Standing in prayer in Ramadan

Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) says: Once Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) invited me to eat with him — Abu Bakr (Ibn Abi Shaybah) said: meaning the suhur in Ramadan. Meanwhile he heard the noise of the people coming out of the mosque and said: What is this? He was told that the people were coming out of the mosque. He said: The part of the night that remains is better than the part that has passed.

Abd al-Rahman bin Abd al-Qari says that Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said about the time in which the people sleep: The time in which the people sleep is more pleasing to me than the time in which they pray.

Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) says about the night prayer of Ramadan: The time in which they sleep is better than the time in which they stand in prayer.

Abu al-Mu'tamir says: I asked al-Hasan: At what time should I lead the people in the tarawih prayer? He said: At whatever time is easiest for the people.

Al-Hakam says that the early generations (the Salaf) used to sleep for a short while before the tarawih prayer in Ramadan.

Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) says: You leave the most virtuous part of the night, that is, its last part.

A man said to Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him): Much of the night has passed. He said: What remains of the night is better than what has passed.