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Are Tarawih and Tahajjud Prayers Different or the Same? Are they both from the sunna of the Prophet?

Answered as per Hanafi Fiqh by Seekersguidance.org

Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam

Question: Asalamo alykum

The Imam at the mosque where I go for tarawih prayer also prays witr jamaat. Does this mean that the taraweeh count as the tahajjud?
If not then should I leave the mosque after offering the tarawih and pray the witr at home with tahajjud?

Answer: Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

I pray that you are in the best of health and faith, insha’Allah.

No, the tarawih prayer and the night-vigil (tahajjud) prayer are not the same thing.

The tarawih prayer is twenty units (rak`ats) and a confirmed sunna in the Hanafi school. [see: Can I Just Pray 8 Cycles of Tarawih?]

The tahajjud prayer is a recommended sunna and optimally eight units (rak`ats). [see: Tahajjud Prayer: Description & Merits]

And during Ramadan, it is superior to pray the Witr in congregation.

And Allah alone gives success.

Wassalam,

Tabraze Azam

Checked & Approved by Faraz Rabbani


This answer was collected from Seekersguidance.org. It’s an online learning platform overseen by Sheikh Faraz Rabbani. All courses are free. They also have in-person classes in Canada.

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