(In those days) people used to pray in the early part of the night [3] .

(In those days) people used to pray in the early part of the night [3] .” This act of the second Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab was preserved to date and it is what gave the Sunni inspiration to continuously establish “ Qiyām al-Layl ” in congregations.

A Misunderstood and Misinterpreted Practice This understanding of the Ahlu as-Sunnah is obviously incorrect for the following reasons: I) Specific Instruction of the Prophet If the first hadith where the Prophet is reported to have said, “ but I was afraid lest the night prayer (Qiyām) should be enjoined on you and you might not be able to carry it on ” seems to open the permissibility door of establishing Qiyām al-Layl in congregations, then, the Prophet made himself crystal clear in another hadith where he is reported to have said as documented by al-Bukhari: Narrated Zayd ibn Thabit: “Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) made a small room (with a palm leaf mat).

Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) came out (of his house) and prayed in it. Some men came and joined him in his prayer. Then again the next night they came for the prayer, but Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) delayed and did not come out to them. So, they raised their voices and knocked on the door with small stones (to draw his attention). He came out to them in a state of anger, saying, “You are still insisting (on your deed, i.e.

Tarawih prayer in the mosque) that I thought that this prayer (Tarawih) might become obligatory on you. So, you people, offer this prayer at your homes, for the best prayer of a person is the one which he offers at home, except the compulsory (congregational) prayers [4] .” Here, the Prophet further affirmed to the companions that, this “ Qiyām al-Layl ” is a recommended prayer and should therefore not be offered in congregations.

And he went further saying that recommended prayers ( Nawafil ) attract the best reward when offered individually at home; not in congregations in the mosque. Only obligatory prayers attract the best reward when offered in congregations.

II) The Clarification of Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab Even if we still drag the above statement of the Prophet among ourselves, the second Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab gives no room for the Ahlu as-Sunnah to defend his action (by labelling it as Sunnah of the Prophet). Again, he says after establishing the “ Qiyām al-Layl” in congregations: “ What an excellent BID’A (i.e. an innovation in religion).