Sahih al-Bukhari 2010

Hadith text

Abdur Rahman bin 'Abdul Qari said, "I went out in the company of 'Umar bin Al-Khattab one night in Ramadan to the mosque and found the people praying in different groups. A man praying alone or a man praying with a little group behind him. So, 'Umar said, 'In my opinion I would better collect these (people) under the leadership of one Qari (Reciter) (i.e. let them pray in congregation!)'. So, he made up his mind to congregate them behind Ubai bin Ka'b. Then on another night I went again in his company and the people were praying behind their reciter. On that, 'Umar remarked, 'What an excellent Bid'a (i.e. innovation in religion) this is; but the prayer which they do not perform, but sleep at its time is better than the one they are offering.' He meant the prayer in the last part of the night. (In those days) people used to pray in the early part of the night

Abdur Rahman bin Abdul Qari bataate hain: "Main ek raat Ramadan mein Umar bin Khattab ke saath masjid mein gaya aur logon ko alag-alag jhundo mein namaz padhte dekha. Koi akela padh raha tha, koi kisi chhote se giroh ke saath. Isspar Umar ne kaha: 'Mere khayaal se behtar hoga agar main in sabko ek Qari (paathak) ki imamat mein jama kar dun (yaani unhe jamaat mein padhana chahiye).' Isliye unhone unhe Ubai bin Ka'b ki imamat mein jama karne ka faisla kiya. Phir ek doosri raat main phir unke saath gaya aur log apne paathak ke peechhe padh rahe the. Isspar Umar ne kaha: 'Yeh kitni behtareen Bid'a (yaani deen mein naya riwaaj) hai; magar jo namaz woh nahi padhte balki uske waqt sote hain, woh us namaz se behtar hai jo woh padh rahe hain,' unka matlab raat ke aakhri hisse ki namaz se tha. (Un dinon) log raat ke shuru mein namaz padhte the."

Sahih al-Bukhari 2010 · Book 31, Hadith 3