Tarawih Prayer in Congregation: The Practice of the Salaf
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The second question of Fatwa No. ( 19178 )
Q2: Did the righteous Salaf not perform the Tarawih prayer in congregation?
A2: The Tarawih prayer is a recommended practice (sunnah) established by the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) encouraged its performance and urged people to do so, saying:Sahih al-Bukhari 37. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed it, leading his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) for three nights. Then, when he feared it would become obligatory upon his Ummah, he did not go out to his Companions and prayed it in his house. Al-Bukhari reported in his (Sahih) from Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) stood in the mosque one night and prayed, and people prayed with him. Then he prayed the next night and the people increased. Then they gathered on the third or fourth night, but he did not come out to them. When morning came, he said: Sahih Muslim 761a. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) encouraged them to pray it on their own, so a man would pray it alone, two would pray together, and three would pray in congregation. The Muslims continued to do so during the time of Abu Bakr and the early part of the caliphate of Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both). Then Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) saw that it was best to gather them under one imam, as he was secure from it becoming obligatory due to the cessation of revelation with the death
of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). So he gathered them under Tamim al-Dari and Ubayy ibn Ka'b (may Allah be pleased with them both), because there is good in their gathering for prayer and listening to the Qur'an. Thus, the Muslims have been praying it in congregation to this day, and all praise is due to Allah. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q2: Did the righteous Salaf not perform the Tarawih prayer in congregation?
A2: The Tarawih prayer is a recommended practice (sunnah) established by the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) encouraged its performance and urged people to do so, saying:
Whoever establishes prayers during the nights of Ramadan faithfully out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah's rewards (not for showing off), all his past sins will be forgiven.
من قام رمضان إيمانًا واحتسابًا غفر له ما تقدم من ذنبهI saw what you were doing, but I desisted to come to you (and lead the prayer) for I feared that this prayer might become obligatory for you.
قد رأيت الذي صنعتم فلم يمنعني من الخروج إليكم إلا أني خشيت أن تفرض عليكمof the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). So he gathered them under Tamim al-Dari and Ubayy ibn Ka'b (may Allah be pleased with them both), because there is good in their gathering for prayer and listening to the Qur'an. Thus, the Muslims have been praying it in congregation to this day, and all praise is due to Allah. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.