Jami` at-Tirmidhi 806

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

Hannad narrated to us: Muhammad ibn al-Fudayl narrated to us, from Dawud ibn Abi Hind, from al-Walid ibn Abd al-Rahman al-Jurashi, from Jubayr ibn Nufayr, from Abu Dharr, who said: We fasted with the Messenger of Allah. He did not lead us in prayer until seven nights of the month remained. He led us in prayer that night until a third of the night had passed. Then he did not lead us on the sixth night, but led us on the fifth night until half the night had passed. We said, ‘Messenger of Allah, if only you had continued the voluntary prayer for the rest of this night!’ He replied, ‘Whoever prays with the imam until he finishes will have the reward of spending the whole night in prayer.’ Then he did not lead us in prayer again until three nights remained. On the third-to-last night, he led us in prayer, invited his family and womenfolk, and continued until we feared missing al-falah.’ I asked, ‘What is al-falah?’ He replied, ‘The pre-dawn meal.’

Abu Isa said: This is a hasan sahih hadith. Scholars differed over the Ramadan night prayer. Some preferred forty-one rak'ahs including Witr; this was the practice of the people of Medina. Most scholars followed reports from Umar, Ali, and other Companions, praying twenty rak'ahs; this is the view of Sufyan al-Thawri, Ibn al-Mubarak, and al-Shafi'i. Al-Shafi'i said this was also the practice he found in Mecca, where they prayed twenty rak'ahs. Ahmad said that different forms have been reported and he did not rule decisively on the number. Ishaq preferred forty-one rak'ahs, following what is reported from Ubayy ibn Ka'b. Ibn al-Mubarak, Ahmad, and Ishaq preferred praying with the imam during Ramadan. Al-Shafi'i preferred that a person who recites well pray alone. There are reports on this topic from A'ishah, al-Nu'man ibn Bashir, and Ibn Abbas.