What is the ruling on an imam who begins the night prayer with two light rak'ahs?
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The questioner : May Allah reward the honorableThe Shaykh : What do you say about an imam who begins the night prayer with his congregation with two light rak'ahs out of eleven rak'ahs? What is the validity of his action?
The Shaykh : His action is not valid, meaning he began the night prayer, which is tarawih, with two light rak'ahs. This is not correct, because beginning the night prayer with two light rak'ahs is only for one who has slept. The reason for this is that when a person sleeps, Satan ties three knots on the back of his head. When he wakes up and remembers Allah, the first knot is untied. When he performs ablution, the second knot is untied. When he prays, the third knot is untied. For this reason, it is better for one who stands in prayer at night after sleeping to begin the night prayer with two light rak'ahs. This is established in the Sunnah from the saying and the action of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). As for tarawih, it is performed before sleeping, so it is not begun with two light rak'ahs.
The Shaykh : His action is not valid, meaning he began the night prayer, which is tarawih, with two light rak'ahs. This is not correct, because beginning the night prayer with two light rak'ahs is only for one who has slept. The reason for this is that when a person sleeps, Satan ties three knots on the back of his head. When he wakes up and remembers Allah, the first knot is untied. When he performs ablution, the second knot is untied. When he prays, the third knot is untied. For this reason, it is better for one who stands in prayer at night after sleeping to begin the night prayer with two light rak'ahs. This is established in the Sunnah from the saying and the action of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). As for tarawih, it is performed before sleeping, so it is not begun with two light rak'ahs.