And the evidence that the command to pray in the dwellings on a night like that is a command of permission for him, not an obligation.

Hazrat Abu Salamah bin Abdur Rahman (may Allah have mercy on him) narrates that when Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) passed away, I said (in my heart), "By Allah, if I go to serve Sayyiduna Abu Saeed (may Allah be pleased with him) for the sake of acquiring knowledge, it would be much better." Therefore, I went to his service. Then he narrated a long hadith about the story of the date palm branches of 'Arajeen. He said, "Then that night, clouds gathered abundantly (and it rained heavily). When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) came out for the 'Isha prayer, lightning flashed, by which he (peace and blessings be upon him) saw Sayyiduna Qatadah bin Nu'man (may Allah be pleased with him) and asked, 'O Qatadah, how did you come walking on such a night?' He replied, 'O Messenger of Allah, I knew that tonight there would be few worshippers, so I preferred to perform the prayer in congregation.' Upon this, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, 'When you have performed the prayer, remain standing until I give you permission to leave.' Then, when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) completed the prayer, he gave Sayyiduna Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) a branch of date palm and said, 'Take this branch; it will illuminate ten (hand spans) ahead of you and ten behind you. Then, when you enter your house and see a shadow in a corner of the house, strike it before speaking, for it is a devil.' The narrator says that he did exactly as instructed—therefore, we also like those branches."