Chapter on the Virtue of the Month of Ramadan and the Prayers Within It in Addition to the Recommended Prayers Mentioned in the Other Months

Al-Husayn ibn Said, from Hammad ibn Isa, from Hariz, from Zurarah, and Ibn Muslim, and al-Fudayl, said: We asked the two of them (Imam al-Baqir عليه السلام and Imam al-Sadiq عليه السلام) about the supererogatory prayer (nafilah) at night during (month of) Ramadan in congregation. The Imams عليه السلام said: “Indeed, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family, when He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم had prayed the final Isha; He would return to his home, then come out in the last part of the night to the mosque and stand and pray. So Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم came out on the first night of the Month of Ramadan, to pray as he used to pray, and the people lined up behind Him صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم, and he fled from them into his house and left them. They did this for three nights. Then on the fourth day, Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم ascended his pulpit, praised Allah سبحانه وتعالى and glorified Him عز وجل, and then said: ‘O people, the night prayer in the Month of Ramadan, the nafilah in congregation is an innovation (bidah), and the forenoon prayer (salat al-duha) is an innovation. Beware! Do not gather at night during the Month of Ramadan for the night prayer, and do not pray the forenoon prayer, for indeed that is disobedience. Beware! Every innovation is misguidance, and every misguidance leads to the Fire.’ Then Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم descended while saying: ‘A little in accordance with the Sunnah is better than much in innovation.’”