Supplicating for your Brother in Islam

بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

قَالُوا يَا أَبَانَا اسْتَغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا إِنَّا كُنَّا خَاطِئِينَ
قَالَ سَوْفَ أَسْتَغْفِرُ لَكُمْ رَبِّي ۖ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُThey said, "O our father, ask for us forgiveness of our sins; indeed, we have been sinners."
He said, "I will ask forgiveness for you from my Lord. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful." [Surat Yūsuf (Joseph) Chapter 12 Verse 97]


فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَاسْتَغْفِرْ لِذَنبِكَ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مُتَقَلَّبَكُمْ وَمَثْوَاكُمْ
So know, [O Muhammad], that there is no deity except Allah and ask forgiveness for your sin and for the believing men and believing women. And Allah knows of your movement and your resting place.
[Surah Muĥammad 47:19]

The supplication of a Muslim for his brother at his back (in his absence) is responded:

حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، أَخْبَرَنَا عِيسَى بْنُ يُونُسَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ بْنُ أَبِي، سُلَيْمَانَ عَنْ أَبِي الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ صَفْوَانَ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ صَفْوَانَ - وَكَانَتْ تَحْتَهُ الدَّرْدَاءُ قَالَ قَدِمْتُ الشَّامَ فَأَتَيْتُ أَبَا الدَّرْدَاءِ فِي مَنْزِلِهِ فَلَمْ أَجِدْهُ وَوَجَدْتُ أُمَّ الدَّرْدَاءِ فَقَالَتْ أَتُرِيدُ الْحَجَّ الْعَامَ فَقُلْتُ نَعَمْ ‏.‏ قَالَتْ فَادْعُ اللَّهَ لَنَا بِخَيْرٍ فَإِنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَقُولُ ‏ "‏ دَعْوَةُ الْمَرْءِ الْمُسْلِمِ لأَخِيهِ بِظَهْرِ الْغَيْبِ مُسْتَجَابَةٌ عِنْدَ رَأْسِهِ مَلَكٌ مُوَكَّلٌ كُلَّمَا دَعَا لأَخِيهِ بِخَيْرٍ قَالَ الْمَلَكُ الْمُوَكَّلُ بِهِ آمِينَ وَلَكَ بِمِثْلٍ ‏"‏ ‏.‏
قَالَ فَخَرَجْتُ إِلَى السُّوقِ فَلَقِيتُ أَبَا الدَّرْدَاءِ فَقَالَ لِي مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ يَرْوِيهِ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏.‏

 Safwan (and he was Ibn 'Abdullah b. Safwan, and he had been married to Umm Darda') reported:
I visited Abu Darda's house in Syria. I did not find him there but Umm Darda' (was present at the house). She said: Do you intend to perform Hajj during this year? I said: Yes. She said: Do supplicate Allah for blessings upon us, for Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) used to say: The supplication of a Muslim for his brother at his back (in his absence) is responded so long as he makes a supplication for blessings for his brother and the commissioned Angel says: Amen, and says: May it be for you too.  I went to the bazar and met Abfi Dardi' and he narrated like this from Allah's Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسل).   [Sahih Muslim: 7105,  Sunan Ibn Majah :3007]


حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الأَنْصَارِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، عَنْ ثُمَامَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَنَسٍ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، أَنَّ عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ كَانَ إِذَا قَحَطُوا اسْتَسْقَى بِالْعَبَّاسِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ فَقَالَ اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا كُنَّا نَتَوَسَّلُ إِلَيْكَ بِنَبِيِّنَا فَتَسْقِينَا وَإِنَّا نَتَوَسَّلُ إِلَيْكَ بِعَمِّ نَبِيِّنَا فَاسْقِنَا‏.‏ قَالَ فَيُسْقَوْنَ‏.‏
Narrated Anas:

Whenever drought threatened them, `Umar bin Al-Khattab, used to ask Al-Abbas bin `Abdul Muttalib to invoke Allah for rain. He used to say, "O Allah! We used to ask our Prophet to invoke You for rain, and You would bless us with rain, and now we ask his uncle to invoke You for rain. O Allah ! Bless us with rain." And so it would rain. [Sahih Bukhari 1010]
[Note: From the above Hadith,  it is very clear that we can't ask someone who have passed from this world to supplicate for us]

حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا عَفَّانُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادٌ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ سَلَمَةَ - عَنْ سَعِيدٍ الْجُرَيْرِيِّ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ، قَالَ إِنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ‏ "‏ إِنَّ خَيْرَ التَّابِعِينَ رَجُلٌ يُقَالُ لَهُ أُوَيْسٌ وَلَهُ وَالِدَةٌ وَكَانَ بِهِ بَيَاضٌ فَمُرُوهُ فَلْيَسْتَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ‏"

Umar b. Khattab reported:I heard Allah's Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسل) as saying: Worthy amongst the successors would be a person who would be called Uwais. He would have his mother (living with him) and he would have (a small) sign of leprosy. Ask him to beg pardon for you (from Allah).

[Sahih Muslim 6655]

حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَعْقُوبُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، عَنْ صَالِحٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو سَلَمَةَ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، وَابْنُ الْمُسَيَّبِ، أَنَّ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَخْبَرَهُمَا أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَعَى لَهُمُ النَّجَاشِيَّ صَاحِبَ الْحَبَشَةِ فِي الْيَوْمِ الَّذِي مَاتَ فِيهِ، وَقَالَ ‏ "‏ اسْتَغْفِرُوا لأَخِيكُمْ ‏"‏‏.

 Narrated Abu Huraira:

that Allah's Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسل) informed them (i.e. his companions) of the death of Negus, the king of Ethiopia, on the very day on which the latter died, and said, "Ask Allah's Forgiveness for your brother"
[Sahih al-Bukhari 3880]

Abu 'Amir said: My nephew, go to Allah's Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسل) and convey my greetings to him and tell him that Abu Amir begs you to ask forgiveness for him.....
Allah's Messenger (may peace be. upon him) called for water and performed ablution with it. He then lifted his hands and said. O Allah, grant pardon to Thy servant Abu Amir. (The Holy Prophet had raised his hands so high for supplication) that I saw the whiteness of his armpits. He again said: O Allah, grant him distinction amongst the majority of Thine created beings or from amongst the people. I said: Allah's Messenger, ask forgiveness for me too. Thereupon Allah's Apostle () said: Allah, forgive the sins of Abdullah b. Qais (Abu Musa Ash'ari) and admit him to an elevated place on the Day of Resurrection. Abu Burda said: One prayer is for abu 'Amir and the other is tor Abu Musa.
[Sahih Muslim 6562]

Conclusion:
Finally ending with a Dua:

رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْحِسَابُ

Rabbana ghfir li wa li wallidayya wa lil Mu'mineena yawma yaqumul hisaab

"Our Lord! Forgive me and my parents and the believers on the Day of Reckoning!" (Surah Ibrahim: 41)

Tarawih 8 or 20, Quality is more important

بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

Quality of Tarawih  of Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسل)

Prophet(صلى الله عليه وسل)  himself prayer 8 Rakaths. But what people hide in the Hadith of Bukhari is that the length and beauty (-let alone their beauty and length)

Ayesha (Ra) says فَلاَ تَسَلْ عَنْ حُسْنِهِنَّ وَطُولِهِنَّ   ..  Do not speak about its length about beauty.. 

When we self inspect do we do have this lengthiness or beautiness. It was special to Prophet(صلى الله عليه وسل)  and companions (May ALLAH have mercy on them)

The Hadith is as follows:

حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مَالِكٌ، عَنْ سَعِيدٍ الْمَقْبُرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، أَنَّهُ سَأَلَ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ كَيْفَ كَانَتْ صَلاَةُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي رَمَضَانَ فَقَالَتْ مَا كَانَ يَزِيدُ فِي رَمَضَانَ، وَلاَ فِي غَيْرِهَا عَلَى إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً، يُصَلِّي أَرْبَعًا فَلاَ تَسَلْ عَنْ حُسْنِهِنَّ وَطُولِهِنَّ، ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي أَرْبَعًا فَلاَ تَسَلْ عَنْ حُسْنِهِنَّ وَطُولِهِنَّ، ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي ثَلاَثًا‏.‏ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، أَتَنَامُ قَبْلَ أَنْ تُوتِرَ قَالَ ‏ "‏ يَا عَائِشَةُ إِنَّ عَيْنَىَّ تَنَامَانِ وَلاَ يَنَامُ قَلْبِي ‏"‏‏.

 Narrated Abu Salama bin `Abdur Rahman:

that he asked `Aisha "How was the prayer of Allah's Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسل) in Ramadan?" She replied, "He did not pray more than eleven rak`at in Ramadan or in any other month. He used to pray four rak`at ---- let alone their beauty and length----and then he would pray four ----let alone their beauty and length ---- and then he would pray three rak`at (witr)." She added, "I asked, 'O Allah's Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسل)! Do you sleep before praying the witr?' He replied, 'O `Aisha! My eyes sleep but my heart does not sleep."

Sahih al-Bukhari 2013

Prophet(صلى الله عليه وسل)  prayed Taraweeh for Three Nights and after that left for people to Pray , fearing it may be Obligatory. The status was same till the death of prophet(صلى الله عليه وسل)  and even during the caliphate of Abu Bakr(Ra). 

It was at the time of Umar (RA) the people praying in different groups were made to pray under single Imam.
 قَالَ ابْنُ شِهَابٍ فَتُوُفِّيَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَالأَمْرُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ كَانَ الأَمْرُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ فِي خِلاَفَةِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَصَدْرًا مِنْ خِلاَفَةِ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ ‏

Ibn Shihab said, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, died while that was till the custom, and it continued to be the custom in the khalifate of Abu Bakr and at the beginning of the khalifate of Umar ibn al-Khattab." [Malik Muwatta]


وَعَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عَبْدٍ الْقَارِيِّ، أَنَّهُ قَالَ خَرَجْتُ مَعَ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ لَيْلَةً فِي رَمَضَانَ، إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ، فَإِذَا النَّاسُ أَوْزَاعٌ مُتَفَرِّقُونَ يُصَلِّي الرَّجُلُ لِنَفْسِهِ، وَيُصَلِّي الرَّجُلُ فَيُصَلِّي بِصَلاَتِهِ الرَّهْطُ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ إِنِّي أَرَى لَوْ جَمَعْتُ هَؤُلاَءِ عَلَى قَارِئٍ وَاحِدٍ لَكَانَ أَمْثَلَ‏.‏ ثُمَّ عَزَمَ فَجَمَعَهُمْ عَلَى أُبَىِّ بْنِ كَعْبٍ، ثُمَّ خَرَجْتُ مَعَهُ لَيْلَةً أُخْرَى، وَالنَّاسُ يُصَلُّونَ بِصَلاَةِ قَارِئِهِمْ، قَالَ عُمَرُ نِعْمَ الْبِدْعَةُ هَذِهِ، وَالَّتِي يَنَامُونَ عَنْهَا أَفْضَلُ مِنَ الَّتِي يَقُومُونَ‏.‏ يُرِيدُ آخِرَ اللَّيْلِ، وَكَانَ النَّاسُ يَقُومُونَ أَوَّلَهُ‏.‏


Tarāwīḥ was not performed in congregation during the khilāfah of Abū Bakr as he was preoccupied with Jihād against the apostates, and Jihād is more emphasized than Tarāwīḥ. It was ʿUmar who gathered the people to pray behind Ubay bin Kaʿb .

'Abdur Rahman bin 'Abdul Qari said,
"I went out in the company of 'Umar bin Al-Khattab one night in Ramadan to the mosque and found the people praying in different groups. A man praying alone or a man praying with a little group behind him. So, 'Umar said, 'In my opinion I would better collect these (people) under the leadership of one Qari (Reciter) (i.e. let them pray in congregation!)'. So, he made up his mind to congregate them behind Ubai bin Ka'b. Then on another night I went again in his company and the people were praying behind their reciter. On that, 'Umar remarked, 'What an excellent Bid'a (i.e. innovation in religion) this is; but the prayer which they do not perform, but sleep at its time is better than the one they are offering.' He meant the prayer in the last part of the night. (In those days) people used to pray in the early part of the night."
Sahih al-Bukhari 2010

Tarāwīḥ has been named as such because they [the companions] would rest during the prayers due to its length. ʿUmar would allow the worshipers to take a break for the amount of time equal to that taken by a man leaving the masjid and going to Salaʿ, which was a mountain that was 700 meters away from them.

They [the companions] would lengthen the Tarāwīḥ prayers and ʿUmar would allow them to take a rest in between them for some time. Ayyūb would make the break for the amount of time it takes to recite thirty verses. But the duration of the prayer of some nowadays is equivalent to that of the breaks of those in the past!


Some worshipers are keen to make it for Tarāwīḥ more than ʿIshā’ Prayer, while the obligatory prayer on its own is better for them than all the Nāfilah prayers. Allah said: “My slave does not come nearer to Me with anything like what I have enjoined upon him.” [ḥadīth qudsī & Sahih Bukhari: 6502]

Excellence of starting and finishing with the Imam

فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لَوْ نَفَّلْتَنَا بَقِيَّةَ لَيْلَتِنَا هَذِهِ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏ "‏ إِنَّهُ مَنْ قَامَ مَعَ الإِمَامِ حَتَّى يَنْصَرِفَ كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ قِيَامَ لَيْلَةٍ ‏"‏ 
It was narrated that Abu Dharr said:

"O Messenger of Allah! What if we spend the rest of this night praying Nafl?" He said: "Whoever prays Qiyam with the Imam until he finishes, Allah (SWT) will record for him the Qiyam of a (whole) night." [Sunan an-Nasa'i 1605]

How many Rakath's?  

It is known from the Hadith's from Malik Muwatta..

Initially it was 8 Rakaths:
وَحَدَّثَنِي عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يُوسُفَ، عَنِ السَّائِبِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ، أَنَّهُ قَالَ أَمَرَ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ أُبَىَّ بْنَ كَعْبٍ وَتَمِيمًا الدَّارِيَّ أَنْ يَقُومَا، لِلنَّاسِ بِإِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً قَالَ وَقَدْ كَانَ الْقَارِئُ يَقْرَأُ بِالْمِئِينَ حَتَّى كُنَّا نَعْتَمِدُ عَلَى الْعِصِيِّ مِنْ طُولِ الْقِيَامِ وَمَا كُنَّا نَنْصَرِفُ إِلاَّ فِي فُرُوعِ الْفَجْرِ ‏

Yahya related to me from Malik from Muhammad ibn Yusuf that as- Sa'ib ibn Yazid said, "Umar ibn al-Khattab ordered Ubayy ibn Kab and Tamim ad-Dari to watch the night in prayer with the people for eleven rakas.The reciter of the Qur'an would recite the Mi'in (a group of medium-sized suras) until we would be leaning on our staffs from having stood so long in prayer. And we would not leave until the approach of dawn."  [ Malik Muwatta 250]

Then it was split because of the difficulty of the Long recitation.
Note: The length of the prayer used to be same as that mentioned in the Hadith of Ayesha (RA).

Abd al-Rahmâb b. Hurmuz tells us: "The reciters (leading the prayers) would complete the reading of Sûrah al-Baqarah in eight units of prayer. When the reciters took twelve units of prayer to complete it, the people regarded it as if the reciters were making things easy for them." [Musannaf `Abd al-Razzâq (7734) and Sunan al-Bayhaqî (4401)]

وَحَدَّثَنِي عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ دَاوُدَ بْنِ الْحُصَيْنِ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ الأَعْرَجَ، يَقُولُ مَا أَدْرَكْتُ النَّاسَ إِلاَّ وَهُمْ يَلْعَنُونَ الْكَفَرَةَ فِي رَمَضَانَ ‏.‏ قَالَ وَكَانَ الْقَارِئُ يَقْرَأُ سُورَةَ الْبَقَرَةِ فِي ثَمَانِ رَكَعَاتٍ فَإِذَا قَامَ بِهَا فِي اثْنَتَىْ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً رَأَى النَّاسُ أَنَّهُ قَدْ خَفَّفَ ‏.‏
Yahya related to me from Malik from Da'ud ibn al-Husayn that he heard al-Araj say, "I never saw the people in Ramadan, but that they were cursing the disbelievers." He added, "The reciter of Qur'an used to recite surat al-Baqara in eight rakas and if he did it in twelve rakas the people would think that he had made it easy." [ Malik Muwatta 252]

أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي لَبِيدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ يُسْأَلُ عَنْ صَلاَةِ اللَّيْلِ فَقَالَ ‏ "‏ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى فَإِذَا خِفْتَ الصُّبْحَ فَأَوْتِرْ بِرَكْعَةٍ ‏"

It was narrated that Ibn Umar said:
"I heard the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسل) on the minbar, when he was asked about prayers at night, say: "Two by two, then if you fear that dawn will come, pray witr with one rak'ah.'" (Sahih -Sunan an-Nasa'i 1669)

If there had been a restriction on the number of Raka's, Prophet(صلى الله عليه وسل) would have mentioned it.
As Sheik Uthaymeen(rahimahullah) says  the person who asked this question was eager to learn the religion and doesn't know how to pray the night prayers. Neither was he from the servents of Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسل). Moreover this was an announcement from the Minbar which is meant for the general Ummah to follow. 

Then it was made as 20 to make it more easier, as there was no prohibition to make it more Rakaths and still maintain its beautiness.

وَحَدَّثَنِي عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ رُومَانَ، أَنَّهُ قَالَ كَانَ النَّاسُ يَقُومُونَ فِي زَمَانِ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ فِي رَمَضَانَ بِثَلاَثٍ وَعِشْرِينَ رَكْعَةً ‏.‏

Yahya related to me from Malik that Yazid ibn Ruman said, "The people used to watch the night in prayer during Ramadan for twenty- three raka's in the time of Umar ibn al-Khattab." [ Malik Muwatta 251]

Al-Baihaqi has related in al-Marifa Sa'eeb ibn Yazid, who said: "In the time of Umar ibn al-Khattab (ra) the people used to observe 20 Raka'ahs and the Witr." The other version of the Hadith is as it is related in al-Sunan of Baihaqi: Sa'ib Ibn Yazid said:


عن السائب بن يزيد قال كنا نقوم في زمن عمر بن الخطاب بعشرين ركعة والوتر (سنن البيهقي ص296/1) (قال النووي إسناده صحيح شرح المهذب ص32/4 وصححه السبكي و السيوطيوعلي القاري) 

Al-Saaib bin Yazid (R A) narrated that we used to offer twenty raka’at followed by Witr in the reign of ‘Umar (R A). (Sunan Al-Baihaqi, v1, p296).
Imam Nawawi (Rah)   authenticated this narration from al-Bayhaqi.

So what is apparent is that the quality of the Prayer is far More important than the quantity. 

Praying Taraweeh of 8 rakath , for a time double that of Isha prayer or praying 20 Rakath's in such a fast manner where pillars of Prayers and Beautiness of Recitation is missed should be condemned strongly. 

Please watch  Sheik Assim's explanation:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8_--TtOfZA 

Also Ramdhan is the month in which Quran was sent to us and this the month when Jibreel Alaihiwasallam revised the Quran. It is better the complete the Quran in your 8 or 20 rakaths (http://islamqa.com/en/ref/66504)


Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr said in al-Istidhkaar (2/68): 
It may be understood as meaning that at first qiyaam at the time of ‘Umar was eleven rak’ahs, then he reduced the length of qiyaam for them and made it twenty-one rak’ahs, to make the recitation lighter for them and so that they would bow and prostrate more. But it seems most likely to me that the report about eleven rak’ahs is a mistake. And Allaah knows best. End quote.


Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in Majmoo’ al-Fataawa (23/113): 
When Ubayy ibn Ka’b led them in praying qiyaam in a single congregation, he could not make them stand for too long, so he increased the number of rak’ahs to make up for the long standing. So they doubled the number of rak’ahs. He used to pray eleven or thirteen rak’ahs of qiyaam al-layl, then it seems that after that the people of Madeenah found it difficult to stand for so long during the recitation, so they increased the number of rak’ahs until it reached thirty-nine. End quote.

REFERENCES /MORE INFO :

https://islamqa.info/en/answers/82152/what-was-the-number-of-rakahs-in-taraweeh-prayer-at-the-time-of-umar-ibn-al-khattab-may-allaah-be-pleased-with-him

Sheik Assim Al-Hakeem  advice on 8 or 20 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWBI3QLy3pg

https://twitter.com/abdulaziztarefe

http://abuazraa.blogspot.in/2008/09/what-not-to-do-in-taraweeh.html

Concerning the Number of Rak'ahs in Taraaweeh Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih Al-'Uthaymeen
http://www.bakkah.net/articles/taraaweeh-rak-ahs-11-20.htm

Shaykh Muhammad Baazmool on the Legislated Number of Rak'ahs of Witr, the Night Prayer (Qiyaam Al-Layl)  http://www.bakkah.net/interactive/q&a/aamb037-witr-11-rakahs-night-prayer.htm
https://www.facebook.com/notes/10150236253833344/

Watch beautiful 20 Rakaths of Haramain
http://www.haramain.info/ ,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VsnhrnIAko

Inmates of Paradise and Hell

بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ


عَنْ عِيَاضِ بْنِ حِمَارٍ الْمُجَاشِعِيِّ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ فِي خُطْبَتِهِ

 قَالَ وَأَهْلُ الْجَنَّةِ ثَلاَثَةٌ ذُو سُلْطَانٍ مُقْسِطٌ مُتَصَدِّقٌ مُوَفَّقٌ وَرَجُلٌ رَحِيمٌ رَقِيقُ الْقَلْبِ لِكُلِّ ذِي قُرْبَى وَمُسْلِمٍ وَعَفِيفٌ مُتَعَفِّفٌ ذُو عِيَالٍ

  وَأَهْلُ النَّارِ خَمْسَةٌ الضَّعِيفُ الَّذِي لاَ زَبْرَ لَهُ الَّذِينَ هُمْ فِيكُمْ تَبَعًا لاَ يَتْبَعُونَ أَهْلاً وَلاَ مَالاً وَالْخَائِنُ الَّذِي لاَ يَخْفَى لَهُ طَمَعٌ وَإِنْ دَقَّ إِلاَّ خَانَهُ وَرَجُلٌ لاَ يُصْبِحُ وَلاَ يُمْسِي إِلاَّ وَهُوَ يُخَادِعُكَ عَنْ أَهْلِكَ وَمَالِكَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ وَذَكَرَ الْبُخْلَ أَوِ الْكَذِبَ ‏"‏ وَالشِّنْظِيرُ الْفَحَّاشُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ أَبُو غَسَّانَ فِي حَدِيثِهِ ‏"‏ وَأَنْفِقْ فَسَنُنْفِقَ عَلَيْكَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏



Iyad b. Him-ar reported that Allah's Messenger (), while delivering a sermon one day, said:

 The inmates of Hell are five:
 1.) the weak who lack power to (avoid evil),
 2.) the (carefree) who pursue (everything irrespective of the fact that it is good or evil) and who do not have any care for their family or for their wealth. And those dishonest whose greed cannot be concealed even in the case of minor things.

3.) And the third. who betray you. morning and evening, in regard to your family and your property.
4.) He also made a mention of the miser and the liar and

5.)  those who are in the habit of abusing people and using obscene and foul language.

 Abu Ghassan in his narration did not make mention of" Spend and there would be spent for you."


Sahih Muslim 7386


The inmates of Paradise are three:
1.) One who wields authority and is just and fair, one who Is truthful and has been endowed with power to do good deeds.

2.) And the person who is merciful and kind hearted towards his relatives and to every pious Muslim, and

3.) one who does not stretch his hand in spite of having a large family to support.

Read the Full Hadith here:  http://www.sunnah.com/urn/268530

Dua When you differ

بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

[8:29] O you who believe! If you obey and fear Allâh, He will grant you Furqân [(a criterion to judge between right and wrong), or (Makhraj, i.e. a way for you to get out from every difficulty)], and will expiate for you your sins, and forgive you; and Allâh is the Owner of the Great Bounty.

This means that if we would like to be able to make maximum use of the brains we have then one of the most important prerequisites is to be conscious of our Creator at all times, and the fact that we are totally answerable to Him, and at the same time be on the lookout for the truth on one hand as well as the plot of the devil on the other.

Never be deceived by people's comments, or by what others say, do, or encourage. Always ask yourself, "Is this what my Maker wants of me?" "Is this what will please my Creator?" "What answer will I give my Creator when I am questioned about this?"

These questions will always help you increase your consciousness of Allah Almighty. Then you will be able to differentiate between the various forces around you of good and evil.

The constant concern about the Almighty being ever watchful and being in absolute control will also help you effect the necessary changes in your life once you have differentiated. This is because there is no merit in a Muslim who knows that his friends are bad but remains in their company and does not have the power to leave their circle.

True guidance arrives when all bad friends depart!


 اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ جِبْرِيلَ وَمِيكَائِيلَ وَإِسْرَافِيلَ فَاطِرَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ عَالِمَ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ أَنْتَ تَحْكُمُ بَيْنَ عِبَادِكَ فِيمَا كَانُوا فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِنِي لِمَا اخْتُلِفَ فِيهِ مِنَ الْحَقِّ إِنَّكَ تَهْدِي مَنْ تَشَاءُ إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ ‏"

Allahumma Rabba Jibril wa Maika'il wa Israfil; Fatirus-samawati wal-ard, 'alim al-ghaybi wash-shahadah, anta tahkumu bayna 'ibadika fima kanu fihi yakhtalifun, Allahumma ihdini limakktulifa fihi min al-haqq innaka tahdi man tasha'ila siratin mustaqim (O Allah, Lord of Jibril, Mika'il and Israfil, Creator of the heavens and the earth, Knower of the unseen and the seen, You judge between Your slaves concerning wherein they differ. O Allah, guide me to the disputed matters of truth for You are the One Who guides to the Straight Path).
 Sunan an-Nasa'i 1625

The Fast Is The Day The People Fast

بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

Fasting with The Jamah

أَخْبَرَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ الْمُنْذِرِ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الأَخْنَسِيِّ، عَنْ سَعِيدٍ الْمَقْبُرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ الصَّوْمُ يَوْمَ تَصُومُونَ وَالْفِطْرُ يَوْمَ تُفْطِرُونَ وَالأَضْحَى يَوْمَ تُضَحُّونَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ ‏.‏ وَفَسَّرَ بَعْضُ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ فَقَالَ إِنَّمَا مَعْنَى هَذَا أَنَّ الصَّوْمَ وَالْفِطْرَ مَعَ الْجَمَاعَةِ وَعُظْمِ النَّاسِ ‏.‏

Abu Hurairah narrated that :

the Prophet said: "The fast is the day the people fast, the breaking of the fast is the day the people break their fast, and the sacrifice is the day the people sacrifice." (Hasan)

Jami at-Tirmidhi :697 

حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ مُوسَى، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ الْيَمَانِ، عَنْ مَعْمَرٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْمُنْكَدِرِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ الْفِطْرُ يَوْمَ يُفْطِرُ النَّاسُ وَالأَضْحَى يَوْمَ يُضَحِّي النَّاسُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى سَأَلْتُ مُحَمَّدًا قُلْتُ لَهُ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُنْكَدِرِ سَمِعَ مِنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَ نَعَمْ يَقُولُ فِي حَدِيثِهِ سَمِعْتُ عَائِشَةَ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ صَحِيحٌ مِنْ هَذَا الْوَجْهِAishah narrated that:The Messenger of Allah said: "Al-Fitr is the day that the people break the fast, and Al-Adha is the day that the people sacrifice." (Sahih)

Sahih  Jami at-Tirmidhi : 802

 Not to observe Saum for a day or two ahead of Ramadanحَدَّثَنَا مُسْلِمُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ لاَ يَتَقَدَّمَنَّ أَحَدُكُمْ رَمَضَانَ بِصَوْمِ يَوْمٍ أَوْ يَوْمَيْنِ، إِلاَّ أَنْ يَكُونَ رَجُلٌ كَانَ يَصُومُ صَوْمَهُ فَلْيَصُمْ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ ‏"‏‏.

Narrated Abu Huraira:

The Prophet () said, "None of you should fast a day or two before the month of Ramadan unless he has the habit of fasting (Nawafil) (and if his fasting coincides with that day) then he can fast that day."

[Sahih Bukhari 1914, Sahih Muslim 1082/1976]

وَعَنْ عَمَّارِ بْنِ يَاسِرٍ ‏- رضى الله عنه ‏- قَالَ: { مَنْ صَامَ اَلْيَوْمَ اَلَّذِي يُشَكُّ فِيهِ فَقَدْ عَصَى أَبَا اَلْقَاسِمِ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-} وَذَكَرَهُ اَلْبُخَارِيُّ تَعْلِيقًا, وَوَصَلَهُ اَلْخَمْسَةُ, وَصَحَّحَهُ اِبْنُ خُزَيْمَةَ, وَابْنُ حِبَّانَ ¹‏ .‏

^‏1 ‏- صحيح.‏ علقه البخاري ( 4 / 119 / فتح )‏، ووصله أبو داود ( 2334 )‏، والنسائي ( 4 / 153 )‏، والترمذي ( 686 )‏، وابن ماجه ( 1645 )‏، وابن خزيمة ( 1914 )‏، وابن حبان ( 3577 )‏ من طريق صلة بن زفر قال: كنا عند عمار فأتي بشاة مصلية، فقال: كلوا، فتنحى بعض القوم؛ فقال: إني صائم.‏ فقال عمار: فذكره.‏ وقال الترمذي: " حسن صحيح ".‏ قلت: والحديث لم أجده في " المسند ".‏

Ammar bin Yasir (RAA) narrated, ‘Whoever fasts the day of doubt he has then disobeyed Abu al-Qasim (the Prophet).’ Related by the five Imams, and Ibn Khuzaimah and Ibn Hibban graded it as Sahih [Buloogul Maraam  Hadith 651]

Each land has its own sighting of the moon, and if they see the crescent in one land, that does not necessarily apply to regions that are far away from itباب بَيَانِ أَنَّ لِكُلِّ بَلَدٍ رُؤْيَتَهُمْ وَأَنَّهُمْ إِذَا رَأَوْا الْهِلَالَ بِبَلَدٍ لَا يَثْبُتُ حُكْمُهُ لِمَا بَعُدَ عَنْهُمْ

حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَبِي حَرْمَلَةَ، أَخْبَرَنِي كُرَيْبٌ، أَنَّ أُمَّ الْفَضْلِ بِنْتَ الْحَارِثِ، بَعَثَتْهُ إِلَى مُعَاوِيَةَ بِالشَّامِ ‏.‏ قَالَ فَقَدِمْتُ الشَّامَ فَقَضَيْتُ حَاجَتَهَا وَاسْتُهِلَّ عَلَىَّ هِلاَلُ رَمَضَانَ وَأَنَا بِالشَّامِ فَرَأَيْنَا الْهِلاَلَ لَيْلَةَ الْجُمُعَةِ ثُمَّ قَدِمْتُ الْمَدِينَةَ فِي آخِرِ الشَّهْرِ فَسَأَلَنِي ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ الْهِلاَلَ فَقَالَ مَتَى رَأَيْتُمُ الْهِلاَلَ فَقُلْتُ رَأَيْنَاهُ لَيْلَةَ الْجُمُعَةِ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ أَأَنْتَ رَأَيْتَهُ لَيْلَةَ الْجُمُعَةِ فَقُلْتُ رَآهُ النَّاسُ وَصَامُوا وَصَامَ مُعَاوِيَةُ ‏.‏ قَالَ لَكِنْ رَأَيْنَاهُ لَيْلَةَ السَّبْتِ فَلاَ نَزَالُ نَصُومُ حَتَّى نُكْمِلَ ثَلاَثِينَ يَوْمًا أَوْ نَرَاهُ ‏.‏ فَقُلْتُ أَلاَ تَكْتَفِي بِرُؤْيَةِ مُعَاوِيَةَ وَصِيَامِهِ قَالَ لاَ هَكَذَا أَمَرَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى حَدِيثُ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ غَرِيبٌ ‏.‏ وَالْعَمَلُ عَلَى هَذَا الْحَدِيثِ عِنْدَ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ أَنَّ لِكُلِّ أَهْلِ بَلَدٍ رُؤْيَتَهُمْ ‏.

"Kuraib informed me that Umm Al-Fadl bin Al-Harith sent him to Mu'awiyah in Ash-Sham. He said: 'So I arrived in Ash-Sham and finished her errand, and I saw the crescent of Ramadan while I was in Ash-Sham. We saw the crescent on the night of Friday. Then I arrived in Al-Madinah at the end of the month. Ibn Abbas was questioning me, then he mentioned the crescent and he said: "When did you see the crescent?" I said: "We saw it n the night of Friday." He said: "Did you see it on the night of Friday?" I said: "The people saw it, so they fasted, and Mu'awiyah fasted." He said: "But we saw it on the night of Saturday, so we will not stop fasting until we complete thirty days or we see it." So I said: "Is not the sighting and fasting of Mu'awiyah enough for you?" He said: "This is not how the Messenger of Allah ordered us." [ Sahih Muslim 1087 , Jami at-Tirmidhi :  693]

The People Of Different Lands Differing In Sighting باب اخْتِلاَفِ أَهْلِ الآفَاقِ فِي الرُّؤْيَةِ

http://sunnah.com/nasai/22/22

 باب مَا جَاءَ لِكُلِّ أَهْلِ بَلَدٍ رُؤْيَتُهُمْ 

What Has Been Related About: For The People OF Every Land There Is A Sighting

http://sunnah.com/tirmidhi/8/12

باب إِذَا رُؤِيَ الْهِلاَلُ فِي بَلَدٍ قَبْلَ الآخَرِينَ بِلَيْلَةٍ

When The Crescent Is Sighted In A Land A Night Before It Is Sighted In Other Lands

http://sunnah.com/abudawud/14/20

باب بَيَانِ أَنَّ لِكُلِّ بَلَدٍ رُؤْيَتَهُمْ وَأَنَّهُمْ إِذَا رَأَوْا الْهِلَالَ بِبَلَدٍ لَا يَثْبُتُ حُكْمُهُ لِمَا بَعُدَ عَنْهُمْ

Each land has its own sighting of the moon, and if they see the crescent in one land, that does not necessarily apply to regions that are far away from it

http://sunnah.com/muslim/13/34

http://www.alfawzan.af.org.sa/node/7450

https://www.facebook.com/.../387632034623702

But in the expalantion given by Imam Nawawi (MinHaaj) for the Hadith from Muslim and Sheikh Abdur Rahmaan Mubaarakpuri(Tuhfat-ul Ahwadhi)  for the Hadith from Tirmidhi states as following:

The explanation we get from the Hadith of Abdhullah Ibn Abbas (RA) is that Abdhullah Ibn Abbas (RA) was in Madhinah and he did not accept the Moon Sighting from Syria which is 1500 Kms towards north of Madhinah. People in Shaam witnessed the Crescent of Ramadhan on Friday but the crescent was witnessed on Saturday in Madinah. Ibn Abbas (RA) did not accept and did not accept the sighting of People of Shaam and refused to break the Fast a day before and also pointed out that that His Opinion is based on the Command of Prophet (Peace be Upon Him) .From this people should fast according to the sighting of there region. From this we also know that the Moon sighting obeserved in one region will not control the people at a distance.

[From the Footnotes in Tirmidhi]
According to Google Maps the distance between Al-Madinah to Damscus, Syria is  around 1928 Kms.

Some of the Fitna creators quote and misinterpet the following Hadith:

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا هُشَيْمٌ، عَنْ أَبِي بِشْرٍ، عَنْ أَبِي عُمَيْرِ بْنِ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عُمُومَتِي، مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ قَالُوا أُغْمِيَ عَلَيْنَا هِلاَلُ شَوَّالٍ فَأَصْبَحْنَا صِيَامًا فَجَاءَ رَكْبٌ مِنْ آخِرِ النَّهَارِ فَشَهِدُوا عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ أَنَّهُمْ رَأَوُا الْهِلاَلَ بِالأَمْسِ فَأَمَرَهُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ أَنْ يُفْطِرُوا وَأَنْ يَخْرُجُوا إِلَى عِيدِهِمْ مِنَ الْغَدِ ‏.‏

It was narrated that ‘Umair bin Anas bin Malik said:

“My paternal uncles among the Ansar who were among the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) told me: ‘The new crescent of Shawwal was covered with clouds, so we fasted the next day. Then some riders came at the end of the day and testified to the Prophet (ﷺ) that they had seen the new crescent the night before. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) commanded them to break their fast and to go out to offer the ‘Eid prayer the following morning.’”

Ibn Majah :1722

http://sunnah.com/urn/1270560

It was narrated from 'Umair bin Anas from his paternal uncles, that :

Some people saw the crescent moon and came to the Prophet (ﷺ), and he told them to break their fast after the sun has risen and to go out for 'Eid the (morning of the) following day.

أَخْبَرَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بِشْرٍ، عَنْ أَبِي عُمَيْرِ بْنِ أَنَسٍ، عَنْ عُمُومَةٍ، لَهُ أَنَّ قَوْمًا، رَأَوُا الْهِلاَلَ فَأَتَوُا النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَمَرَهُمْ أَنْ يُفْطِرُوا بَعْدَ مَا ارْتَفَعَ النَّهَارُ وَأَنْ يَخْرُجُوا إِلَى الْعِيدِ مِنَ الْغَدِ ‏.‏

Sunan an-Nasa'i 1557
http://sunnah.com/nasai/19/2

حَدَّثَنَا حَفْصُ بْنُ عُمَرَ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ أَبِي وَحْشِيَّةَ، عَنْ أَبِي عُمَيْرِ بْنِ أَنَسٍ، عَنْ عُمُومَةٍ، لَهُ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّ رَكْبًا جَاءُوا إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَشْهَدُونَ أَنَّهُمْ رَأَوُا الْهِلاَلَ بِالأَمْسِ فَأَمَرَهُمْ أَنْ يُفْطِرُوا وَإِذَا أَصْبَحُوا أَنْ يَغْدُوا إِلَى مُصَلاَّهُمْ

 Narrated AbuUmayr ibn Anas:

AbuUmayr reported on the authority of some of his paternal uncles who were Companions of the Prophet (ﷺ): Some men came riding to the Prophet (ﷺ) and testified that they had sighted the new moon the previous day. He (the Holy Prophet), therefore, commanded them to break the fast and to go out to their place of prayer in the morning.
Sunan Abi Dawud 1157
http://sunnah.com/abudawud/2/768

The above Hadith is classified as Sahih  by Albani (Rah) , But the following information is missing:

1. How long they travelled, is the distance more than that Khuraib (ra). ? This traveling distance of end of the day translates to half hour travel in today's distance. It is highly impossible that they reached Madinah at the end of the day from different country.

2. Who did the prophet (saw) commanded to break fast, the travelers or the people who were fasting? Looks like the people saw the moon and were fasting. So prophet(saw) asked them to break the fast at the end of the day and to go their praying (Eid) place.

Splitting is Prohibited in Islam
:مِنَ الَّذِينَ فَرَّقُوا دِينَهُمْ وَكَانُوا شِيَعًا ۖ كُلُّ حِزْبٍ بِمَا لَدَيْهِمْ فَرِحُونَ

Of those who split up their religion (i.e. who left the true Islâmic Monotheism), and became sects, [i.e. they invented new things in the religion (Bid'ah), and followed their vain desires], each sect rejoicing in that which is with it. [Soorah ar-Room, 30:31-2]

وَأَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَلَا تَنَازَعُوا فَتَفْشَلُوا وَتَذْهَبَ رِيحُكُمْ ۖ وَاصْبِرُوا ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ

And obey Allah and His Messenger, and do not dispute (with one another) lest you lose courage and your strength depart, and be patient. Surely, Allah is with those who are As-Sabirin (the patient ones, etc.). [Soorah al-Anfaal, 8:46]
وَلَوْ شَاءَ رَبُّكَ لَجَعَلَ النَّاسَ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً ۖ وَلَا يَزَالُونَ مُخْتَلِفِينَ
إِلَّا مَن رَّحِمَ رَبُّكَ ۚ وَلِذَ‌ٰلِكَ خَلَقَهُمْ ۗ وَتَمَّتْ كَلِمَةُ رَبِّكَ لَأَمْلَأَنَّ جَهَنَّمَ مِنَ الْجِنَّةِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَAnd if your Lord had willed, He could have made mankind one community; but they will not cease to differ.Except whom your Lord has given mercy, and for that He created them. 

But the word of your Lord is to be fulfilled that, "I will surely fill Hell with jinn and men all together."  Surat Hūd[11 : 118-119]

“Indeed, Allaah’s hand is on the Jamah.”  

عَنْ عَرْفَجَةَ بْنِ شُرَيْحٍ الْأَشْجَعِيِّ قَالَ رَأَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ يَخْطُبُ النَّاسَ فَقَالَ:  ))إِنَّهُ سَيَكُونُ بَعْدِي هَنَاتٌ وَهَنَاتٌ فَمَنْ رَأَيْتُمُوهُ فَارَقَ الْجَمَاعَةَ أَوْ يُرِيدُ يُفَرِّقُ أَمْرَ أُمَّةِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَائِنًا مَنْ كَانَ فَاقْتُلُوهُ فَإِنَّ يَدَ اللَّهِ عَلَى الْجَمَاعَةِ فَإِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ مَعَ مَنْ فَارَقَ الْجَمَاعَةَ يَرْكُضُ

‘Arfajah ibn Shurayh al-Ashja‘ee narrated that the Prophet (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) was giving a sermon to the people, and he said, “Indeed there will appear after me trials and (more) trials. So whomever you see splitting from the Jamaa‘ah or wishing to split up the affairs of Muhammad’s Ummah (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam), no matter who he is, then kill him. For indeed Allaah’s hand is on the Jamaa‘ah, and Satan is running with the one who splits from the Jamaa‘ah. ”  [Sahih , Sunan an-Nasaa’ee, 4020 ,4021]

Please read this Nice Article by Nasirudeen Albani (Rahimahullah) 

http://abdurrahman.org/ramadhan/ramadhanreminderofunity.html 

Fatwa:
https://islamqa.info/en/12660
https://islamqa.info/en/190395

Importance of Praying Behind Sutrah

بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

Imam Bukhari(Rahimullah) had allocated a separate chapter for Sutra of a Musalli, yet we find people not realizing the importance of Sutrah. 

Sheik Muhammad Salih Al-Munajd states this as one of the ways to achieve Kushoo in Salah. It helps to restrict your field of vision, protect you from Shaytaan ad keep people from passing in front of you which causes a distraction and reduces the reward of the prayer.

Importance of Sutra:

أَخْبَرَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ، وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ سُلَيْمٍ، عَنْ نَافِعِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ أَبِي حَثْمَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ إِذَا صَلَّى أَحَدُكُمْ إِلَى سُتْرَةٍ فَلْيَدْنُ مِنْهَا لاَ يَقْطَعُ الشَّيْطَانُ عَلَيْهِ صَلاَتَهُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

It was narrated that Sahl bin Abi Hathmah said:

"When anyone of you prays toward a Sutra, let him get close to it and not allow the Shaitan to sever his prayer for him."

[Sunan an-Nasa'i 748, Sunan Abu Dawud :: Book 2 : Hadith 695,Sahih Ibn Khuzaimah, Chapter: Salat, Hadith No. 793]

How close one should stand to Sutrah:

٥٠٢ - حدثنا المكي قال: حدثنا يزيد بن أبي عبيد قال: كنت آتي مع سلمة بن الأكوع فيصلي عند الأسطوانة التي عند المصحف، فقلت: يا أبا مسلم! أراك تتحرى الصلاة عند هذه الأسطوانة؟ قال: فإني رأيت النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يتحرى الصلاة عندها. ء

Narrated Yazeed bin Abi ‘Ubayd: I used to accompany Salamah bin Al-Akwa’ and he used to offer the Salaat (prayer) behind the pillar which was near the place where the Qur’aans were kept. I said, “O Abu Muslim! I see you always seeking to offer As-Salaat (the prayers) behind this pillar.” He replied, “I saw Allah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم always seeking to offer As-Salaat near that pillar.” [Sahih Bukari 510, Sahih Muslim 881]

------------------------------------------------------

حَدَّثَنِي يَعْقُوبُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الدَّوْرَقِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي حَازِمٍ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي، عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ السَّاعِدِيِّ، قَالَ كَانَ بَيْنَ مُصَلَّى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَبَيْنَ الْجِدَارِ مَمَرُّ الشَّاةِ ‏.‏

Sahl b. Sa'd al-Si'idi reported: Between the place of worship where the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) prayed and the wall, there was a gap through which a goat could pass. [Sahih Muslim 881]

------------------------------------------------------

حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، - وَاللَّفْظُ لاِبْنِ الْمُثَنَّى - قَالَ إِسْحَاقُ أَخْبَرَنَا وَقَالَ ابْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ مَسْعَدَةَ، - عَنْ يَزِيدَ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ أَبِي عُبَيْدٍ - عَنْ سَلَمَةَ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ الأَكْوَعِ أَنَّهُ كَانَ يَتَحَرَّى مَوْضِعَ مَكَانِ الْمُصْحَفِ يُسَبِّحُ فِيهِ ‏.‏ وَذَكَرَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَتَحَرَّى ذَلِكَ الْمَكَانَ وَكَانَ بَيْنَ الْمِنْبَرِ وَالْقِبْلَةِ قَدْرُ مَمَرِّ الشَّاةِ ‏.‏

 Salama b. Akwa' reported:

He sought the place (in the mosque) where the copies of the Qur'an were kept and glorified Allah there, and the narrator made a mention that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) sought that place and that was between the pulpit and the qibla-a place where a goat could pass.

------------------------------------------------------

The Height Of That Which Serves As A Sutrah For The One Who Is Praying (Chapter 50 in Sahih Muslim)

باب قَدْرِ مَا يَسْتُرُ الْمُصَلِّي

أَخْبَرَنَا الْعَبَّاسُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الدُّورِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يَزِيدَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا حَيْوَةُ بْنُ شُرَيْحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي الأَسْوَدِ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، - رضى الله عنها - قَالَتْ سُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي غَزْوَةِ تَبُوكَ عَنْ سُتْرَةِ الْمُصَلِّي فَقَالَ ‏ "‏ مِثْلُ مُؤْخِرَةِ الرَّحْلِ ‏"‏ ‏.

It was narrated that Aisha(ra) said: "The messenger of Allah(sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) was asked during the campaign of Tabuk about the Sutra of one who is praying. He said: "Something as high as the back of a camel saddle."

‏[Sunan an-Nasa'i 746, Sahih Muslim 861]

------------------------------------------------------

حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، وَقُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، وَأَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ قَالَ يَحْيَى أَخْبَرَنَا وَقَالَ الآخَرَانِ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الأَحْوَصِ، عَنْ سِمَاكٍ، عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ طَلْحَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ إِذَا وَضَعَ أَحَدُكُمْ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِثْلَ مُؤْخِرَةِ الرَّحْلِ فَلْيُصَلِّ وَلاَ يُبَالِ مَنْ مَرَّ وَرَاءَ ذَلِكَ ‏"‏ ‏.

Musa b. Talha reported it on the authority of his father:

The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: When one of you places in front of him so me. thing such as the back of a saddle, he should pray without caring who passes on the other side of it.

[‏Sahih Muslim]

------------------------------------------------------

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ ابْنُ عُلَيَّةَ، ح قَالَ وَحَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ يُونُسَ، عَنْ حُمَيْدِ بْنِ هِلاَلٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الصَّامِتِ، عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ إِذَا قَامَ أَحَدُكُمْ يُصَلِّي فَإِنَّهُ يَسْتُرُهُ إِذَا كَانَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِثْلُ آخِرَةِ الرَّحْلِ فَإِذَا لَمْ يَكُنْ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِثْلُ آخِرَةِ الرَّحْلِ فَإِنَّهُ يَقْطَعُ صَلاَتَهُ الْحِمَارُ وَالْمَرْأَةُ وَالْكَلْبُ الأَسْوَدُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قُلْتُ يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ مَا بَالُ الْكَلْبِ الأَسْوَدِ مِنَ الْكَلْبِ الأَحْمَرِ مِنَ الْكَلْبِ الأَصْفَرِ قَالَ يَا ابْنَ أَخِي سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَمَا سَأَلْتَنِي فَقَالَ ‏"‏ الْكَلْبُ الأَسْوَدُ شَيْطَانٌ ‏"‏ ‏.

Abu Dharr reported: The Messenger of 'Allah (may peace be upon him) said: When any one of you stands for prayer and there is a thing before him equal to the back of the saddle that covers him and in case there is not before him (a thing) equal to the back of the saddle, his prayer would be cut off by (passing of an) ass, woman, and black Dog. I said: O Abu Dharr, what feature is there in a black dog which distinguish it from the red dog and the yellow dog? He said: O, son of my brother, I asked the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) as you are asking me, and he said: The black dog is a devil.

[‏Sahih Muslim]

------------------------------------------------------

وَحَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، أَخْبَرَنَا الْمَخْزُومِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَاحِدِ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ زِيَادٍ - حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الأَصَمِّ، حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ الأَصَمِّ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ يَقْطَعُ الصَّلاَةَ الْمَرْأَةُ وَالْحِمَارُ وَالْكَلْبُ وَيَقِي ذَلِكَ مِثْلُ مُؤْخِرَةِ الرَّحْلِ ‏"

Abu Huraira reported:The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: A woman, an ass and a dog disrupt the prayer, but something like the back of a saddle guards against that.

[‏Sahih Muslim]

The Sutrah’s height must be no less than one forearm's length (i.e. the height of the rear end of a camel's saddle)

People who quote the hadith that the sutra is not required
Narrated Al-Fadl ibn Abbas:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came to us accompanied by Abbas when we were in open country belonging to us. He prayed in a desert with no sutrah in front of him, and a she-ass and a bitch of ours were playing in front of him, but he paid no attention to that.
Sunan Abi Dawud 718 Da'if (Al-Albani) 

 Narrated Ibn `Abbas:

Once I came riding a she-ass when I had just attained the age of puberty. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was offering the prayer at Mina with no wall in front of him and I passed in front of some of the row. There I dismounted and let my she-ass loose to graze and entered the row and nobody objected to me about it. Sahih al-Bukhari 493

Also see:

1.) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutrah

2.) http://www.almuflihoon.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=96:the-sutrah-and-mistakes-regarding-it-&catid=35:worship&Itemid=143

3.) http://www.islamqa.com/en/3404