Mishkat al-Masabih 1298

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

Abu Dharr said: We fasted Ramadan with the Messenger of God. He did not lead us in night prayer during the month until seven nights remained. Then he led us until a third of the night had passed. On the sixth remaining night he did not lead us. On the fifth remaining night he led us until half the night had passed. I said: Messenger of God, I wish you had led us in voluntary prayer for the rest of this night. He said: If a man prays with the imam until the imam leaves, it is counted for him as spending the whole night in prayer. On the fourth remaining night he did not lead us. On the third remaining night he gathered his family, wives, and the people, and led us until we feared we would miss al-falah. I asked: What is al-falah? He replied: The pre-dawn meal. Then he did not lead us for the rest of the month. Abu Dawud, al-Tirmidhi, and al-Nasa’i transmitted it. Ibn Majah transmitted a similar report, but al-Tirmidhi did not include the final statement that he did not lead them for the rest of the month.