Which is more rewarding, the night prayer or the Tarawih prayer, and is the prayer not considered a night prayer unless a person sleeps and then wakes up, and does it differ in its characteristics from the Tarawih prayer?
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The questioner : He has another question. This listener, who used the initials A.M. for his name, asks: Which is more rewarding, the night prayer or the Tarawih prayer? And is the prayer not considered a night prayer unless a person sleeps and then wakes up? And does it differ in its characteristics from the Tarawih prayer? Is it prayed in pairs of two, with a single rak'ah at the end? Please inform us of this.
The Shaykh : This questioner believes that there is a difference between Tarawih and the night prayer, but the truth is that there is no difference between them. Tarawih is part of the night prayer. For this reason, we consider the Muslims to be standing in prayer for Ramadan from the first night. And his saying (peace and blessings be upon him)Sahih al-Bukhari 37 includes Tarawih, for it is undoubtedly part of the night prayer.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : However, it has become the custom of people that what is prolonged in recitation, bowing, and prostration is called the night prayer, and what is shortened is called Tarawih. This is a customary concept, not a legal one. In fact, the legal concept is that the night prayer and Tarawih are one and the same; both are standing in the night. But the night prayer known to people involves prolonging the bowing and prostration, because it usually takes place in the last part of the night. And in the last part of the night, prolongation is recommended so that people can make supplication for what they desire, for the last part of the night is a time of answered supplication, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said:Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3498Sahih (Darussalam).
And regarding the questioner's statement, or the idea that the night prayer is what is done after sleeping, we say that this question is based on the aforementioned assumption that the questioner believes there is a difference between Tarawih and the night prayer. If we say that the night prayer is the prayer in the night and includes Tarawih, then this question does not apply to us. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : This questioner believes that there is a difference between Tarawih and the night prayer, but the truth is that there is no difference between them. Tarawih is part of the night prayer. For this reason, we consider the Muslims to be standing in prayer for Ramadan from the first night. And his saying (peace and blessings be upon him)
Whoever establishes prayers during the nights of Ramadan faithfully out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah's rewards (not for showing off), all his past sins will be forgiven.
من قام رمضان إيمانا واحتسابا غفر له ما تقدّم من ذنبهThe questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : However, it has become the custom of people that what is prolonged in recitation, bowing, and prostration is called the night prayer, and what is shortened is called Tarawih. This is a customary concept, not a legal one. In fact, the legal concept is that the night prayer and Tarawih are one and the same; both are standing in the night. But the night prayer known to people involves prolonging the bowing and prostration, because it usually takes place in the last part of the night. And in the last part of the night, prolongation is recommended so that people can make supplication for what they desire, for the last part of the night is a time of answered supplication, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said:
Our Lord descends every night to the nearest heaven, until the last third of the night remains, so He says: ‘Who is calling upon Me so that I may answer him? Who is asking from Me so that I may give him? And who is seeking forgiveness from Me, so that I may forgive him.’
ينزل ربنا إلى السماء الدنيا حين يبقى ثلث الليل الأخر فيقول من يدعوني فأستجيب له ومن يسألني فأعطيه ومن يستغفرني فأغفر له حتى يطلع الفجرAnd regarding the questioner's statement, or the idea that the night prayer is what is done after sleeping, we say that this question is based on the aforementioned assumption that the questioner believes there is a difference between Tarawih and the night prayer. If we say that the night prayer is the prayer in the night and includes Tarawih, then this question does not apply to us. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.