Is there a fixed number of rak'ahs for the tarawih prayer?
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Question:
He says: In the blessed month of Ramadan, the imam of our mosque prays ten rak'ahs of tarawih throughout the month. Does this count as having prayed half, or as having completed it?
Answer:
This is better; because the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to pray ten, and then pray witr with one, in Ramadan and in other months—(peace and blessings be upon him). He sometimes prayed thirteen—(peace and blessings be upon him). This is the best: eleven or thirteen in Ramadan or in other months. If he prays less or more, there is no blame on him.
If they pray twenty-three, as came from 'Umar and the Companions, there is nothing wrong with it. If they pray more than that, there is nothing wrong with it. The matter is broad in this, and praise be to Allah; because the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) did not specify a known number of rak'ahs—(peace and blessings be upon him). Rather, when he was asked about the night prayer, he said:Sunan Abi Dawud 1326Sahih (Al-Albani).
So he did not specify ten, nor twenty; this indicates that the matter is broad in this, and praise be to Allah. Whoever prays ten and prays witr with one, he has done well. Whoever prays witr with thirteen, he has done well. Whoever prays witr with twenty-three, he has done well. Whoever prays more, there is nothing wrong with it. But the best is eleven or thirteen; because this corresponds to his action, (peace and blessings be upon him).
If someone prays witr with less than that, there is nothing wrong with it; because it is established from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he sometimes prayed witr with nine, sometimes with seven, and sometimes with less than that. All of this indicates to us that the matter is broad in this, and praise be to Allah.
As for the one who is strict and says: It is necessary to complete eleven, or thirteen, or twenty-three, this is an error. It is not permissible to be strict in this, and it is not lawful to be strict in this. And Allah has made it broad .
So whoever prays eleven or thirteen, following the example of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), this is better. And whoever prays twenty-three, because his congregation... there is nothing wrong with it. And whoever prays thirty-three, or thirty-nine, or forty-one, there is nothing wrong with it. The Salaf did this and that, so there is no blame in all of this, and praise be to Allah. And if Allah has made it broad, then make it broad, and it is not befitting for anyone to be strict in a matter in which Allah has made it broad. Yes.
The presenter : May Allah reward you with good.
He says: In the blessed month of Ramadan, the imam of our mosque prays ten rak'ahs of tarawih throughout the month. Does this count as having prayed half, or as having completed it?
Answer:
This is better; because the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to pray ten, and then pray witr with one, in Ramadan and in other months—(peace and blessings be upon him). He sometimes prayed thirteen—(peace and blessings be upon him). This is the best: eleven or thirteen in Ramadan or in other months. If he prays less or more, there is no blame on him.
If they pray twenty-three, as came from 'Umar and the Companions, there is nothing wrong with it. If they pray more than that, there is nothing wrong with it. The matter is broad in this, and praise be to Allah; because the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) did not specify a known number of rak'ahs—(peace and blessings be upon him). Rather, when he was asked about the night prayer, he said:
should consist of pairs of rak'ahs, but if one of you fears the morning is near he should pray one rak'ah which will make his prayer an odd number for him.
مثنى مثنى، فإذا خشي أحدكم الصبح؛ صلى ركعة واحدة توتر له ما قد صلىSo he did not specify ten, nor twenty; this indicates that the matter is broad in this, and praise be to Allah. Whoever prays ten and prays witr with one, he has done well. Whoever prays witr with thirteen, he has done well. Whoever prays witr with twenty-three, he has done well. Whoever prays more, there is nothing wrong with it. But the best is eleven or thirteen; because this corresponds to his action, (peace and blessings be upon him).
If someone prays witr with less than that, there is nothing wrong with it; because it is established from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he sometimes prayed witr with nine, sometimes with seven, and sometimes with less than that. All of this indicates to us that the matter is broad in this, and praise be to Allah.
As for the one who is strict and says: It is necessary to complete eleven, or thirteen, or twenty-three, this is an error. It is not permissible to be strict in this, and it is not lawful to be strict in this. And Allah has made it broad .
So whoever prays eleven or thirteen, following the example of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), this is better. And whoever prays twenty-three, because his congregation... there is nothing wrong with it. And whoever prays thirty-three, or thirty-nine, or forty-one, there is nothing wrong with it. The Salaf did this and that, so there is no blame in all of this, and praise be to Allah. And if Allah has made it broad, then make it broad, and it is not befitting for anyone to be strict in a matter in which Allah has made it broad. Yes.
The presenter : May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.