The number of rak'ahs in the Tarawih prayer

Question:
In Ramadan, Honorable Shaykh, what is the best number for the Tarawih prayer? And what is the ruling on increasing beyond eleven rak'ahs?

Answer:
The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not exceed eleven or thirteen rak'ahs in Ramadan or in any other time, but he used to pray alone and lengthen the prayer greatly. The Companions, after the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), during the caliphate of 'Umar, prayed it in the mosque for twenty-three rak'ahs; they lightened the manner of the prayer and increased the number of rak'ahs. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Adhere to after me." So if one lengthens the prayer, the best is to pray as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to pray, eleven or thirteen rak'ahs. But if one lightens the prayer in a way that does not invalidate it, he increases the number of rak'ahs, and there is no fixed limit in that. However, the action of the Companions is undoubtedly a Sunnah in the time of 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), the time of 'Uthman, the time of 'Ali ibn Abi Talib, and the time of the rest of the ten and the rest of the Companions; they all used to pray in the mosque twenty-three rak'ahs. So this is not an innovation. This is not from the innovations. The fewness or multitude of the rak'ahs follows the manner of the prayer, whether lengthening or lightening. Yes.