What is the correct form of the Tarawih prayer as transmitted from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), knowing that some people pray thirteen rak'ahs and
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The questioner : What is the correct form of the Tarawih prayer as transmitted from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), knowing that some people pray thirteen rak'ahs and others pray more than that, while we pray eleven rak'ahs?
The Shaykh : Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) was asked how the prayer of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was in Ramadan, and she said: "He did not exceed eleven rak'ahs in Ramadan or otherwise. He would pray four, so do not ask about their beauty and length, then he would pray four, so do not ask about their beauty and length, then he would pray three." Her statement "He would pray four" does not mean that he prayed them with a single taslim, as some people think. Rather, he would pray the four with two taslims, saying taslim after every two rak'ahs. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about the night prayer and said: However, he would pray four without a break, meaning he would say taslim after the first two rak'ahs, then begin the next two rak'ahs, then rest, then pray four, saying taslim after every two rak'ahs, then rest, then pray three. This is the explanation of the hadith. Accordingly, it is best for a person to limit himself to eleven rak'ahs, but they should be performed with deliberation, lengthening them so that people can engage in dhikr and du'a, not as some people do today, where you find him praying Tarawih in a hurry until the ma'mums can hardly keep up with him. This is a mistake, a mistake by the imam, because the imam must lead the people as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) led them, with beauty in the prayer and without neglecting any of its obligations, pillars, or conditions, because he is responsible for them. If a person prays thirteen rak'ahs, there is no blame on him, because it is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he sometimes prayed thirteen rak'ahs, as in the hadith of Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both). If he prays more than that, there is no blame, because the door is wide and the matter is light. But the most important thing, the whole of the importance, is that a person be tranquil in his prayer, deliberate, mindful of those behind him, and enable them to engage in dhikr and du'a. These are only a few nights, and then the month ends.
However, it is a mistake for some of the striving brothers who are eager to apply the Sunnah in the number of rak'ahs of Tarawih to be found separating from an imam who prays more than eleven or thirteen rak'ahs and leaving the mosque. This is contrary to the guidance of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) and contrary to what the principles of the Shari'ah require in terms of unity and avoiding division.
I do not know of anyone from the scholars of the righteous Salaf who forbade increasing beyond eleven or thirteen rak'ahs. So how is it fitting for a rational believer to separate from the congregation of the Muslims in a matter where there is leeway? The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) were eager to agree in a matter greater than this. For example, Uthman ibn Affan (may Allah be pleased with him) would complete the prayer in Mina during Hajj, and they criticized him for that. Nevertheless, they would pray behind him and complete the prayer, adding rak'ahs beyond what they considered prescribed, which is shortening, in order to maintain agreement. Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) was asked about this when he criticized Uthman ibn Affan (may Allah be pleased with him) while praying four rak'ahs behind him. He was asked about it and said: "Indeed, disagreement is evil." This indicates that the guidance of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) was to strive for everything that unites hearts and unifies words.
I advise my brothers to strive to adhere to the guidance of the Companions, for they are deeper in knowledge than us, less in affectation than us, and closer to the truth than us. Worse than that is that some of them sit in their place in the mosque after praying ten rak'ahs and talk to their companion while they are among the Muslims who are praying. They disturb the worshippers, annoy them, and break the rows by sitting among people who are standing, bowing, and prostrating. All of this is a result of ignorance and lack of fiqh. Therefore, a person must be a knowledgeable jurist, not a knowledgeable person who is not a jurist.
So we ask Allah for guidance for us and for them.
The questioner : O Allah, amen.
The Shaykh : And success in what He loves and is pleased with.
The questioner : O Allah, amen. May Allah bless you. This listener is symbolized by the letters M, A, M from the Republic of...
The Shaykh : We should say, in summary of the answer.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : The matter regarding the number of rak'ahs in Tarawih is wide. If one prays eleven rak'ahs, or thirteen rak'ahs, or more than that, he is on the right path. But the best is to limit oneself to eleven or thirteen rak'ahs. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you. The listener M, A, M from Yemen, residing in Riyadh, says that he...
The Shaykh : Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) was asked how the prayer of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was in Ramadan, and she said: "He did not exceed eleven rak'ahs in Ramadan or otherwise. He would pray four, so do not ask about their beauty and length, then he would pray four, so do not ask about their beauty and length, then he would pray three." Her statement "He would pray four" does not mean that he prayed them with a single taslim, as some people think. Rather, he would pray the four with two taslims, saying taslim after every two rak'ahs. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about the night prayer and said:
Two by two
مثنى مثنىHowever, it is a mistake for some of the striving brothers who are eager to apply the Sunnah in the number of rak'ahs of Tarawih to be found separating from an imam who prays more than eleven or thirteen rak'ahs and leaving the mosque. This is contrary to the guidance of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) and contrary to what the principles of the Shari'ah require in terms of unity and avoiding division.
I do not know of anyone from the scholars of the righteous Salaf who forbade increasing beyond eleven or thirteen rak'ahs. So how is it fitting for a rational believer to separate from the congregation of the Muslims in a matter where there is leeway? The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) were eager to agree in a matter greater than this. For example, Uthman ibn Affan (may Allah be pleased with him) would complete the prayer in Mina during Hajj, and they criticized him for that. Nevertheless, they would pray behind him and complete the prayer, adding rak'ahs beyond what they considered prescribed, which is shortening, in order to maintain agreement. Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) was asked about this when he criticized Uthman ibn Affan (may Allah be pleased with him) while praying four rak'ahs behind him. He was asked about it and said: "Indeed, disagreement is evil." This indicates that the guidance of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) was to strive for everything that unites hearts and unifies words.
I advise my brothers to strive to adhere to the guidance of the Companions, for they are deeper in knowledge than us, less in affectation than us, and closer to the truth than us. Worse than that is that some of them sit in their place in the mosque after praying ten rak'ahs and talk to their companion while they are among the Muslims who are praying. They disturb the worshippers, annoy them, and break the rows by sitting among people who are standing, bowing, and prostrating. All of this is a result of ignorance and lack of fiqh. Therefore, a person must be a knowledgeable jurist, not a knowledgeable person who is not a jurist.
So we ask Allah for guidance for us and for them.
The questioner : O Allah, amen.
The Shaykh : And success in what He loves and is pleased with.
The questioner : O Allah, amen. May Allah bless you. This listener is symbolized by the letters M, A, M from the Republic of...
The Shaykh : We should say, in summary of the answer.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : The matter regarding the number of rak'ahs in Tarawih is wide. If one prays eleven rak'ahs, or thirteen rak'ahs, or more than that, he is on the right path. But the best is to limit oneself to eleven or thirteen rak'ahs. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you. The listener M, A, M from Yemen, residing in Riyadh, says that he...