42 – Shujaʿ ibn Makhlad narrated to us; he said: Hushaym narrated to us; he said: Dawud—meaning Ibn Abi Hind—reported from al-Walid ibn ʿAbd al-Rahman al-Jurashi, from Jubayr ibn Nufayr al-Hadrami, from Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him):

“We spent the month of Ramadan in the company of the Prophet ﷺ. He did not lead us in night prayer at all during the month until seven nights remained. On that night he led us and we prayed until about one-third of the night had passed. He did not lead us on the following night, when six nights remained. When five nights were left, he led us until roughly half the night had elapsed. I said, ‘Messenger of Allah, if only you would allow us to continue praying for the rest of this night!’ He replied, ‘When a man prays with the imam until the imam departs, it is recorded for him as though he spent the entire night in prayer.’

He did not lead us on the night when four nights remained. When three nights were left, he led us in prayer until we feared that we might miss al-falāḥ.’ I asked, ‘What is al-falāḥ?’ He said, ‘suḥūr (the pre-dawn meal).’ Then he roused his household, his daughters, and his wives.”