The number of rak'ahs in the Tarawih prayer
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Question:
This questioner used a code for his name, F, from Riyadh. He says: Honorable Shaykh, last year, during Ramadan, some students of knowledge were harsh with me when I prayed thirteen rak'ahs of Tarawih in Ramadan, and they asked me to stick to eleven rak'ahs, saying that this is what is established, and they insisted on this. So what is the correct ruling? May Allah reward you.
Answer:
[Al-Fatihah 1:1-2] May Allah send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions. First, the tarawih prayer has not been specified by a certain number of rak'ahs. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) encouraged standing in night prayer but did not specify it by a number of rak'ahs. He encouraged standing in prayer during Ramadan in particular, but did not specify a number. Rather, he said (peace and blessings be upon him): Sahih al-Bukhari 37 Sunan an-Nasa'i 2194Sahih (Darussalam). In another hadith: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 806Sahih (Darussalam), and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not specify that.
Second, their saying that one should not go beyond eleven is a mistake. They say that it is not established, but it is established from the Messenger that he used to pray eleven or thirteen. So both are established, and the matter is broad in this regard. When the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) prayed Tarawih in the time of 'Umar behind a single imam, he used to pray twenty-three rak'ahs with them, which indicates that the matter is broad. However, as Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah said, this returns to the manner of the prayer. Whoever lengthens the recitation, standing, bowing, and prostration reduces the number of rak'ahs, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did, praying thirteen or eleven. As for whoever lightens the recitation, standing, bowing, and prostration to make it easier for the people and those praying behind him, he prays twenty-three, or more, or less, as the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) did. So there is no restriction in this matter and no strictness in this matter, as some believe that increasing beyond thirteen or ten is an innovation. This is a mistake. This is a mistake on their part and a hasty statement. So on this basis, the Companions would be innovators because they prayed twenty-three. Therefore, the Muslim, or especially the student of knowledge, must hold himself accountable for these words he says. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you and bless you,
This questioner used a code for his name, F, from Riyadh. He says: Honorable Shaykh, last year, during Ramadan, some students of knowledge were harsh with me when I prayed thirteen rak'ahs of Tarawih in Ramadan, and they asked me to stick to eleven rak'ahs, saying that this is what is established, and they insisted on this. So what is the correct ruling? May Allah reward you.
Answer:
(1) In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. (2) [All] praise is [due] to Allah, Lord of the worlds -
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَWhoever 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
من قام رمضان إيمانا واحتسابا غفر لهhis previous sins
ما تقدم من ذنبهIndeed, whoever stands (praying) with the Imam until he finished, then it is recorded for him that he prayed the whole night.
من قام مع الإمام حتى ينصرف كتب له قيام ليلةSecond, their saying that one should not go beyond eleven is a mistake. They say that it is not established, but it is established from the Messenger that he used to pray eleven or thirteen. So both are established, and the matter is broad in this regard. When the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) prayed Tarawih in the time of 'Umar behind a single imam, he used to pray twenty-three rak'ahs with them, which indicates that the matter is broad. However, as Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah said, this returns to the manner of the prayer. Whoever lengthens the recitation, standing, bowing, and prostration reduces the number of rak'ahs, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did, praying thirteen or eleven. As for whoever lightens the recitation, standing, bowing, and prostration to make it easier for the people and those praying behind him, he prays twenty-three, or more, or less, as the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) did. So there is no restriction in this matter and no strictness in this matter, as some believe that increasing beyond thirteen or ten is an innovation. This is a mistake. This is a mistake on their part and a hasty statement. So on this basis, the Companions would be innovators because they prayed twenty-three. Therefore, the Muslim, or especially the student of knowledge, must hold himself accountable for these words he says. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you and bless you,
Source
نور على الدرب - الفوزان - 03/203 — archive.org (0:55)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.