What is the ruling on the late-night prayer (tahajjud) and its virtue, and is it permissible to pray it in congregation during Ramadan?
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The questioner : This questioner, may the Shaykh be honored, is from Nigeria. He says they have started talking about the late-night prayer (tahajjud). When did it start? And what is the evidence for it? He asks you for a ruling.
The Shaykh : Do you mean in Ramadan?
The questioner : Yes, tahajjud?
The Shaykh : In Ramadan?
The questioner : He did not mention what he mentioned, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Yes?
The questioner : He did not specify.
The Shaykh : As for other than Ramadan, the matter is clear. Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Isra 17:79]. And He the Exalted said: [Al-Muzzammil 73:20]. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih Muslim 1163a. This is a well-known matter. But perhaps he wants to ask about praying tahajjud in congregation in Ramadan.
So we say: The origin of this is established by the Sunnah, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed with his Companions in Ramadan for three nights. Then he stayed away on the fourth night and said:Muwatta Malik 6:1. After that, praying tahajjud in congregation in Ramadan was left off during the time of Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) and in the early part of 'Umar's caliphate. Then 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) saw that this Sunnah should be revived. So he ordered Tamim al-Dari and Ubayy ibn Ka'b to lead the people in eleven rak'ahs. And the Muslims have continued to pray tahajjud in congregation in Ramadan from that time until our day, and we ask Allah to make it continue. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The questioner : May the Shaykh be honored, pregnancy through the tube, the tube, the tube.
The Shaykh : Four minutes remaining.
The questioner : Very well.
The Shaykh : Do you mean in Ramadan?
The questioner : Yes, tahajjud?
The Shaykh : In Ramadan?
The questioner : He did not mention what he mentioned, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Yes?
The questioner : He did not specify.
The Shaykh : As for other than Ramadan, the matter is clear. Allah the Exalted said:
And from [part of] the night, pray with it as additional [worship] for you
ومن الليل فتهجد به نافلة لكIndeed, your Lord knows, [O Muhammad], that you stand [in prayer] almost two thirds of the night or half of it or a third of it, and [so do] a group of those with you. And Allah determines [the extent of] the night and the day
إن ربك يعلم أنك تقوم أدنى من ثلثي الليل ونصفه وثلثه وطائفة من الذين معك والله يقدر الليل والنهارthe most excellent prayer after what is prescribed is prayer during the night
أفضل الصلاة بعد الفريضة صلاة الليلSo we say: The origin of this is established by the Sunnah, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed with his Companions in Ramadan for three nights. Then he stayed away on the fourth night and said:
I feared that it would become obligatory (fard) for you
إني خشيت أن تفرض عليكمThe questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The questioner : May the Shaykh be honored, pregnancy through the tube, the tube, the tube.
The Shaykh : Four minutes remaining.
The questioner : Very well.