Is it recommended to complete the recitation of the Qur'an in the tarawih prayers?
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Many imams, Your Eminence, strive to complete the recitation of the Qur'an in the tarawih and the tahajjud prayers?
Answer: This is so that the people can hear the entire Qur'an. If it is feasible for them to hear the whole Qur'an, such that each night contains a part (juz') or less than a part, but in the last ten nights the recitation is increased so that the Qur'an is completed and finished, this is better if it is feasible without hardship. Likewise, the supplication for the completion (khatm) is made so that they may say "Ameen." The Salaf used to do this. If this is done, there is no blame. The scholar Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) dedicated a chapter in his book *Jala' al-Afham fi al-Salah wa al-Salam 'ala Khayr al-Anam* (Clarification of Meanings in the Prayer and Blessing upon the Best of Mankind), in which he mentioned the state of the Salaf regarding their care for completing the recitation of the Qur'an. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh: May Allah guide them all. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah accept. Those who are unable to complete the recitation feel some pain, Your Eminence. What do you say to them?
The Shaykh: There is no blame in that matter; it is broad in this regard. If you complete the recitation, it is better so that the people can hear it and so that they may attain the great reward in this noble month. If an obstacle prevents it and it is not feasible for the imam to complete the recitation, whether out of kindness to them because they are busy with work, or for other reasons, there is no blame; the matter is broad, praise be to Allah. The believer considers the ma'mum (those praying behind him) and does not burden them, but is kind to them. If they find the lengthening of the prayer difficult, then establishing the prayer is better than leaving it out of fear of lengthening it. If he prays eleven rak'ahs with them, that is better: eleven or thirteen, with recitation in a measured manner (tartil) and pausing in the bowing and prostration. This is better than a large amount of recitation or praying twenty or more. Seeking to follow the practice of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) of eleven or thirteen rak'ahs was better. Eleven is better than thirteen because this is what is preserved from him (peace and blessings be upon him) in the majority of cases, as Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said. Sometimes he would pray thirteen, and sometimes he would pray less than that. The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) prayed twenty rak'ahs with the witr. All of this is broad, praise be to Allah. So if one increases or decreases, there is no blame; due to his (peace and blessings be upon him) saying:. This is general for Ramadan and other times. Whoever claims that it is obligatory to restrict oneself to eleven or thirteen has erred. Whoever dislikes the increase has erred. And whoever forbids it has erred even more. That is only better if one restricts oneself to eleven or thirteen; this is better in order to be able to lengthen the recitation and the bowing and prostration, and in order to enable the ma'mum to do so, and in order to conform to the Sunnah which is the predominant practice of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). But if one increases, there is no blame. Yes.
Answer: This is so that the people can hear the entire Qur'an. If it is feasible for them to hear the whole Qur'an, such that each night contains a part (juz') or less than a part, but in the last ten nights the recitation is increased so that the Qur'an is completed and finished, this is better if it is feasible without hardship. Likewise, the supplication for the completion (khatm) is made so that they may say "Ameen." The Salaf used to do this. If this is done, there is no blame. The scholar Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) dedicated a chapter in his book *Jala' al-Afham fi al-Salah wa al-Salam 'ala Khayr al-Anam* (Clarification of Meanings in the Prayer and Blessing upon the Best of Mankind), in which he mentioned the state of the Salaf regarding their care for completing the recitation of the Qur'an. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh: May Allah guide them all. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah accept. Those who are unable to complete the recitation feel some pain, Your Eminence. What do you say to them?
The Shaykh: There is no blame in that matter; it is broad in this regard. If you complete the recitation, it is better so that the people can hear it and so that they may attain the great reward in this noble month. If an obstacle prevents it and it is not feasible for the imam to complete the recitation, whether out of kindness to them because they are busy with work, or for other reasons, there is no blame; the matter is broad, praise be to Allah. The believer considers the ma'mum (those praying behind him) and does not burden them, but is kind to them. If they find the lengthening of the prayer difficult, then establishing the prayer is better than leaving it out of fear of lengthening it. If he prays eleven rak'ahs with them, that is better: eleven or thirteen, with recitation in a measured manner (tartil) and pausing in the bowing and prostration. This is better than a large amount of recitation or praying twenty or more. Seeking to follow the practice of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) of eleven or thirteen rak'ahs was better. Eleven is better than thirteen because this is what is preserved from him (peace and blessings be upon him) in the majority of cases, as Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said. Sometimes he would pray thirteen, and sometimes he would pray less than that. The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) prayed twenty rak'ahs with the witr. All of this is broad, praise be to Allah. So if one increases or decreases, there is no blame; due to his (peace and blessings be upon him) saying:
The night prayer is two rak'ahs, two rak'ahs — and he did not specify a known number. Then he said: If one of you fears the dawn, he prays one rak'ah which makes odd the number of rak'ahs he has prayed.
صلاة الليل مثنى مثنى - ولم يحدد عدداً معلوماً ثم قال:- فإذا خشي أحدكم الصبح صلى ركعة واحدة توتر له ما قد صلى
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.
