Al-Lu'lu Wal-Marjan 436 — The Book of Salât (Prayer) of Travellers and Its Taqsir (Shortening)

A'isha Narrated from:

Once in the middle of the night, Allâh's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم went out and prayed in the mosque and some men prayed with him. The next morning the people spoke about it and so more people gathered and prayed with him (in the second night). They circulated the news in the morning, and so, on the third night the number of people increased greatly. Allâh's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم came out and they prayed behind him.On the fourth night the mosque was so crowded by the people till it could not accommodate them. Allâh's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم came out only for the Fajr (morning) prayer and when he finished the prayer, he faced the people and recited Tasha-hud (I testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allâh and that Muhammad is His Messenger), and then said, " Amma ba'du ".Verily your presence (in the mosque at night) was not hidden from me, but I was afraid that this (prayer of Tarâwîh) might be made compulsory and you might not be able to carry it out." ( Sahîh Al-Bukhâri, Hadîth No. 46, Vol. 2)