The Ruling on the Tarawih Prayer
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Q262: The questioner asks: What is the ruling on the Tarawih prayer?
A262: The Tarawih prayer is a confirmed recommended practice (sunnah muakkadah), not an obligation. If a person leaves it, he commits no sin, but if he performs it, he attains much good and a great reward, provided his intention is sound and his sincerity is pure for Allah (Mighty and Majestic). This is because the Tarawih prayer is among the most important prescribed acts in the nights of Ramadan. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) performed it with his Companions, praying it with them for nights in
the latter part of Ramadan, then he stopped doing so with them and did not come out to them for the remaining nights. They gathered until the mosque became crowded for them. Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) explained to them that he had only stopped because he feared it would become obligatory upon them and they would not be able to keep up with it. After the death of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), the Companions continued to pray Tarawih; a man would pray for himself, and a man would lead a group in his prayer. They remained in this state for a period of time after the death of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). When it was the time of the caliphate of 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), and he saw that the Companions were praying Tarawih in this manner, forming separate groups, and he saw that it was better to gather them under a single imam, he gathered them under Abu al-'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him). From that time until this day, the Tarawih prayer is performed in congregation in the mosque, praise and thanks be to Allah. It is a confirmed recommended practice (sunnah muakkadah). Performing it in the mosques and performing it in congregation is better. So if one prays it in his home or prays it in a small group, there is nothing wrong with that, but performing it in the mosque with the imam, in congregation in the mosque, is better and more excellent.
A262: The Tarawih prayer is a confirmed recommended practice (sunnah muakkadah), not an obligation. If a person leaves it, he commits no sin, but if he performs it, he attains much good and a great reward, provided his intention is sound and his sincerity is pure for Allah (Mighty and Majestic). This is because the Tarawih prayer is among the most important prescribed acts in the nights of Ramadan. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) performed it with his Companions, praying it with them for nights in
the latter part of Ramadan, then he stopped doing so with them and did not come out to them for the remaining nights. They gathered until the mosque became crowded for them. Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) explained to them that he had only stopped because he feared it would become obligatory upon them and they would not be able to keep up with it. After the death of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), the Companions continued to pray Tarawih; a man would pray for himself, and a man would lead a group in his prayer. They remained in this state for a period of time after the death of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). When it was the time of the caliphate of 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), and he saw that the Companions were praying Tarawih in this manner, forming separate groups, and he saw that it was better to gather them under a single imam, he gathered them under Abu al-'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him). From that time until this day, the Tarawih prayer is performed in congregation in the mosque, praise and thanks be to Allah. It is a confirmed recommended practice (sunnah muakkadah). Performing it in the mosques and performing it in congregation is better. So if one prays it in his home or prays it in a small group, there is nothing wrong with that, but performing it in the mosque with the imam, in congregation in the mosque, is better and more excellent.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.