Volume 3, Book 32, Number 233:
Narrated Abu Salama:
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SAHIH BUKHARI VOLUME 3 > BOOK 32: PRAYING AT NIGHT IN RAMADAAN (TARAWEEH)
I asked Abu Sa’id, and he was a friend of mine, (about the Night of Qadr) and he said, “We prac –
ticed Itikaf (seclusion in the mosque) in the middle third of the month of Ramadan with the Prophet .
In the morning of the 20th of Ramadan, the Prophet came and addressed us and said, ‘I was in –
formed of (the date of the Night of Qadr) but I was caused to forget it; so search for it in the odd
nights of the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan. (In the dream) I saw myself prostrating in
mud and water (as a sign). So, whoever was in l’tikaf with me should return to it with me (for anoth –
er 10-day’s period)’, and we returned. At that time there was no sign of clouds in the sky but sud –
denly a cloud came and it rained till rain-water started leaking through the roof of the mosque
which was made of date-palm leaf stalks. Then the prayer was established and I saw Allah’s Apostle
prostrating in mud and water and I saw the traces of mud on his forehead.”
Volume 3, Book 32, Number 234:
Narrated ‘Aisha:
Allah’s Apostle said, “Search for the Night of Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten days of Ra –
madan.”
Volume 3, Book 32, Number 235:
Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri:
Allah’s Apostle used to practice Itikaf (in the mosque) in the middle third of Ramadan and after
passing the twenty nights he used to go back to his house on the 21st, and the people who were in
Itikaf with him also used to go back to their houses. Once in Ramadan, in which he practiced Itikaf,
he established the night prayers at the night in which he used to return home, and then he addressed
the people and ordered them whatever Allah wished him to order and said, “I used to practice Itikaf
for these ten days (i.e. the middle 113rd but now I intend to stay in Itikaf for the last ten days (of the
month); so whoever was in Itikaf with me should stay at his place of seclusion. I have verily been
shown (the date of) this Night (of Qadr) but I have forgotten it. So search for it in the odd nights of
the last ten days (of this month). I also saw myself (in the dream) prostrating in mud and water.” On
the night of the 21st, the sky was covered with clouds and it rained, and the rain-water started leak –
ing through the roof of the mosque at the praying place of the Prophet . I saw with my own eyes the
Prophet at the completion of the morning prayer leaving with his face covered with mud and water.
Volume 3, Book 32, Number 226:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
I heard Allah’s Apostle saying regarding Ramadan, “Whoever prayed at night in it (the month of
Ramadan) out of sincere Faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be
forgiven.”
Volume 3, Book 32, Number 227:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah’s Apostle said, “Whoever prayed at night the whole month of Ramadan out of sincere Faith
and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven.” Ibn Shihab (a sub-
narrator) said, “Allah’s Apostle died and the people continued observing that (i.e. Nawafil offered in –
dividually, not in congregation), and it remained as it was during the Caliphate of Abu Bakr and in
the early days of ‘Umar’s Caliphate.” ‘Abdur Rahman bin ‘Abdul Qari said, “I went out in the company
of ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab one night in Ramadan to the mosque and found the people praying in dif –
ferent groups. A man praying alone or a man praying with a little group behind him. So, ‘Umar said,
‘In my opinion I would better collect these (people) under the leadership of one Qari (Reciter) (i.e. let
them pray in congregation!)’. So, he made up his mind to congregate them behind Ubai bin Ka’b.
Then on another night I went again in his company and the people were praying behind their re –
citer. On that, ‘Umar remarked, ‘What an excellent Bid’a (i.e. innovation in religion) this is; but the
prayer which they do not perform, but sleep at its time is better than the one they are offering.’ He
meant the prayer in the last part of the night. (In those days) people used to pray in the early part of
the night.”
Volume 3, Book 32, Number 228:
Narrated ‘Aisha:
(the wife of the Prophet) Allah’s Apostle used to pray (at night) in Ramadan.
Volume 3, Book 32, Number 229:
Narrated ‘Urwa:
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SAHIH BUKHARI VOLUME 3 > BOOK 32: PRAYING AT NIGHT IN RAMADAAN (TARAWEEH)
That he was informed by ‘Aisha, “Allah’s Apostle went out in the middle of the night and prayed in
the mosque and some men prayed behind him. In the morning, the people spoke about it and then a
large number of them gathered and prayed behind him (on the second night). In the next morning
the people again talked about it and on the third night the mosque was full with a large number of
people. Allah’s Apostle came out and the people prayed behind him. On the fourth night the Mosque
was overwhelmed with people and could not accommodate them, but the Prophet came out (only)
for the morning prayer. When the morning prayer was finished he recited Tashah-hud and (ad –
dressing the people) said, “Amma ba’du, your presence was not hidden from me but I was afraid lest
the night prayer (Qiyam) should be enjoined on you and you might not be able to carry it on.” So, Al –
lah’s Apostle died and the situation remained like that (i.e. people prayed individually). “
Volume 3, Book 32, Number 230:
Narrated Abu Salama bin ‘Abdur Rahman:
that he asked ‘Aisha “How was the prayer of Allah’s Apostle in Ramadan?” She replied, “He did not
pray more than eleven Rakat in Ramadan or in any other month. He used to pray four Rakat —- let
alone their beauty and length—-and then he would pray four —-let alone their beauty and length
—-and then he would pray three Rakat (Witr).” She added, “I asked, ‘O Allah’s Apostle! Do you sleep
before praying the Witr?’ He replied, ‘O ‘Aisha! My eyes sleep but my heart does not sleep.”