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
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar