Abu Hurairah (RA) reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to exhort (his Companions) to pray (at night) during Ramadan without commanding them to observe it as an obligatory act, and say: He who observed the night prayer in Ramadan because of faith and seeking his reward (from Allah), all his previous sins would be forgiven. When Allahs Messenger ﷺ died, this was the practice, and it continued thus during Abu Bakrs caliphate and the early part of Umars caliphate.