Question: 

What is the ruling on praying tahajjud in congregation?

Answer:

Ash-Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-Uthaymeen, rahimahullah, said:

… ولا يشرع ذلك إلا في أيام رمضان، فإذا كان أحياناً يصلي جماعة في التهجد فلا بأس، وهو من السنة.

…That is not legislated except during the days of Ramadan. Therefore, if he prays tahajjud in congregation sometimesm then it is okay (and) it is from the sunnah

وأما ما يفعله بعض الأخوة من الشباب الساكنين في مكان واحد من إقامة التهجد جماعة في كل ليلة هذا خلاف السنة.

As for what some of the brothers perform of the youth who live in one place (together) in establishing tahajjud in congregation every night, then this is in opposition to the Sunnah

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Also Ash-Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-Uthaymeen, rahimahullah, said:

… والتهجد أيضاً تجوز فيه الجماعة أحياناً لا دائماً؛ ودليل ذلك أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم صلى جماعة ببعض أصحابه، فمرة صلى معه عبد الله بن عباس رضي الله عنهما، ومرة صلى معه عبد الله بن مسعود، ومرة صلى معه حذيفة بن اليمان، لكن هذا ليس راتباً أي لا يفعله كل ليلة ولكن أحياناً،

… And it is permissible to pray tahajud in congregation sometimes, (but) not all the time. And the proof for that is the Prophet sallahu alayhi wa salam prayed it in congregation with some of his Companions; at one occasion Abdullah ibn Abbas prayed with Him and at another occasion Abdullah ibn Mas’ood prayed with him and another time Hudayfa bin al-Yamaan prayed with him. However, this is not something consistent, meaning he shouldn’t do it every night, (but) rather only sometimes.

فإذا قام الإنسان يتهجد وقد نزل به ضيف وصلى معه هذا الضيف جماعة في تهجده ووتره فلا بأس به، أما دائماً فلا.

So in a incident wherein a person began to pray tahajjud and a guest came to visit him and then began to pray along with him in tahajjud and in witr as a congregation, then it is okay. As for doing that every time then no.

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Translated by

AbdulFattaah bin Uthman
Abu Fajr