Question
عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ أَنَّهُ كَانَ يَقُولُ ”مَنْ صَلَّى فِي مَسْجِدٍ جَمَاعَةً أَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةً لاَ تَفُوتُهُ الرَّكْعَةُ الأُولَى مِنْ صَلاَةِ الْعِشَاءِ كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ بِهَا عِتْقًا مِنَ النَّارِ“
Answer
This is recorded by Imams Ibn Majah and Abu Ya’la (rahimahumallah) with a weak chain.
After quoting this Hadith, Hafiz Ibn Kathir (rahimahullah) states: “…this [kind of a narration] is acceptable for encouraging [good] deeds.” [i.e., as is the case with weak Hadiths in general]
(Refer: Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith: 798, Misbahuz Zujajah, Hadith: 301, Targhib, Hadith: 582, Al-Matjarur Rabih, Hadith: 185 and Musnadul Faruq, vol. 1, pg. 197)
Translation
Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:
“Whoever offers ‘Isha Salah in congregation in a Masjid for forty nights without missing the first rak’ah, will be given freedom by Allah Ta’ala from Jahannam.”
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,
Answered by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar