Shaykh al-Islām also said:

As for the Raghā’ib prayer, it has no basis; rather, it is an innovation. It is therefore not recommended, whether performed in congregation or individually. It is established in Sahīh Muslim that:

“The Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—forbade singling out the night preceding Friday for night prayer, or Friday itself for fasting.”

The report cited concerning this prayer is a fabrication, by scholarly consensus. None of the early generations or the imams ever mentioned it.

As for the night of mid-Sha‘bān, hadiths and reports have been narrated concerning its merit, and it is related that some of the early generations used to pray on that night. Thus, someone who prays alone on that night has a precedent among the early generations and grounds for doing so. Such a practice should not be condemned.

As for praying on that night in congregation, this falls under a general principle concerning gatherings for acts of obedience and worship. These are of two kinds. The first is a regularly prescribed practice, whether obligatory or recommended, such as the five daily prayers, the Friday prayer, the two Eid prayers, the eclipse prayer, the prayer for rain, and Tarāwīh. These are regularly prescribed practices that should be observed consistently.

The second consists of gatherings that are not regularly prescribed, such as gathering for voluntary prayer—including night prayer—or for reciting the Quran, remembering Allah, or supplication. There is nothing wrong with this, provided it is not made a regular custom. For the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—