Mukhtasar Muslim

Narrated from Umm al-Mu’minin Aisha Siddiqa (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) went out (approximately) at midnight and prayed in the mosque, and a few people prayed with him. Then in the morning, people began to talk about it, and the next day more people gathered. And the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also came out, then people prayed with him, and in the morning people began to talk about it. Then on the third night, more people gathered in the mosque, and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) came out, and people prayed with him. Then when the fourth night came and so many people gathered that the mosque became crowded, and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) did not come out, people began to call out, “Prayer, prayer,” but he did not come out until he came for the morning prayer. Then when he had finished the prayer, he turned to the people, recited the two testimonies, and after praise and blessings, said: “Know that your condition tonight was not hidden from me, but I feared that the night prayer (Tarawih) might be made obligatory upon you and you would be unable to perform it.” And in one narration, it is mentioned that this incident took place in Ramadan.