The Recommendation of Tarawih and Reciting the Qur'an in Ramadan
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Shaykh Abdul Aziz, regarding Tarawih and reciting the Qur'an, and completing the recitation of the Qur'an during this prayer and during this blessed month, do you have a word to say about this, if you would be so kind?
Answer: There is no doubt that the Tarawih prayer is a great act of devotion and worship, and it is prescribed. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) performed it for several nights with the Muslims. He led them for several nights, then he feared that it would become obligatory upon them, so he left it off and directed them to pray in their homes. Then, when he (peace and blessings be upon him) passed away and the caliphate passed to 'Umar after al-Khalid, he saw the people in the mosque praying in scattered groups: this one praying for himself, this one praying for two, and this one praying for more. He said: He argued for this by citing the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): Mishkat al-Masabih 1958, and he also argued by the action of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in those nights. He said that revelation had ended and the fear had ceased after his (peace and blessings be upon him) death, so there was no fear of it becoming an obligation. Thus, the Muslims prayed it in the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) for several nights with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), then they prayed it with 'Umar in the time of 'Umar, and they continued to do so as a congregation. The hadiths point to this. For this reason, in the authentic hadith, he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 806Sahih (Darussalam) It was narrated by Imam Ahmad and the people of the Sunan with a sound chain. This indicates the legitimacy of standing in night prayer as a congregation in Ramadan, and that it is the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the Sunnah of his successors after him, 'Umar al-Faruq and those after him.
In this, there are also many benefits, such as gathering the Muslims, listening to the Book of Allah, and the sermons and reminders that may take place, and the connection between some of them and others, and the gathering of some with others in these great nights. All of this leads to much good. Likewise, studying the Qur'an day and night is among the best acts of devotion. The Salaf, when Ramadan entered, would devote themselves to the Qur'an and leave off hadith, jurisprudence, and circles of knowledge. This was the general practice of the Salaf.
Therefore, the people of faith, both men and women, should occupy themselves with the Noble Qur'an through recitation, reflection, understanding, and reviewing books of tafsir and other ways of engaging with the Qur'an and caring for it. If they hear a lesson in the mosque or review some scholarly issues, there is no conflict and no harm in that. However, it should be that the care for the Qur'an in Ramadan is greater, as the righteous Salaf did (may Allah have mercy on them). Likewise, they should increase in recitation until they complete the Qur'an many times. Some of the Salaf would complete it in one day, and some in three days, but the best is that it not be less than three days. This is what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) directed when 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr asked him; he directed him to complete it in seven days, then he asked for an increase, and he said: to three days. So the best is that the completion be in three days or more, so that one is at ease and reads with measured recitation, care, and reflection.
Some of the Salaf saw that this is generally the case, but in the days and nights of Ramadan, there is no harm in completing it in less than that. However, adhering to the hadith and following the hadith is preferable, even in Ramadan. If one completes it ten times in Ramadan, or nine times, or eight times, that is much good, with calmness, tranquility, measured recitation, and care. A person has other needs, and increasing the number of completions may lead to haste, speed, and boasting about the completions, so people should be wary of this. Therefore, slowness and calmness are necessary so that no error occurs in the recitation, and so that no competition for showing off and reputation occurs. It should be that the completion is in three days or more, so that one reads with clear, reflective recitation, cares for its meanings, and reviews what is difficult for him. This is the preferable and best option, even in Ramadan. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you.
Answer: There is no doubt that the Tarawih prayer is a great act of devotion and worship, and it is prescribed. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) performed it for several nights with the Muslims. He led them for several nights, then he feared that it would become obligatory upon them, so he left it off and directed them to pray in their homes. Then, when he (peace and blessings be upon him) passed away and the caliphate passed to 'Umar after al-Khalid, he saw the people in the mosque praying in scattered groups: this one praying for himself, this one praying for two, and this one praying for more. He said:
If we gather them under one imam
لو جمعناهم على إمامHe who fasts during Ramadan with faith and seeking his reward from God will have his past sins forgiven; he who prays during the night in Ramadan with faith and seeking his reward from God will have his past sins forgiven
من صام رمضان إيماناً واحتساباً غفر له ما تقدم من ذنبه، ومن قام رمضان إيماناً واحتساباً غفر له ما تقدم من ذنبهIndeed, whoever stands (praying) with the Imam until he finished, then it is recorded for him that he prayed the whole night.
من قام مع الإمام حتى ينصرف كتب له قيام ليلةIn this, there are also many benefits, such as gathering the Muslims, listening to the Book of Allah, and the sermons and reminders that may take place, and the connection between some of them and others, and the gathering of some with others in these great nights. All of this leads to much good. Likewise, studying the Qur'an day and night is among the best acts of devotion. The Salaf, when Ramadan entered, would devote themselves to the Qur'an and leave off hadith, jurisprudence, and circles of knowledge. This was the general practice of the Salaf.
Therefore, the people of faith, both men and women, should occupy themselves with the Noble Qur'an through recitation, reflection, understanding, and reviewing books of tafsir and other ways of engaging with the Qur'an and caring for it. If they hear a lesson in the mosque or review some scholarly issues, there is no conflict and no harm in that. However, it should be that the care for the Qur'an in Ramadan is greater, as the righteous Salaf did (may Allah have mercy on them). Likewise, they should increase in recitation until they complete the Qur'an many times. Some of the Salaf would complete it in one day, and some in three days, but the best is that it not be less than three days. This is what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) directed when 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr asked him; he directed him to complete it in seven days, then he asked for an increase, and he said: to three days. So the best is that the completion be in three days or more, so that one is at ease and reads with measured recitation, care, and reflection.
Some of the Salaf saw that this is generally the case, but in the days and nights of Ramadan, there is no harm in completing it in less than that. However, adhering to the hadith and following the hadith is preferable, even in Ramadan. If one completes it ten times in Ramadan, or nine times, or eight times, that is much good, with calmness, tranquility, measured recitation, and care. A person has other needs, and increasing the number of completions may lead to haste, speed, and boasting about the completions, so people should be wary of this. Therefore, slowness and calmness are necessary so that no error occurs in the recitation, and so that no competition for showing off and reputation occurs. It should be that the completion is in three days or more, so that one reads with clear, reflective recitation, cares for its meanings, and reviews what is difficult for him. This is the preferable and best option, even in Ramadan. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.