The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to exhort (his Companions) to pray (at night) during Ramadan without commanding them to observe it as an obligatory act, and say: He who observed the night prayer in Ramadan because of faith and seeking his reward (from Allah), all his previous sins would be forgiven. When Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) died, this was the practice, and it continued thus during Abu Bakr's caliphate and the early part of 'Umar's caliphate.
The Excellence of Night Prayer in Ramadan
This narration from Sahih Muslim 759 b establishes the immense virtue of performing Qiyam al-Layl (night prayer) during the blessed month of Ramadan. The Prophet (ﷺ) encouraged this practice as a voluntary act of worship, not an obligation, demonstrating divine mercy in facilitating spiritual elevation.
Scholarly Commentary on the Hadith
The phrase "because of faith" (imanan) indicates the necessity of correct belief and sincerity in performing this prayer. "Seeking his reward" (ihtisaban) signifies performing deeds purely for Allah's pleasure without ostentation. The combination of these conditions yields the promised forgiveness of all previous sins.
Classical scholars explain that "all his previous sins" refers to minor sins, as major sins require specific repentance. The continuous practice through the Prophet's era and the first two caliphates establishes this as a confirmed Sunnah, particularly referring to what later became known as Tarawih prayers.
Legal Ruling and Historical Context
This hadith from The Book of Prayer - Travellers indicates the prayer's initial status as a emphasized Sunnah. Later, during Caliph Umar's rule, Muslims began congregating behind one imam for this prayer, establishing the Tarawih practice in mosques while maintaining its non-obligatory nature.
The scholars of Islam unanimously agree that night prayers in Ramadan remain among the most meritorious voluntary acts, with the special distinction of collective performance in mosques being a communal Sunnah established by the Rightly Guided Caliphs.