Explaining the Best Number of Rak'ahs for Tarawih

Question:
What is the best regarding the number of rak'ahs in the night prayer of Ramadan?

Answer:
The best in the night prayer of Ramadan is for Muslims to pray in their mosques eleven or thirteen rak'ahs, saying the taslim after every two; because this is what is preserved from the practice of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and it is authentically reported from him from the hadith of Aisha and Ibn Abbas, and others. And it is authentically reported from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: .
It is established from 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) and the Companions in his time (may Allah be pleased with them) that they prayed eleven rak'ahs in Ramadan, and they prayed twenty-three rak'ahs at some times. The matter in this is broad, and there are no limited rak'ahs in the night prayer that one is not allowed to increase or decrease, neither in Ramadan nor in other times; because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not specify anything in that, but he left it open, and did not specify a certain number of rak'ahs. However, he performed witr with eleven and thirteen, saying the taslim after every two, and he performed witr with less than that. So it is not befitting for anyone to restrict what Allah has made broad, or to limit rak'ahs that one is not allowed to increase without a text from the Book or the Sunnah.
And the best is for men to pray the night prayer of Ramadan in the mosques, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did with his Companions for several nights, then he left it for fear that the night prayer would become obligatory upon them. Then the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) prayed the night prayer of Ramadan in the mosque after the death of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in the time of 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) and after him until this day; because the matter he feared (peace and blessings be upon him) was secured by his death (peace and blessings be upon him), which was the fear that the night prayer would become obligatory upon them. And what is prescribed for Muslims in the prayer of tarawih and others is to take care of khushu' (humility) in the prayer, reciting the Qur'an with tartil (measured recitation), and not rushing, so that the benefit is achieved for the imam and the ma'mum.
As for women, the best for them is to pray in their homes. And if they pray with the men in the mosques, there is no harm with the condition of hijab (covering), not using perfume, not displaying adornment, and staying away from the causes of fitnah; because the women used to attend the prayer with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) with the utmost covering and modesty, and staying away from the causes of fitnah. And he (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade women from using perfume when they leave their homes and said: And that is only to protect men and women from the causes of fitnah. So may Allah pray upon him and grant him peace, and upon his family and his Companions, and may Allah reward him for his Ummah with the best reward.