What is meant by tarawih, and what are the errors that occur in them?

The questioner : Among the acts of worship or means of drawing near to Allah the Exalted in the month of Ramadan are the tarawih. So what is meant by tarawih and tahajjud?

The Shaykh : Tarawih is the standing prayer of Ramadan, about which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: . It is called tarawih because people in the past used to lengthen it, and whenever they prayed four rak'ahs, meaning with two taslims, they would rest for a short while and then resume. Accordingly, the hadith of 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) is understood as follows: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to . By this, she means that he would pray four rak'ahs with two taslims, but he would separate them from the other four. These tarawih are a sunnah (recommended practice) established by the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). However, he (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed with his Companions for three nights, then he stopped and said: .
A person should not neglect them so that he may attain the reward of one who stands in prayer during Ramadan, which is the forgiveness of past sins. We should also maintain them with the imam, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: . It is not hidden that the tarawih performed nowadays contain errors on the part of imams and others.

The questioner : May Allah preserve you until the next meeting.

The Shaykh : We mentioned previously that there are errors committed by some imams, as well as by some people other than imams. As for the errors of the imams, many imams hasten in the tarawih with great speed, such that people are unable to attain tranquility behind them, and it becomes difficult for the elderly, the weak, the sick, and the like. This is contrary to the trust they have been given, for the imam is a trustee and it is obligatory for him to do what is best for the ma'mums (those praying behind the imam). If he were praying alone, he would be free to hasten in a manner that does not compromise tranquility, or to slow down, as he wishes. But when he is an imam, it is obligatory for him to follow what is best for the ma'mum. The scholars have explicitly stated that it is disliked (makruh) for the imam to hasten to a degree that prevents the ma'mums, or some of them, from doing what is required for validity. So what about one who hastens to a degree that prevents some of them from doing what is obligatory, such as tranquility and following the imam? Likewise, some of the ma'mums pray the tarawih in the manner of witr.
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) sometimes prayed witr with five rak'ahs, reciting them in succession without sitting except at the end, or with seven rak'ahs without sitting except at the end, or with nine rak'ahs, sitting in the eighth, then reciting the tashahhud, then standing up and praying the ninth. Some imams do this, and I do not know this to be reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) when he led the people as an imam; rather, he used to do it in his house. Although this action has a basis in the Sunnah—that a person should pray witr with five or seven rak'ahs without sitting except at the end, or with nine, sitting in the eighth, reciting the tashahhud, not saying the taslim, then standing up to pray the ninth, reciting the tashahhud, and saying the taslim—when the imam does this in Ramadan, it confuses the people. A person might enter thinking he has missed two rak'ahs. Also, some people may need to leave if the imam prays four rak'ahs and says the taslim; some people may have a need to relieve themselves or be in a state of urgency, and it becomes difficult for them if the imam prostrates with them for five, seven, or nine rak'ahs. If this imam wants to clarify the Sunnah, we say to him: Clarify the Sunnah with your words. Say: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to pray witr with five, or seven without sitting except at the end, or with nine, praying the eighth, reciting the tashahhud, not saying the taslim, then praying the ninth, reciting the tashahhud, and saying the taslim. Do not do this with a congregation that is ignorant of this matter, or with people who have already missed part of the prayer, as it will be difficult for them. And until now, I do not know that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed witr with his Companions in this manner; rather, he used to pray it in his house. And...
The errors committed by those other than the imams who pray the standing prayer are that some people are found breaking up these tarawih, praying in one mosque with one or two taslims, and in another mosque likewise, and changing the time. This causes them to miss the great reward about which the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: . This is a great deprivation. Also, some of the ma'mums are found making a mistake in following the imam by racing ahead of him. It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: , or that Allah would turn his head into the head of a donkey?