al-Hakam, and the Companions and those who followed them in righteousness denounced this. They did so even though the call to prayer is a remembrance of Allah, because it is not part of the Sunnah.

Likewise, when people introduced regular gatherings not prescribed by Islamic law—such as gathering for a particular prayer at the beginning of Rajab, on its first Friday night, or on the middle night of Shaʿbān—the Muslim scholars denounced this. If people were to introduce a sixth prayer, gathering for it in addition to the five prescribed prayers, the Muslims would denounce their action and restrain them.

As for “the night prayers of Ramadan,” the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, established them as a Sunnah for his community and led them in congregation for several nights. During his lifetime, they prayed both in groups and individually, but they did not maintain a single congregation, lest these prayers be made obligatory upon them. When the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, died, Islamic law became settled. Then, during the time of ʿUmar—may Allah be pleased with him—he gathered them behind a single imam, Ubayy ibn Kaʿb, who led the people in these prayers at the command of ʿUmar ibn al-Khattāb—may Allah be pleased with him.

ʿUmar—may Allah be pleased with him—was one of the Rightly Guided Caliphs, concerning whom the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Adhere to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the Rightly Guided Caliphs after me. Hold fast to it with your back teeth.”

This means the molars, because they exert the greatest force. What ʿUmar did was Sunnah, yet he said, “What an excellent innovation this is!” For it is