The Ruling on the Tarawih Prayer and the Number of Its Rak'ahs
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Question:
The questioner asks: Is it obligatory to pray the tarawih prayer every night, and how many rak'ahs are there? May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
The tarawih prayer is every night of Ramadan after the 'Isha' prayer. As for its number, there is no fixed limit; rather, it depends on the manner of the prayer. If the imam lengthens the prayer, prolonging the recitation, bowing, and prostration, he prays eleven or thirteen rak'ahs, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to do. If he lightens the recitation, bowing, and prostration in a way that does not invalidate the prayer, he prays twenty-three rak'ahs, as the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) did during the time of 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), following Abu ibn Ka'b. They used to pray in the mosque of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), in the presence of the Muhajireen and the Ansar, twenty-three rak'ahs, because they lightened the prayer for the followers.
He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: This is the guidance of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) in the congregational tarawih prayer.
It is not permissible for the imam to burden the followers. He says, "I will pray like the prayer of the Messenger." The followers cannot endure the prayer of the Messenger. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) recited in two rak'ahs in Ramadan. He recited in Ramadan in two rak'ahs Surat al-Baqarah, Al-Imran, and An-Nisa.
Five parts and more, and he would not pass a verse containing mercy without pausing to ask for it, nor a verse mentioning punishment without pausing to seek refuge, and he would recite in a measured, melodious manner, and his bowing was approximately the length of his standing, and his prostration was likewise. So who can endure the prayer of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him)?
But the individual is free to lengthen it if he wishes or lighten it if he wishes. As for the one who leads people, he must be moderate; he should not lengthen it to the point of hardship for them, nor lighten it to the point of invalidating the prayer. Yes. Ah.
The questioner asks: Is it obligatory to pray the tarawih prayer every night, and how many rak'ahs are there? May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
The tarawih prayer is every night of Ramadan after the 'Isha' prayer. As for its number, there is no fixed limit; rather, it depends on the manner of the prayer. If the imam lengthens the prayer, prolonging the recitation, bowing, and prostration, he prays eleven or thirteen rak'ahs, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to do. If he lightens the recitation, bowing, and prostration in a way that does not invalidate the prayer, he prays twenty-three rak'ahs, as the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) did during the time of 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), following Abu ibn Ka'b. They used to pray in the mosque of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), in the presence of the Muhajireen and the Ansar, twenty-three rak'ahs, because they lightened the prayer for the followers.
He (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Whoever leads the people, let him lighten the prayer, for among them are the old, the sick, and those in need. And if he prays alone, let him lengthen it as much as he wishes.
أيكم أم الناس فليخفف فإن فيهم الكبير والمريض وذا الحاجة، فإذا صلى وحده فليطول ما شاء.It is not permissible for the imam to burden the followers. He says, "I will pray like the prayer of the Messenger." The followers cannot endure the prayer of the Messenger. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) recited in two rak'ahs in Ramadan. He recited in Ramadan in two rak'ahs Surat al-Baqarah, Al-Imran, and An-Nisa.
Five parts and more, and he would not pass a verse containing mercy without pausing to ask for it, nor a verse mentioning punishment without pausing to seek refuge, and he would recite in a measured, melodious manner, and his bowing was approximately the length of his standing, and his prostration was likewise. So who can endure the prayer of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him)?
But the individual is free to lengthen it if he wishes or lighten it if he wishes. As for the one who leads people, he must be moderate; he should not lengthen it to the point of hardship for them, nor lighten it to the point of invalidating the prayer. Yes. Ah.
Source
مجالس رمضان 1431هـ - 07 — alfawzan.live (29:04)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.