That the Prophet (ﷺ) once offered (tarawih) prayer in the mosque and the people also prayed along with him. He then prayed on the following night, and the people gathered in large numbers. They gathered on the third night too, but the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) did not come out to them. When the morning came, he said: I witnessed what you did, and nothing prevented me from coming out to you except that I feared that this (prayer) might be prescribed to you. That was in Ramadan.
Hadith Text & Context
That the Prophet (ﷺ) once offered (tarawih) prayer in the mosque and the people also prayed along with him. He then prayed on the following night, and the people gathered in large numbers. They gathered on the third night too, but the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) did not come out to them. When the morning came, he said: I witnessed what you did, and nothing prevented me from coming out to you except that I feared that this (prayer) might be prescribed to you. That was in Ramadan.
Source & Authenticity
Book: Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat): Detailed Injunctions about Ramadan
Author: Sunan Abi Dawud
Hadith Reference: Sunan Abi Dawud 1373
Scholarly Commentary
This narration demonstrates the Prophet's divine wisdom in matters of legislation. Though tarawih prayer is highly recommended, the Prophet feared it might become obligatory (fard) upon his ummah if he consistently led it in congregation. This reflects Allah's mercy through His Messenger, who sought to preserve the ease and flexibility in worship for his followers.
The Prophet's absence on the third night was a deliberate act of divine precaution (sadd al-dhara'i') to prevent potential hardship upon the community. This establishes an important principle in Islamic jurisprudence: sometimes permissible acts are avoided when they may lead to undesirable obligatory rulings.
Later, during Caliph Umar's reign, tarawih was revived in congregation with the understanding that it would remain a confirmed sunnah (sunnah mu'akkadah) rather than an obligation, thus preserving the Prophet's original intent while facilitating communal worship.
Legal Rulings Derived
Tarawih prayers are a confirmed sunnah (sunnah mu'akkadah) of Ramadan, not obligatory (fard).
Congregational tarawih is permissible and recommended, though individual performance is also valid.
The wisdom behind the Prophet's action teaches us to consider potential long-term consequences in religious matters.
This hadith illustrates the principle of gradual legislation (tadrij) in Islamic law.