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Text and translation
English translation
1327. It was narrated that Abu Dharr said: "We fasted Ramadân with the Messenger of Allâh ﷺ and he did not lead us in praying Qiyâm (prayers at night) during any part of it, until there were seven nights left.[1] He led us in praying Qiyâm on the seventh night until approximately one third of the night had passed. Then on the sixth night which followed it he did not lead us in prayer. Then he led us in praying Qiyâm on the fifth night which followed it until almost half the night had passed. I said: 'O Messenger of Allâh, would that we had offered voluntary prayers throughout the whole night.' He said: 'Whoever stands with the Imâm until he finishes, it is equivalent to spending the whole night in prayer.' Then on the fourth night which followed it, he did not lead us in prayer, until the third night that followed it, when he gathered his wives and family, and the people gathered, and he led us in prayer until we feared that we would miss the
Falâh." It was asked: "What is the Falâh?" He said: "Suhur."[1] He said: "Then he did not lead us in prayer at night for the rest of the month." (Sahih)
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Footnotes
1
[1] Since the month can either have 29 or 30 days, the meaning of 'the seventh night' could either be the night preceding the 23rd day, if the month that year had 29 days, or the night preceding the 24th day if the month had 30 days. Hence, seven nights remaining could be either of these two possibilities, which is not possible to determine from the Hadith. Similarly, the sixth night would be either the night preceding the 24th or the 25th; the fifth night would be either the night preceding the 25th or the 26th; the fourth night would be either the night preceding the 26th or the 27th; and the third night would be either the night preceding the 27th or the 28th. This means that the nights on which he prayed could have been either odd or even nights.
Commentary
a. There should be more than usual emphasis on performing the acts of worship and devotion during the last ten (or nine) days of Ramadân.
b. Tarâwih is a Nafl (voluntary) prayer. That is the reason why the Prophet ﷺ chose to lead the congregation just for a few nights instead of the whole month for it.
c. There is no upper or lower limit for the number of Qur'anic Verses to be recited in a voluntary prayer like Tarâwih. The Qiyâm could, therefore, be long on one day and short on another day.
d. Suhur (predawn meal) is an important preparation for the fast. It is both a dividing line between the fasts of the believers and the non-believers, as well as a means of receiving blessing from Allâh. The Companions, therefore, rightly called it by the name of Falah (success or prosperity).
