Offering Esha Salah in congregation for forty days in any masjid

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 wasallam) 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: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar