Sahih Muslim 1163 b
Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported that he (the Messenger of Allah) was asked as to which prayer was most excellent after the prescribed prayer, and which fast was most excellent after the month of Ramadan. He said: Prayer offered in the middle of the night and the most excellent fast after (fasting) in the month of Ramadan is the fast in God’s month al-Muharram.
- The meaning of the hadith is that Abu Huraira, a companion of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), reported that he was asked which voluntary prayer and fast were most excellent after the obligatory prayers and fasting during the month of Ramadan. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) replied that the most excellent voluntary prayer is the one offered in the middle of the night, also known as Tahajjud or Qiyam al-Layl, and the most excellent voluntary fast after Ramadan is fasting during the month of Muharram, which is considered as “God’s month” in Islam. This hadith emphasizes the importance and virtue of night prayer and fasting in the month of Muharram as acts of worship in Islam.
