English translation
2010. Narrated Ibn Shihāb: Abdur Rahmān bin 'Abdul Qārī said, "I went out in the company of 'Umar bin Al-Khaṭṭāb one night in Ramaḍān to the mosque and found the people performing Ṣalāt (prayers) in different groups. A man performing Ṣalāt (prayers) alone, or a man performing Ṣalāt (prayers) with a little group behind him. So, ‘Umar said, ‘In my opinion I would better collect these (people) under the leadership of one Qārī (reciter) [i.e., let them perform Ṣalāt (prayers) in congregation!]. So, he made up his mind and he congregated them behind Ubaī bin Ka‘b. Then on another night I went again in his company and the people were performing Ṣalāt (prayers) behind their reciter. On that, ‘Umar remarked, ‘What an excellent Bid‘a (i.e., innovation in religion) this is; but the Ṣalāt (prayers) which they do not perform, and sleep at its time is superior than the one they are performing now.’ He meant the Ṣalāt (prayers) in the last part of the night. (In those days) people used to perform Ṣalāt (prayers) in the early part of the night.”