We fasted Ramadan with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and the Prophet ﷺ did not lead us in night prayer until only seven nights of the month remained. He then led us in prayer until about a third of the night had passed. On the sixth remaining night he did not lead us in prayer. On the fifth remaining night he led us in prayer until about half the night had passed.We said, "Messenger of Allah, if only you had led us in voluntary prayer for the rest of this night."He replied, "When a man prays with the imam until he finishes, it is recorded for him as praying the whole night."On the fourth remaining night he did not lead us in prayer. When only three nights of the month remained, he sent for his daughters and his wives and gathered the people, then led us in prayer until we feared we would miss the falah. After that he did not lead us in prayer for the rest of the month.Dawud said, "I asked, 'What is the falah?'"He said, "The pre-dawn meal."
أخبرنا إسمعيل بن مسعود قال حدثنا بشر وهو ابن المفضل قال حدثنا داود بن أبي هند عن الوليد بن عبد الرحمن عن جبير بن نفير
صمنا مع رسول الله ﷺ رمضان فلم يقم بنا النبي ﷺ حتى بقي سبع من الشهر فقام بنا حتى ذهب نحو من ثلث الليل ثم كانت سادسة فلم يقم بنا فلما كانت الخامسة قام بنا حتى ذهب نحو من شطر الليل قلنا يا رسول الله لو نفلتنا قيام هذه الليلة قال إن الرجل إذا صلى مع الإمام حتى ينصرف حسب له قيام ليلة قال ثم كانت الرابعة فلم يقم بنا فلما بقي ثلث من الشهر أرسل إلى بناته ونسائه وحشد الناس فقام بنا حتى خشينا أن يفوتنا الفلاح ثم لم يقم بنا شيئا من الشهر قال داود قلت ما الفلاح قال السحور
[Its chain of transmission is sahih] Recorded by Abu Dawud, Prayer, chapter, On standing in prayer during the month of Ramadan, no. 1375, Tirmidhi, Fasting, chapter, What has been said about standing in prayer during the month of Ramadan, no. 806, and Ibn Majah, Establishing Prayers, chapter, What has been said about standing in prayer during the month of Ramadan, no. 1327, from the hadith of Dawud, through this same route. It is also found in Al-Kubra, no. 1287. Tirmidhi said, hasan sahih, and Ibn Khuzayma graded it sahih, no. 2206, as did Ibn Hibban, no. 919.