Sunan Ibn Majah 1327

Muhammad ibn Abd al-Malik ibn Abi al-Shawarib narrated to us; Maslamah ibn Alqamah narrated to us, from Dawud ibn Abi Hind, from al-Walid ibn Abd al-Rahman al-Jurashi, from Jubayr ibn Nufayr al-Hadrami, from Abu Dharr, who said: We fasted Ramadan with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and he did not lead us in night prayer at all during it until seven nights remained. He led us in prayer on the seventh night until about a third of the night had passed. Then came the sixth night after it, and he did not lead us in prayer that night, until the fifth night after it came. Then he led us in prayer until about half the night had passed. I said, ‘Messenger of Allah, if only you would lead us in voluntary prayer for the rest of this night.’ He said, ‘Whoever stands with the imam until he departs, it is equivalent to standing in prayer for a whole night.’ Then came the fourth night after that, but he did not lead us in prayer until the third night after it came. He gathered his wives and family, and the people assembled. He led us in prayer until we feared we would miss al-falah. Someone asked, ‘What is al-falah?’ He said, ‘The pre-dawn meal (suhur).’ Then he did not lead us in prayer for the rest of the month.