The brothers asked: What do you say about the statement of 'Umar ibn al-Khattab: "This is a good innovation," meaning the congregational prayer of tarawih?
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The Shaykh : The brothers asked: What do you say about the statement of 'Umar: "This is a good innovation, and those who sleep from it are better than those who stand in it", where by this innovation he means establishing the prayer of standing in Ramadan behind a single imam, and he said: "This is a good innovation"?
The answer is that this innovation is relative; it is a temporal innovation, not a religious innovation. Why?
Because establishing the prayer of standing behind a single imam existed during the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed with his Companions for several nights, then he left it off for fear that it would become obligatory upon us. He left it off for a reason, which was the fear that it would become obligatory upon us and we would be unable to fulfill it. When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) passed away, this cause was removed. However, even so, the people remained during the time of Abu Bakr and in the early part of 'Umar's caliphate praying in separate groups, meaning two or three men would pray behind an imam, and a man would pray alone.
So 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) saw that he should restore what had been done previously and gather the people behind a single imam. He ordered Ubayy ibn Ka'b and Tamim al-Dari to lead the people in eleven rak'ahs, so the two men would lead the people in eleven rak'ahs, which is the number established from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).
But even with this, this specification of eleven is not on the basis of obligation. He who said that it is not permissible to increase beyond it is wrong, and he who said that it is not permissible to decrease from it is wrong. Both statements are wrong. Rather, decreasing from it is permissible, and increasing beyond it is permissible, and the discussion is about what is best.
But even with this, we also say that if the one praying is praying behind an imam who increases beyond this number, the recommended practice for him is to follow the imam, due to the generality of the statement of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih al-Bukhari 1236, and because the righteous Salaf differed regarding the number of prayers in the standing of Ramadan, so this indicates that the whole matter is permissible, and Allah knows best.
The answer is that this innovation is relative; it is a temporal innovation, not a religious innovation. Why?
Because establishing the prayer of standing behind a single imam existed during the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed with his Companions for several nights, then he left it off for fear that it would become obligatory upon us. He left it off for a reason, which was the fear that it would become obligatory upon us and we would be unable to fulfill it. When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) passed away, this cause was removed. However, even so, the people remained during the time of Abu Bakr and in the early part of 'Umar's caliphate praying in separate groups, meaning two or three men would pray behind an imam, and a man would pray alone.
So 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) saw that he should restore what had been done previously and gather the people behind a single imam. He ordered Ubayy ibn Ka'b and Tamim al-Dari to lead the people in eleven rak'ahs, so the two men would lead the people in eleven rak'ahs, which is the number established from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).
But even with this, this specification of eleven is not on the basis of obligation. He who said that it is not permissible to increase beyond it is wrong, and he who said that it is not permissible to decrease from it is wrong. Both statements are wrong. Rather, decreasing from it is permissible, and increasing beyond it is permissible, and the discussion is about what is best.
But even with this, we also say that if the one praying is praying behind an imam who increases beyond this number, the recommended practice for him is to follow the imam, due to the generality of the statement of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):