1071/1 - ‘Uthmān ibn ‘Affān (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) say: “If a person offers the ‘Ishā’ prayer in congregation, it is as if he has prayed for half of the night, and if he offers the Fajr prayer in congregation, it is as if he has prayed all night long.” [Narrated by Muslim]
In a version by Al-Tirmidhi, ‘Uthmān ibn ‘Affān (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “If a person attends the ‘Ishā’ prayer in congregation, he will have the reward for praying for half of the night, and if he attends the ‘Ishā’ and Fajr prayers in congregation, he will have the reward for praying the whole night.” [Al-Tirmidhi classified this Hadīth as Hasan Sahīh (sound and authentic)]
1) The Fajr and ‘Ishā’ prayers are singled out in recognition of their merit and the great rewards they bring.
2) Only a person guided and helped by his Lord would regularly attend the Fajr and ‘Ishā’ prayers in congregation and obtain the relevant rewards.
1072/2 - Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “... and were they to know the merits of the ‘Ishā’ and Fajr prayers, they would come to them even if they had to crawl.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim] It has been previously cited in its entirety.
1073/3 - He also reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “No prayer is more burdensome to the hypocrites than the Fajr and ‘Ishā’ prayers; and were they to know their merit, they would come to them, even if they had to crawl.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
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1) A person’s ignorance of the great reward and his weak willpower make him neglect worship and acts of piety.
2) True faith within a person’s heart prompts him to endure difficulty in worship. Regular performance of the Fajr and ‘Ishā’ prayers in congregation is a sign of true and sincere faith.