Ata’ said: They are those who do not sleep until they have performed the later Isha prayer.

It is related from Abu al-Darda’, Abu Dharr, and Ubadah ibn al-Samit—may Allah be pleased with them—that they are those who perform the later Isha prayer and the Fajr prayer in congregation.

We were narrated that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Whoever performs the Isha prayer in congregation, it is as though he stood in prayer for half the night; [and whoever performs the Fajr prayer in congregation, it is as though he stood in prayer for an entire night].” (1) (2)

Abu al-Hasan al-Sarakhsī informed us; Zahir ibn Ahmad informed us; Abu Ishaq al-Hashimī informed us; Abu Musab informed us, from Malik, from Sumayy, the freedman of Abu Bakr ibn Abd al-Rahman, from Ibn Salih al-Samman, from Abu Hurayrah, that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “If people knew the reward in the call to prayer and in the first row, then found no way to attain them except by drawing lots, they would draw lots. If they knew the reward in going early to prayer, they would race one another to it. And if they knew the reward in the Isha and Fajr prayers, they would come to them even if they had to crawl.” (3)

The most well-known view is that what is meant is the night prayer. This was the view of al-Hasan, Mujahid, Malik, al-Awzaʿi, and a group of others.

Ahmad ibn Abd Allah al-Salihī informed us; Abu al-Hasan Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Abd Allah ibn Bishran informed us; Abu Ali Ismail ibn Muhammad al-Saffar informed us; Ahmad ibn Mansur al-Ramadī informed us; Abd al-Razzaq informed us; Mamar informed us, from Asim ibn Abi al-Najud, from Abu Wa’il, from Muadh ibn Jabal, who said: I was with the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, on a journey. One day, as he was proceeding, I found myself close to him, so I said, “O Messenger of Allah, tell me of a deed that will admit me into Paradise and keep me far from the Fire.” He said: “You have asked about something tremendous, yet it is easy for whomever Allah makes it easy: that you worship Allah and associate nothing with Him, establish the prayer, give zakah, fast Ramadan, and make pilgrimage to the House.” Then he said: “Shall I not direct you to the gates of goodness? Fasting is a shield; charity extinguishes sin; and a man’s prayer in the depths of the night.” Then he recited: “Their sides ⦗74/b⦘ forsake their beds,” until he reached, “as a recompense for what they used to do.” Then he said: “Shall I not tell you of the head of the matter, its pillar, and its highest summit?” I said, “Certainly, O Messenger of Allah.” He said: “The head of the matter is Islam, its pillar is prayer, and its highest summit is jihad.” Then he said: “Shall I not tell you of that which controls all of this?” I said, “Certainly, O Prophet of Allah.” So he took hold of his tongue and said, “Restrain this.” I said, “O Prophet of Allah, will we be held accountable for what we say?” He said: “May your mother be bereaved of you, Muadh! What is it that casts