So 'Umar, even 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), followed the sunnah (recommended practice) that Abu Bakr left in the beginning of his caliphate, and he did not do it except recently, meaning.

The questioner : But it is objected that 'Umar himself did not lead the people, but he ordered Abu 'Ubaydah to lead the people.
Abu Malik: How?

The questioner : I mean, 'Umar did not take the place of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and lead the people in prayer.
Abu Malik: This is it, may Allah bless you.

The questioner : He prayed, but he ordered another Companion.
Abu Malik: Because Abu 'Ubaydah was more reciting than 'Umar, so for this reason he ordered him.

The Shaykh : No, we want to ask the professor Abu Sulayman, in response to your question, why did Abu Bakr not revive that sunnah (recommended practice) which 'Umar revived? Why did 'Umar not adopt that sunnah (recommended practice)? Why?

The questioner : By Allah, it appears that the aspect mentioned by our brotherThe Shaykh : Muhammad, that is, the recitation of the night prayer requires a memorizing reciter, and the second matter is that he is occupied with the affairs of the Muslims.

The Shaykh : The first matter does not stand as an answer!

The questioner : This is my knowledge

The Shaykh : No, if we proceed with the matter, he is able to pray behind the one he appointed as imam, so the question comes and is repeated: Why? Then the second answer comes, so the answer is the second one. The whole matter is like the matter concerning Abu Bakr: Why did Abu Bakr not revive it? His preoccupation. Why was 'Umar not preoccupied with what he revived? His preoccupation. Glory be to Allah.