the hadith of Abu Dharr. His saying: "If the people pray with the Imam until he departs, it is recorded for them as standing the entire night" (19). This is specific to the night prayer (Qiyam) of Ramadan, and therefore it takes precedence over the generality of what they used as evidence. The statement of the Prophet -peace and blessings of Allah be upon him- [that it is for them] (20) was qualified by the fear that it might be made obligatory upon them. For this reason, the Prophet -peace and blessings of Allah be upon him- ceased leading them in the prayer, also citing that reason, or due to the fear that the people would adopt it as an obligation, whereas this has now been secured against (21) after him. If it is said: Then why did Ali not perform the night prayer with the Companions? We say: It has been narrated from Abu Abd al-Rahman al-Sulami that Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, led them in the night prayer during Ramadan. It is also narrated from Ismail ibn Ziyad, who said: He passed by the mosques in the month of Ramadan while they were illuminated with lamps, and said: "May Allah illuminate the grave of Umar, just as he has illuminated our mosques for us." Both of these were recorded by al-Athram.
Section: Ahmad, may Allah have mercy on him, said: One should recite to the people in the month of Ramadan what is easy for them and does not cause them hardship, especially during the short nights, and the matter (22) is based on what the people can bear. Al-Qadi said: It is not recommended to recite less than a full completion of the Quran (khatmah) during the month, so that the people may hear the entire Quran, and one should not increase beyond a full completion, due to the aversion to causing hardship to those behind him. Determining it according to the state of the people is more appropriate; for if a group agrees that they are satisfied with a longer recitation and choose it, that would be better. As was narrated by Abu Dharr, who said: We stood in prayer with the Prophet -peace and blessings of Allah be upon him- until we feared that we would miss the Falah, meaning (23) the Suhur (24). The predecessors used to prolong the prayer until
(19) Recorded by Abu Dawood, in: The Chapter on Standing in the Month of Ramadan, from the Book of Ramadan. Sunan Abi Dawood 1/317. And al-Nasa'i, in: The Chapter on Standing in the Month of Ramadan, from the Book of Standing in the Night. al-Mujtaba 3/165. And Ibn Majah, in: The Chapter on What Has Been Narrated Regarding Standing in the Month of Ramadan, from the Book of Establishing the Prayer. Sunan Ibn Majah 1/420. And al-Darimi, in: The Chapter on the Virtue of Standing in the Month of Ramadan, from the Book of Fasting. Sunan al-Darimi 2/27. And Imam Ahmad, in: al-Musnad 159, 163, 172. See what has preceded on page 603. (20) Omitted from the Original. (21) In the Original: "bima". (22) Omitted from A. (23) In the Original: "i.e." (24) Preceded on page 603.
