The Ruling on Selecting the Shorter Surahs to Recite in Tarawih

A message was received for the program from one of the listening brothers. He says: I am Abdullah Ahmad Hasan, a Yemeni residing in the city of Dammam. My brother asks a question and says: Is it permissible in the month of Ramadan to shorten the recitation to the shortest surahs in the Tarawih prayer, or should the Quran be completed from beginning to end—as they say—whereas in our village, they do not complete it, but rather recite from the shortest surahs? I ask you to please guide us in this matter. May Allah reward you with good.
Answer: In this noble month, the believers need encouragement, guidance, advice, and concise sermons that are not long or verbose, but rather appropriate for each occasion. In the recitation of Tarawih, one should not prolong it too much, but if it is possible to complete a full recitation of the Quran during the entire month, that is better and more complete, so that they hear the entire Quran. It is recommended for him to recite in Tarawih, in each rak'ah, verses such as a quarter or a third of an eighth, so as not to burden them. As for intentionally reciting only the shortest surahs when he is able to recite otherwise, it is better to leave that. However, if he does not memorize the Quran and only memorizes the shortest surahs, and he repeats them, there is no blame on him. But if he reads from the beginning of the Quran to the end and does not prolong it for them, even if he reads from the mushaf, there is nothing wrong with it, if he does not memorize. Reading from the mushaf is permissible. Dhikwan, the freed slave of Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), used to pray with her and read from the mushaf. The correct view is that there is no blame in that. But for the one who is able to recite from memory, that is better and more complete. As for the one who is not able to do so because he does not memorize the Quran, there is no harm in him reading from the mushaf. But he should not prolong it for his brothers; he should consider their circumstances. They may have work, or they may have affairs that prevent them from tolerating length and prevent them from being pleased with prolongation; indeed, it may be difficult for them. So he should take them into account. People are of different categories; some can bear it, and some cannot. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said regarding the imams: . This is regarding the obligatory prayers, so what about the voluntary ones? Tarawih is voluntary, so he should consider what does not burden them, and through which they can follow him, pray with him, and find comfort and humility in this worship. It is not recommended for him to do anything that repels them and causes them to leave the mosque and not pray with him except for a little. And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: . This is a great virtue. But when he prolongs it for them, they may be repelled and may not complete the prayer. So it is prescribed for the imam to consider them and to pray with them a prayer between the two extremes, one that is not burdensome or prolonged, and one that is not rushed or excessively shortened. We ask Allah for success for everyone. Yes.