How many rak'ahs are in the Tarawih prayer, and what is the ruling on one who stands to pray at night after having already prayed Witr in the Tarawih?

The questioner:
May Allah reward you with good and do you well. A sister from Algeria sent a message containing several questions. In one of them, she says: We are a group of sisters in the month of Ramadan, and a teacher leads us in the Tarawih, Shaf', and Witr prayers. The number of rak'ahs for Tarawih is [unclear] rak'ahs. Then, we individually stand at midnight and pray until Fajr. Is this correct? We note that we pray in congregation from the mushaf. May Allah reward you with good. Also, please guide us on the number of rak'ahs of Tarawih that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to pray, and the manner of it, if you would be so kind, as well as everything related to this prayer. May Allah reward you with good and do you well.

The Shaykh:
There is no fixed limit to the number of rak'ahs in the Tarawih prayer. However, the practice among scholars varies. Some pray eleven rak'ahs or thirteen rak'ahs. If eleven, eight are Tarawih and three are Witr. If thirteen, ten are Tarawih, prayed in pairs, and three are Witr, making a total of thirteen. This aligns with the action of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), as he or thirteen rak'ahs. The Companions used to pray Tarawih; some would pray twenty-three, some would add more, and some would reduce the number. What was done in the time of 'Umar in the mosque of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was that they prayed Tarawih behind a single imam, whom 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) gathered them under. He would lead them in twenty-three rak'ahs: twenty rak'ahs of Tarawih in pairs, and three rak'ahs of Witr. There is no harm in increasing or decreasing the number. However, one should reduce the number of rak'ahs if the prayer is prolonged, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did. If the prayer is kept light, one may increase the number of rak'ahs. There is no evidence from the Sunnah for a fixed limit; rather, it depends on the length or brevity of the prayer, as mentioned. Any number prayed is sufficient, if Allah wills, provided the prayer is perfected, the recitation is perfected, and tranquility is observed. One must also consider the condition of the ma'mum behind him, not burdening them with excessive length, nor shortening it so much that they fail to perform the obligatory parts of the prayer. One should take a middle course. If a person prays Tarawih at the beginning of the night and concludes with Witr behind the imam, that is better, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) If one wishes to pray Tahajjud in the last part of the night, there is no objection to it; indeed, this brings additional good. One stands in the last part of the night and prays whatever is easy until Fajr appears, relying on the first Witr prayed with the imam in Tarawih, and praying whatever is easy in the last part of the night. Yes.

The presenter:
May Allah reward you with good, and may Allah reward you.

The questioner:
Is there guidance on their delaying Witr to another time and not praying Witr with the imam, O Shaykh Sami?

The Shaykh:
It is better to pray Witr with the imam and to follow the imam, so that they may obtain the reward mentioned by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): "Whoever stands in prayer with the imam until he concludes is recorded as having prayed the night." Yes.