The Caliph ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattaab (may Allah be pleased with him) was keen to revive acts of Sunnah, eradicate religious innovations, and fight whatever triggered disunity and dissention among Muslims. The Prophet ﷺ commanded Muslims to adhere to the practices of the rightly guided Caliphs (may Allah be pleased with them). In this hadeeth, the Taabi’ee (a Muslim who saw at least one of the Companions) ‘Abdul-Rahmaan ibn ‘Abdul-Qaari, who was appointed by ‘Umar as the head of the Public Treasury, related that he went to the Prophet’s Mosque with ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattaab (may Allah be pleased with them) one night in Ramadhan, to find some people praying night prayer in different congregations. Some prayed individually, and others prayed in small congregations, small groups of three to ten. Therefore, ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) thought about organizing Taraaweeh prayer (i.e., night prayer in Ramadan) in congregation for all Muslims, because it is more stimulating for the worshippers, and so that the they would not disturb each other when praying in small congregations. He (may Allah be pleased with him)formed this view based on the actions of the Prophet ﷺ and his tacit approval of such an act when he ﷺ once led Muslims in congregation on one night of Ramadan. This was stated in a hadeeth narrated on the authority of ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), that the Prophet ﷺ went out in the middle of the night and prayed in the mosque and some men prayed behind him. In the morning, people spoke about it and then a large number of them gathered and prayed behind him (on the second night). On the next morning the people again talked about it and on the third night the mosque was full with a large number of people. Allah's Messenger ﷺ came out and led them in prayer. On the fourth night the Prophet’s Mosque was overcrowded with people and could not accommodate them all, but the Prophet ﷺ came out (only) for Fajr prayer. When Fajr prayer was finished, he recited Tashah-hud and said (addressing the people): “Know that your presence was not hidden from me but I was afraid lest the night prayer should be enjoined on you and you might not be able to carry it on.” ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) intended to organize congregational Taraaweeh prayers at the mosque and appointed Ubayy ibn Ka‘b (may Allah be pleased with him) as the Imaam, because he was one of the best Companions in the recitation and memorization of the Quran. When he (may Allah be pleased with him) went out on another night and found them praying in one congregation behind Ubayy ibn Ka‘b (may Allah be pleased with him), he said: “What an excellent Bid‘ah (i.e., innovation) this is,” because it was a good and righteous act, urging Muslims to pray in congregation as recommended. Even if it was not done during the reign of Aboo Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) him, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ held congregational Taraaweeh prayers. He ﷺ refrained from holding such congregational Taraaweeh prayers regularly lest it be deemed obligatory on Muslims and they would not have endured it. His saying, “What an excellent Bid‘ah (i.e., innovation) this is” indicates that this practice has its basis and origin is the Sunnah, and it is not a religious innovation as per the laws of Islam that is labelled as misguidance, rather it is described as an innovation, in the linguistic sense of the word (i.e., being an unprecedented rather than an unprescribed act). The fact that ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) and ‘Abdul-Rahmaan ibn ‘Abdul-Qaari went to the Prophet’s Mosque once to find people praying Taraaweeh in congregation, indicates that ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) did not regularly pray with them, and perhaps he (may Allah be pleased with him) believed that performing Taraaweeh prayers individually at home was better (and more rewardable), especially at the end of the night.This is why he (may Allah be pleased with him) stated that people used to perform Taraaweeh prayers at the beginning of the night, but it would be better for them to sleep for a while, and then wake up at the end of the night to perform them. The hadeeth urges Muslims to perform night prayers at the end of the night. It is also deduced from the hadeeth that it is permissible to perform night prayer in congregation. It also highlights that a ruler should check on the ruled and keenly foster their interests, with regard to their religious or worldly affairs..