Abu Tharr, may Allah be pleased with him, said,
We fasted with the Messenger of Allah during Ramadan, and he did not lead us in voluntary night prayer until seven nights remained (i.e. just before the end of the month); that was when he led us in prayer until a third of the night had passed. When six nights remained, he did not lead us in prayer. When five nights remained, he led us in prayer until a half of the night had gone. So I said, “O Messenger of Allah, I wish you had led us in voluntary prayers for the entire night.” The Prophet replied:“When a man prays with an Imaam until the Imaam leaves, he is considered to have spent the whole night in prayer.” When four nights remained, the Prophet did not lead us in prayer. When three nights were remaining, he gathered his family, his wives, and the people and lead us in prayer for so long that we were afraid we might miss the Falaah. (A sub-narrator of this narration asked, “What is Falaah?” Abu Tharr replied, “The meal before daybreak.”) Then he did not lead us in prayer for the remainder of the month. [Abu Daawood, An-Nasaa’i, At-Tirmithi and Ibn Maajah (At-Tirmithi: Saheeh (Authentic))]
Benefits and rulings:
First: TheTaraaweeh prayer is a Sunnah and the Prophet, , left it (in congregation) lest it would become obligatory upon the Muslims.
Second: It is permissible for women to offer the Taraaweeh prayer in congregation with men at mosques, based on the fact that the Prophet, , gathered his family, wives and people and lead them in prayer.
Third: Whoever prays with the Imaam until the Imaam finishes prayer and departs will obtain the reward of praying the whole night. A Muslim should not miss this massive goodness and be keen on performing Taraaweeh prayer every night in Ramadan. Once Imaam Ahmad ibn Hanbal was asked, “Which is better; a man praying (Taraaweeh) in congregation or alone?” He said, “It is better to pray with people to revive the Sunnah. It is also better with to pray with the Imaam until the Witr (prayer).”
Fourth: According to the Sunnah, the Taraaweeh prayer should be offered at the beginning of the night, like the Prophet, , and his Companions did. Once Imaam Ahmad was asked, “Do you delay Taraaweeh prayer until the last part of night?” He replied, “No, I favor the Sunnah of Muslims.” Once Shaykh Ibn Baaz was asked about the ruling if people agreed to pray Witr at the last part of night, he replied, “Praying Witr in congregation at the beginning of the night with the people is better.”
Fifth: If a Muslim still has energy for worship, he/she should perform extra voluntary Rak’ahs (units) later at night after finishing from the congregational voluntary prayers, thus combining two good actions: performing prayer in congregation with the Imaam until the end and performing prayer at the last part of the night.