is called an innovation in the linguistic sense, but it is not an innovation in the religious sense. A religious innovation that constitutes misguidance is something done without evidence from Islamic law, such as declaring recommended what Allah does not love, declaring obligatory what Allah has not made obligatory, or declaring forbidden what Allah has not forbidden. The act (1) must therefore be accompanied by a belief contrary to Islamic law. Otherwise, if someone commits a forbidden act while believing it to be forbidden, he is not said to have committed an innovation.

Fourth: Had this practice been objectionable and prohibited, ‘Alī would have abolished it when he became Commander of the Faithful while in Kufa. His following ‘Umar’s practice in this matter indicates that it is recommended. Indeed, it is reported that ‘Alī said:

“May Allah illuminate ‘Umar’s grave for him, just as he illuminated our mosques for us.”

Abū ‘Abd al-Rahmān al-Sulamī reported that ‘Alī summoned the Quran reciters during Ramadan and instructed one of them to lead the people in twenty units of prayer. He said (2): “‘Alī would lead them in the witr (odd-numbered closing) prayer (3).”

‘Arfajah al-Thaqafī said: “‘Alī used to instruct the people to perform night prayer during Ramadan, appointing one prayer leader for the men and another for the women.” ‘Arfajah said: “I was the prayer leader for the women.” Al-Bayhaqī reported both accounts in his Sunan (4).

Scholars have differed over night prayer during Ramadan: is it better to perform it in congregation in the mosque, or at home? There are two well-known views; both are opinions held