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The Ramadan nightly prayer has a special
merit over other nights. The Messenger of Allah said: "Whoever observes night
prayer in Ramadan as an expression of his faith and to seek reward from Allah,
his previous sins will be blotted out." (Muslim)
In this hadith, faith means faith in what Allah has promised the observers of
night prayers. To seek reward mean, the observer's intent is not for eye service
or seeking special recognition from someone.
Taraweeh is derived from the Arabic root word, raaha, which means to rest, relax
and use as recreation. It is so called because the believers used to prolong it.
After every four raka'ats they would stop for rest and relaxation and resume
until taraweeh was complete.
Taraweeh In Jamaa`ah
The Messenger of Allah (saas) was the first to establish the Sunnah of
congregational, jamaa`ah prayer of taraweeh in the Masjid. Then he did not
continue with the Sunnah for fear that it might be made mandatory on the Ummah
in Ramadan, and they might not be able to do it. In the books of Bukhari and
Muslim, 'Aishah (raa) has been reported as saying:
"The Messenger of Allah (saas) observed Taraweeh prayer in the Masjid one night
and people prayed with him. He repeated the following night and the number of
participants grew. The companions congregated the third and fourth night, but
the Messenger did not show up. In the morning he told them, "I saw what you did
last night, but nothing prevented me from joining you except my fear that it
might be made mandatory on you in Ramadan."
This hadith is a clear indication that the Taraweeh in congregation was not an
innovation of 'Umar, the second Khalifah, despite his saying to the contrary.
For it has been related that: "Umar bin Al-Khattab attended the Masjid at night
in Ramadan and saw people praying individually in every corner of the Masjid
with a few in groups. He did not like the sight a bit. 'Umar said, `I thought it
would be better to gather these under one Imam'. So, he combined them under
'Obayi bin Ka'ab and Tamimu Ad-Dari to alternate and lead the believers in
eleven raka'ats of night prayer. The next day `Umar was in the Masjid which was
full with Taraweeh prayers. He was delighted. He said: `Well, this is the best
Bid'ah (innovation).'"
`Umar's use of the word bid'ah in this report has been presented and
unjustifiably cited as justification for concocting up various so called good
innovations. In truth, the Khalifah 'Umar's act to gather the believers in
Jama'ah is not bid'ah. For it was the Messenger of Allah himself who started
jama'ah by praying in congregation the first and second day, then stopped only
as he feared it would become mandatory. After his death, the fear of Taraweeh
becoming mandatory (Fard) was not only remote, it was impossible. With the death
of the Prophet Muhammad (saas), there will be no more revelation to change any
law or rule by abrogation.
Number of Raka'ats in Taraweeh
As for the number of raka'ats in Taraweeh and Witr, the worthy ancestor, Salaf
as-Saalih disagreed on the amount of Raka'ats. These numbers are mentioned for
raka'ats: 39, 29, 23, 19, 13, and 11 raka'ats. Of all the numbers mentioned,
none is sounder than 11 raka'ats. 'Aishah (raa) was asked how was the prayer of
the Prophet (saas)? She replied: "He did not pray in Ramadan or some other times
more than eleven raka'ats." (Muslim/Bukhari)
However, there is nothing wrong with praying more than 11 raka'ats. Perhaps that
is why different numbers are observed. The Prophet himself was asked about night
prayer and he said: "It may be done in two raka'ats, and if anyone fears the
appearance of morning, he should pray one rak'ah as a Witr for what he has
already prayed." (Bukhari/Muslim)
As this hadith indicates, if a person is to pray individually at night, by
daybreak he would have prayed one hundred and one raka'ats, or more.
In their desire to pray more raka'ats, some people make Taraweeh in extreme
speed. That is wrong, especially when the speed leads to a breach of certain
rules of prayer. In that case, the prayer will not be valid. Similarly, it is
undesirable for an Imam to pray with such speed whereby the followers will have
difficulty observing the necessary deeds in Salaat.
Neglecting Taraweeh
No one should neglect Taraweeh without a good reason, for it is part of physical
and spiritual training, for its observation soon after Iftar insures timely and
proper digestion of food. Besides, there are spiritual rewards awaiting the
observers of this prayer. No one would like to leave the Masjid before the
prayer is over.
Everybody should attend the Masjid prayers, including women, provided they are
properly covered. The Messenger of Allah said: "Prevent not the women servants
of Allah, from going to the Masjid of Allah." However, when they attend the
Masjid they should wear no perfume, nor raise their voices, and or show their
beauty. Allah (SWT) states: "...they should not display their beauty and
ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof..." (Al-Qur'an, 24:31)
What ordinarily appears, refers to the outer garments, for when the Messenger
(saas) commanded women to attend Eid prayer, Umm 'Atiyah (raa) said: "O
Messenger of Allah, some of us do not have the outer garment (jilbab). The
Messenger of Allah told her to let a sister (who has more than one) give her one
to wear." (Agreed upon)
It is Sunnah that they pray behind the men in the rear lines. The Messenger has
been reported as saying: "The best lines for men are the front lines and the
worst lines for men are the rear lines. The best lines for women is the rear and
the worst lines of women are the front line. (Muslim)
The women should leave the Masjid as soon as the Imam says: As-Salaamu 'Alaikum.
They should not delay without a valid reason. In a hadith by Umm Salmah, she
said: "When the Messenger of Allah (saas) saluted to end prayer, the women would
stand up to leave and the Messenger would remain in his place for a while." Umm
Salmah (raa) said: Allah is the best knower, but perhaps the Messenger did that
so women would leave before men could overtake them". (Bukhari)
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