The Ruling on the Tarawih Prayer and Its Manner of Performance
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The first and fifth questions from Fatwa No. ( 5316 ):
Q1: What is the ruling in Islam regarding the Tarawih prayer and its manner of performance? We have a severe disagreement among us. Some people begin by saying, "The prayer of standing, may Allah reward you," then they pray two rak'ahs and stand saying, "O Allah, send blessings and peace upon our master Muhammad," in a loud voice. The imam says it, and all the worshippers behind him say it. When he prays the second two rak'ahs, he recites Surat al-Ikhlas
and the two chapters of protection (al-Mu'awwidhatayn) in a loud voice, and the worshippers behind him say it as well. And when he finishes the Tarawih prayer, he recites something similar (three times). And when we say that this is not a prescribed practice, he tells you, "This is a good deed and a good innovation." Is there such a thing as a good innovation in Islam? What is your opinion on this, and how is this Sunnah prayed? May Allah reward you with good?
A1: The people's saying, "The prayer of standing, may Allah reward you," the imam's saying, "O Allah, send blessings and peace upon our master Muhammad," in a loud voice, the followers' saying it after him, and the recitation of Surat al-Ikhlas and the two chapters of protection in a loud voice after the two rak'ahs—all of this is from the newly invented religious innovations (bid'ah). It is established that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih Muslim 1718a , and he used to say (peace and blessings be upon him) in the Friday sermon: Sahih Muslim 867a narrated by Muslim in his Sahih. And by this, it is known that all innovations are misguidance, as the Chosen One (peace and blessings be upon him) said, and there is no good innovation in Islam.
Q1: What is the ruling in Islam regarding the Tarawih prayer and its manner of performance? We have a severe disagreement among us. Some people begin by saying, "The prayer of standing, may Allah reward you," then they pray two rak'ahs and stand saying, "O Allah, send blessings and peace upon our master Muhammad," in a loud voice. The imam says it, and all the worshippers behind him say it. When he prays the second two rak'ahs, he recites Surat al-Ikhlas
and the two chapters of protection (al-Mu'awwidhatayn) in a loud voice, and the worshippers behind him say it as well. And when he finishes the Tarawih prayer, he recites something similar (three times). And when we say that this is not a prescribed practice, he tells you, "This is a good deed and a good innovation." Is there such a thing as a good innovation in Islam? What is your opinion on this, and how is this Sunnah prayed? May Allah reward you with good?
A1: The people's saying, "The prayer of standing, may Allah reward you," the imam's saying, "O Allah, send blessings and peace upon our master Muhammad," in a loud voice, the followers' saying it after him, and the recitation of Surat al-Ikhlas and the two chapters of protection in a loud voice after the two rak'ahs—all of this is from the newly invented religious innovations (bid'ah). It is established that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
'A'isha reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: He who innovates things in our affairs for which there is no valid (reason) (commits sin) and these are to be rejected.
من أحدث في أمرنا هذا ما ليس منه فهو ردThe best of the speech is embodied in the Book of Allah, and the best of the guidance is the guidance given by Muhammad. And the most evil affairs are their innovations; and every innovation is error.
أما بعد: فإن خير الحديث كتاب الله، وخير الهدي هدي محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم، وشر الأمور محدثاتها، وكل بدعة ضلالة
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.