6/25. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 759b — Tarawih Prayer Encouraged, Not Obligatory
Encouragement to pray qiyam during Ramadan, which is Tarawih
Hadith About Tarawih Prayer and Qiyam Ramadan
Sahih Muslim : 759b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 759b
وَحَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُرَغِّبُ فِي قِيَامِ رَمَضَانَ مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَأْمُرَهُمْ فِيهِ بِعَزِيمَةٍ فَيَقُولُ " مَنْ قَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ " . فَتُوُفِّيَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَالأَمْرُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ كَانَ الأَمْرُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ فِي خِلاَفَةِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَصَدْرًا مِنْ خِلاَفَةِ عُمَرَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to exhort (his Companions) to pray (at night) during Ramadan without commanding them to observe it as an obligatory act, and say: He who observed the night prayer in Ramadan because of faith and seeking his reward (from Allah), all his previous sins would be forgiven. When Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) died, this was the practice, and it continued thus during Abu Bakr's caliphate and the early part of 'Umar's caliphate.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 759bIn-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 208USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1663
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 759b
This Hadith about Tarawih prayer explains how the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) encouraged the Companions to pray at night during Ramadan. The report says he used to urge them to do it, but he did not command it as an obligatory act. He would say that whoever observed the night prayer in Ramadan with faith and seeking reward from Allah, all his previous sins would be forgiven. The Hadith also says this practice remained when the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) died, continued during Abu Bakr's caliphate, and stayed so during the early part of Umar's caliphate. The main teaching is balanced: Ramadan night prayer is strongly encouraged, but the text clearly says it was not commanded as obligatory.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet encouraged night prayer in Ramadan.
- The report says he did not command it as an obligatory act.
- Faith and seeking reward are mentioned as part of this worship.
