What is the established ruling regarding the number of rak'ahs in the Tarawih prayer?

The questioner : It is established in *Sahih al-Bukhari* that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to pray eleven rak'ahs in Ramadan. In the chapter of *Sahih al-Bukhari* concerning the Urdu narration, they wrote: "Follow that pattern, whether it is Tahajjud, voluntary prayer, or Tarawih." Then we find that 'Umar ibn al-Khattab made it twenty rak'ahs. So which is more correct?

The Shaykh : First, may Allah reward you. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) used to stand in prayer for eleven rak'ahs, but did he tell the people: "Do not increase beyond that"? He did not say that. Rather, he left the door open. When the man asked him about the night prayer, he said: and he did not restrict it. Then, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) used to stand for eleven rak'ahs, but was it like our standing? He used to stand until his feet swelled, and until the young men among the Companions were unable to keep up with him except with great difficulty. Did you not know that Ibn Mas'ud stood with him one night, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) recited and lengthened the recitation until Ibn Mas'ud was about to sit down from the length of the standing? The matter in this is broad. If you wish, do eleven, but with calmness, tranquility, and recitation. If you wish, do twenty-three. If you wish, do thirty-nine. The matter is broad. The important thing is that you do not burden the people. Do you understand? Then, your statement that 'Umar made it twenty-three requires evidence. Who said this?

The questioner : I read in a book.

The Shaykh : It states that 'Umar ordered Ubayy ibn Ka'b and Tamim al-Dari to lead the people in eleven rak'ahs. And this is what is presumed of 'Umar: that he would order what the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) used to do. But in the hadith of Yazid ibn Ruman, and it has a break in the chain, the people were doing it. It is permissible that 'Umar knew or did not know. If it is established that 'Umar—if it is established that 'Umar approved of it, as for him ordering it, that did not happen. But if it is established that he approved of it, it is said: This indicates that the Commander of the Faithful, 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), was more knowledgeable about the Sunnah than we are and more fearful of Allah than we are. He saw that there is no harm in a person increasing beyond eleven rak'ahs.