I pray tarawih with the imam in the mosque until he finishes, and as it is authentic from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that it is recorded as standing the night, so if I...

The questioner : The questioner from Yemen says: O esteemed Shaykh, I pray tarawih with the imam in the mosque until he finishes, and as it is authentic from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that it is recorded as standing the night, so if I stand in that night in the last third of the night, would I have contradicted the Sunnah? Please inform me about this question of mine?

The Shaykh : This is a precise question, very precise. That is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) prayed with his Companions and then finished, and they said, “O Messenger of Allah, if only you had made us complete the rest of our night.” He said The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) did not guide them to pray in the last part of the night, and this is an indication that it is better for a person to limit himself to what he followed his imam in. So the question of this questioner from the people of Yemen falls under this. It is said: It is better for you to limit yourself to what you followed your imam in until he finished. For whoever stands with the imam until he finishes, it is recorded for him as standing the night. But if he stands and wishes to pray in the last part of the night, there is no blame on him, if Allah wills. In this case, he prays two rak'ahs, two rak'ahs, until the dawn appears.

The questioner : May Allah bless you.