Taraweeh Prayers - 8 or 20 rakats?

[TheHumbleWun]

Salaam,

What's the Ulema's take on the Taraweeh prayers. It is 8 or 20 rakats? What is each school of thoughts opinion on this. I've heard some people can't concentrate doing all 20 rakat so they leave early or they simply have other things (i.e. work, parents to take care of, etc).

Jazakallah khair

 

[Aapa]

Salaam,

This is what I found:

*removed*

 

[Shahzad]

20 rakats taraweeh is mutual agreement of scholars.

 

[xSharingan01x]

The question was relating to 'taraweh prayers' and the Sheikh goes on and on about Wahabi and defames Salafiya movement.

I don't trust this source. (I'm not referring to their position on taraweh)

 

[Al-Kashmiri]

The question was relating to 'taraweh prayers' and the Sheikh goes on and on about Wahabi and defames Salafiya movement.

I don't trust this source. (I'm not referring to their position on taraweh)

20 rakats taraweeh is mutual agreement of scholars.

Salaam,

This is what I found:

*removed*

As-salaamu `alaykum.

It's from an infamous book. Sorry mirajmom, but it had to be deleted. The man who authored that book should bare in mind the saying, that one who tries to refute the scholars is like the one who spits at the moon; his own saliva lands back on himself (I believe the Shaykh responded to the book by saying that what was written holds some water, and that if he were to right a book refuting the author, it would amount to volumes)!!! If one were to actually read the works of Shaykh Al-Albaanee on the subject and pay attention to his statements, they will realise that he only condluded that following the Messenger, sall-Allaahu `alayhi wasallam, by praying 8 rak`ahs is better than following the companions and Imaams who prayed 20 rak`ahs, or praying 36 rak`ahs like the Maalikis, etc. Anyway, the difference of opinion here is of genuine differing, so let's not start claiming ijmaa`. In fact, the claim of ijmaa` would oppose a mutually agreed upon hadeeth,

"Whether it was Ramadan or any other month, Allaah's Messenger, sall-Allaahu `alayhi wasallam did not pray more than eleven rak`aat. He would pray four - and do not ask about their beauty of length. Then he would pray four - and do not ask about their beauty or length. Then he would pray three".
[Agreed upon. Also recorded by Aby Daawood, At-Tirmidhee, An-Nasaa'ee, Ahmad, Maalik, Al-Bayhaqi, Abu `Uwaanah and others]​

Imaam As-Suyootee said (see Al-Hawlee lil-Fataawee),

"We conclude that praying twenty rak`aat was not substantiated by his action, sall-Allaahu `alayhi wasallam. The hadeeth recorded by Ibn Hibbaan strongly supports our position of adhering to what Al-Bukhaaree has recorded from the hadeeth of `Aa'ishah, that he, sall-Allaahu `alayhi wasallam, did not pray, whether in Ramadaan or any other month. more than 11 rak`aat..."

He then mentions that the 3 rak`aat mentioned in the above hadeeth are the 3 for witr. The above was taken from Muhammad Al-Jibaly's excellent work on this subject titled "The Night Prayers: Qiyaam and Taraaweeh". Anyway, the point here isn't to adamantly push the opinion that it is 8 rak`aat, as the `Ullemaa' differed. Rather the main point in me mentioning this, is due to the claim that there is ijmaa` regarding praying 20 rak`aat. How can there be ijmaa` if it is in opposition to the ahaadeeth of Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim!?

Also, it is better of course to follow the action of the Messenger sall-Allaahu `alayhi wasallam as we all know. Remember that Imaam Maalik said that, "Everyone's opinion is either rejected or accepted, except for the companion of this grave", and then he pointed to the Messenger's, sall-Allaahu `alayhi wasallam, grave.

Salaam,

What's the Ulema's take on the Taraweeh prayers. It is 8 or 20 rakats? What is each school of thoughts opinion on this. I've heard some people can't concentrate doing all 20 rakat so they leave early or they simply have other things (i.e. work, parents to take care of, etc).

Jazakallah khair

Akhi, Shaykh `Uthaymeen, rahimahullaah, mentioned that it is better that even if the Imaam is praying 20 rak`aat, that you stay behind and finish with the Imaam. The reason for this is due to the hadeeth which states that one who prays with the Imaam until he finishes, then it is recorded for him that he prayed the whole night. Hence if you pray 8 and then leave, you are short of this reward. I can't find the fatwa now, when I do I'll post it.

Hope it helps.

Wa`alaykum salaam

 

[Shahzad]

im sick of "ghair muqalid" beleif of brother al-kashmiri.

no one can prosper without the guidance of scholars. He/she will fall astray if he tries to follow quraan and sunnah himself only.

 

[shaheeda35]

:salam2:

THIS IS WHAT I FOUND:

ALLAH'S MESSENGER WOULD NOT PERFORM MORE THAN ELEVEN RAK'AAT(FOR THE NIGHT PRAYER)IN RAMADAN OR OUT OF IT. HE WOULD PRAY FOUR RAK'AAT, BUT DO NOT ASK ABOUT HOW FINE OR LONG THEY WERE. THEN HE WOULD PRAY ANOTHER FOUR RAK'AAT, BUT DO NOT ASK ABOUT HOW FINE OR LONG THEY WERE. THEN HE WOULD PRAY THREE RAK'AAT.


REPORTED BY AL-BUKHAREE, MUSLIM AND OTHERS AND IT HAS BEEN REFERENCED IN SALAAT-UT-TARAWEEH(20-21) AND SAHEEH SUNAN ABEE DAWOOD(1212).

 

[Al-Kashmiri]

im sick of "ghair muqalid" beleif of brother al-kashmiri.

no one can prosper without the guidance of scholars. He/she will fall astray if he tries to follow quraan and sunnah himself only.

Maa shaa Allaah! Look who's talking! I mentioned ahaadeeth, with the explanation of Imaam as-Suyootee. On the contrary you mention nothing but your false opinion without any evidence! Amazing!

 

[Alessia]

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!
I am doing 11 because this was the hadith of aishah(may allah be pleased with her).I am a revert muslim, I have no idea of schools of thought and great scholars.So I am going with the sunnah.It sais 11, I am doing 11.

 

[Shahzad]

since u dont follow any imam, whom shud i refer u to?

I have read a lot on this topic but hadith on internet are hard to find. I have plenty of material in urdu , if u would like to read that?

Or is it shirk ?

 

[Tru3m0sl3m]

The question was relating to 'taraweh prayers' and the Sheikh goes on and on about Wahabi and defames Salafiya movement.

I don't trust this source. (I'm not referring to their position on taraweh)

Assalamoalaikum, hmmm too much flame out there. Inshallah i hope this helps the readers out here. AbdurRahman.org [Concerning the Number of Rak'ahs in Taraaweeh]

 

[Shahzad]

u have read a few lines and u r saying abt ijmaa and stuff. Really this happens when u try to grasp every thing urself, leaving elders behind. U might invent a new islam in future dude

 

[aelshamy]

Every Mathahab (school) have their evidences and they have deferent understanding but they all agree that following the other opinion is allowed.
For me, if I am in egypt I pray 8 rakats and when I am in Saudi Arabia I pray 20 rakats. Still 8 rakats can take a long time if recitation is long, last night it took more than 2 hours from athan to the end of taraweeh.

 

[Shahzad]

brother aelshamy: can u plz tell this to brotther al-kashmiri, who doest follow any school of though?

 

[Al-Kashmiri]

since u dont follow any imam, whom shud i refer u to?

I have read a lot on this topic but hadith on internet are hard to find. I have plenty of material in urdu , if u would like to read that?

Or is it shirk ?

Akhi, quit sterotyping (I say this as you could only have arrived to your conclusion by assumption)! Just because I don't blindly follow the opinions that contradict the sunnah clearly, it does not mean I don't take precedence from the scholars in every issue. Rather I value the statements of all of the salaf and those who followed them, so fear Allaah with regards to your accusations! And if you are asking about the four Imaams, then I prefer the sayings of Ash-Shaafi`ee and Ibn Hanbal; the Ashaab ul-Hadeeth, as oppose to Ashaab ur-Ra'i. Anyway, why do you seek to argue when the Prophet sall-Allaahu `alayhi wasallam said,

"Fasting is not (merely abstaining) from eating and drinking, rather it is (abstaining) from ignorant and indecent speech, so if anyone abuses or behaves ignorantly with you then say:, 'I am fasting, I am fasting'"
[Ibn Khuzaymah]​

I should've replied saying just, "I am fasting, I am fasting".

Was-salaam

 

[Shahzad]

haah!!! there are a lot of others who are fasting. U shud have thought that before replying to independence day thread.

Also, the pile of hadith and so big that u cant just pick 1 hadith and decide wat to do and delcare other big names wrong.

Didnt they know wat u have come know ? didnt they have enough knowledge ? Person like me , born after 1400 years cant decide better than those who have seen sahabah with their very eyes and wrote such big books after that. They know beetter than us and they were better in Taqwa than Us. They used to spend nights for 1 single line and wat we do? read a hadith and DECLARE that every one is wrong and im right.

Think before u leap. I dont want to argue with u and i have come to know who u r younger brother. Try to stay in company of "Saleh". InshALLAH u will get to know the truth.

 

[Al-Kashmiri]

haah!!! there are a lot of others who are fasting. U shud have thought that before replying to independence day thread.

Also, the pile of hadith and so big that u cant just pick 1 hadith and decide wat to do and delcare other big names wrong.

Didnt they know wat u have come know ? didnt they have enough knowledge ? Person like me , born after 1400 years cant decide better than those who have seen sahabah with their very eyes and wrote such big books after that. They know beetter than us and they were better in Taqwa than Us. They used to spend nights for 1 single line and wat we do? read a hadith and DECLARE that every one is wrong and im right.

Think before u leap. I dont want to argue with u and i have come to know who u r younger brother. Try to stay in company of "Saleh". InshALLAH u will get to know the truth.

Akhi, please learn to read before reading my posts; I'm serious about that. I didn't decalre anyone wrong, a`uthoobillaah. Alhamdulillaah, the users who can read my posts can clearly see what I said. Here, I'll paste some of it for you,

If one were to actually read the works of Shaykh Al-Albaanee on the subject and pay attention to his statements, they will realise that he only condluded that following the Messenger, sall-Allaahu `alayhi wasallam, by praying 8 rak`ahs is better than following the companions and Imaams who prayed 20 rak`ahs, or praying 36 rak`ahs like the Maalikis, etc. Anyway, the difference of opinion here is of genuine differing, so let's not start claiming ijmaa`. In fact, the claim of ijmaa` would oppose a mutually agreed upon hadeeth,

"Whether it was Ramadan or any other month, Allaah's Messenger, sall-Allaahu `alayhi wasallam did not pray more than eleven rak`aat. He would pray four - and do not ask about their beauty of length. Then he would pray four - and do not ask about their beauty or length. Then he would pray three".
[Agreed upon. Also recorded by Aby Daawood, At-Tirmidhee, An-Nasaa'ee, Ahmad, Maalik, Al-Bayhaqi, Abu `Uwaanah and others]

Imaam As-Suyootee said (see Al-Hawlee lil-Fataawee),

"We conclude that praying twenty rak`aat was not substantiated by his action, sall-Allaahu `alayhi wasallam. The hadeeth recorded by Ibn Hibbaan strongly supports our position of adhering to what Al-Bukhaaree has recorded from the hadeeth of `Aa'ishah, that he, sall-Allaahu `alayhi wasallam, did not pray, whether in Ramadaan or any other month. more than 11 rak`aat..."

He then mentions that the 3 rak`aat mentioned in the above hadeeth are the 3 for witr. The above was taken from Muhammad Al-Jibaly's excellent work on this subject titled "The Night Prayers: Qiyaam and Taraaweeh". Anyway, the point here isn't to adamantly push the opinion that it is 8 rak`aat, as the `Ullemaa' differed. Rather the main point in me mentioning this, is due to the claim that there is ijmaa` regarding praying 20 rak`aat. How can there be ijmaa` if it is in opposition to the ahaadeeth of Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim!?

Anyway, I think some of this is a result of a misunderstanding, `afwaan. It seems that I was still editing my post when you sent your reply, hence you only saw the initial paragraph (which still would've gone against your claims, as I only outlined Shaykh Al-Albaanee's opinion (in defense of the criticism posted) and not my own). Regarding the Sahaabah, then again I don't disagree, but somehow you think that I've opposed them, claimed to know better than them, when all I did is give preference to the agreed upon ahaadeeth, and left it at that. I didn't say anything further then that?! On the same token, if you were to cite a hadeeth, other than what I mentioned, would it be fair for me to say that you opposed the Messenger of Allaah, sall-Allaahu `alayhi wasallam and the Sahaabah, and Imaams Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim? No, so how is it correct and just for you to make such an accusation?

Was-salaam

 

[TheHumbleWun]

As-salaamu `alaykum.

It's from an infamous book. Sorry mirajmom, but it had to be deleted. The man who authored that book should bare in mind the saying, that one who tries to refute the scholars is like the one who spits at the moon; his own saliva lands back on himself (I believe the Shaykh responded to the book by saying that what was written holds some water, and that if he were to right a book refuting the author, it would amount to volumes)!!! If one were to actually read the works of Shaykh Al-Albaanee on the subject and pay attention to his statements, they will realise that he only condluded that following the Messenger, sall-Allaahu `alayhi wasallam, by praying 8 rak`ahs is better than following the companions and Imaams who prayed 20 rak`ahs, or praying 36 rak`ahs like the Maalikis, etc. Anyway, the difference of opinion here is of genuine differing, so let's not start claiming ijmaa`. In fact, the claim of ijmaa` would oppose a mutually agreed upon hadeeth,

"Whether it was Ramadan or any other month, Allaah's Messenger, sall-Allaahu `alayhi wasallam did not pray more than eleven rak`aat. He would pray four - and do not ask about their beauty of length. Then he would pray four - and do not ask about their beauty or length. Then he would pray three".
[Agreed upon. Also recorded by Aby Daawood, At-Tirmidhee, An-Nasaa'ee, Ahmad, Maalik, Al-Bayhaqi, Abu `Uwaanah and others]​

Imaam As-Suyootee said (see Al-Hawlee lil-Fataawee),

"We conclude that praying twenty rak`aat was not substantiated by his action, sall-Allaahu `alayhi wasallam. The hadeeth recorded by Ibn Hibbaan strongly supports our position of adhering to what Al-Bukhaaree has recorded from the hadeeth of `Aa'ishah, that he, sall-Allaahu `alayhi wasallam, did not pray, whether in Ramadaan or any other month. more than 11 rak`aat..."

He then mentions that the 3 rak`aat mentioned in the above hadeeth are the 3 for witr. The above was taken from Muhammad Al-Jibaly's excellent work on this subject titled "The Night Prayers: Qiyaam and Taraaweeh". Anyway, the point here isn't to adamantly push the opinion that it is 8 rak`aat, as the `Ullemaa' differed. Rather the main point in me mentioning this, is due to the claim that there is ijmaa` regarding praying 20 rak`aat. How can there be ijmaa` if it is in opposition to the ahaadeeth of Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim!?

Also, it is better of course to follow the action of the Messenger sall-Allaahu `alayhi wasallam as we all know. Remember that Imaam Maalik said that, "Everyone's opinion is either rejected or accepted, except for the companion of this grave", and then he pointed to the Messenger's, sall-Allaahu `alayhi wasallam, grave.



Akhi, Shaykh `Uthaymeen, rahimahullaah, mentioned that it is better that even if the Imaam is praying 20 rak`aat, that you stay behind and finish with the Imaam. The reason for this is due to the hadeeth which states that one who prays with the Imaam until he finishes, then it is recorded for him that he prayed the whole night. Hence if you pray 8 and then leave, you are short of this reward. I can't find the fatwa now, when I do I'll post it.

Hope it helps.

Wa`alaykum salaam

Asalaam'alikum,

Thank you everyone for all the responses. I can boldly state that we are ALL sure that Taraweeh prayers are not mandatory. It's optional. It has it's rewards. I'm sure Allah swt rewards whether a person prays 8, 20 or even 2 rakats accordingly. The reward for attending the masjid, the reward for doing Taraweeh, and many other blessings.

Since the hadith says the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not do more than 11 rakats for Ramadan or any other month nor can we question it's beauty or length, then I see what brother Aelshamy is saying, because you can technically do 8 rakats but you can make the recitations longer so that it's equivalent to 20 rakats. Either way the Quran has to be finished recited by the end of the month. That's what I'm understanding.

I also understand, whether the imam does 8 or 20 rakats you should try to complete it with him. Thank you for mentioning this. It would be nice to see the fatwa on this, even though it makes sence logically.

I did not intend to initate an arguement out of this. May Allah forgive me. Brothers when getting in a arguement just say "Salaamalikum" to each other and subhanallah it works everytime when I get into one. Besides it's Ramadan

 

[xSharingan01x]

My Masjid prays 8 rakas for taraweh and 3 rakas Witr after that, so I will just follow the Imam for now until I know enough about the issue.


Anyway, the original link posted by sister Mirjamom (sunnah.org) seems very questionable to me, especially of the opinion they give concerning other issues.
The manner which he wrote the 'opinion' concerning taraweh was also rude, I would not have expected that from a sheikh.
The question was about Taraweh prayer, and the sheikh went on and on babbling about Wahabi this Saudi oil money that. Very biased and off topic.

Thanks for deleting Al-Kashmiri

Wasalam

 

[mezeren]

:salam2:

Dear brothers and sisters,i will try to write what i found and because my source is not english i will try to make it short and clear.here is what i got;

There is a hadeeth that is well known about taraweeh where Prophet first performed it in the masjid and there is no information about the amount of rakahs of the taraweeh.

Secondly,there is a hadeeth from Aisha (r.a.) where 11 or 13 were mantioned about the amount of rakahs of night prayers but it is not certain whether Aisha(r.a.) had said it before or after the first taraweeh is performed.So,it is not certain that this hadeeth includes taraweeh.

Thirdly,there are narrations about the era of Omar(r.a.).there is a narration about the begining of his khaliphet that Omar(r.a.) ordered U’bey İbn Kâ’b to perform the taraweeh 11 rakahs,but later,narrations shows that he ordered people to perform the taraweeh 20 rakahs and Otthman(r.a.) and Ali(r.a.) followed him about the matter.

Lastly,what i’ll write below will be a good conclusion;

İmam Abu Yusuf asked his teacher Abu Hanifa that what the ruling on taraweeh was and what Omar’s proofs on the prayer’s being performed 20 rakahs with camaah were.

İmam-ı Azam said;

“For sure taraweeh is a Sunnah Muakkad.Omar’s(r.a.) performing it 20 rakat with camaat was neither his ictihad nor his own thinking.He was not someone who makes bidas which are not valid during Asr-ı Saadat.Certainly,Omar(r.a.) based this on one of the main sources of the religion which was known by him and on an advice from the Prophet(saw).”