Number Of Raka’aat in Taraweeh Salaah

How Many Raka’aat did Rasoolullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam Perform in Taraweeh?

The number of Raka’aats that Nabee Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam performed has been mentioned in various Ahadeeth. Some Ahadeeth mention eight Raka’aats, some mention ten, some thirteen and some twenty.

Therefore, those who claim that only eight Raka’aats is the Sunnah have no real basis for saying so. As will be seen below, throughout the different centuries, it was a general practice in Ramadaan of the Salaf (pious predecessors) to perform at least twenty Raka’aats. This general practice that has come down through the ages is the reason why the overwhelming majority of our Ulema have settled on accepting twenty Raka’aats in Taraweeh.

Taraweeh in the Different Eras

In the time of Nabee Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam

Nabee Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam in his entire life only performed and led the people in Taraweeh Salaah for two or three nights.

From among the narrations which mention the Raka’aats of Taraweeh which Rasoolullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam performed, the following Hadeeth mentions twenty Raka’aats. (Even though there is some weakness in this narration, the practice of the pious predecessors throughout the different centuries lends credibility and authenticity to this view):

Ibn ʿAbbas Radhiyallahu Anhu narrates that Rasoolullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam would perform twenty Raka’aats in Ramadaan and then his Witr Salaah.

In the time of ʿUmar Radhiyallahu Anhu

Sa’id ibn Yazid Rahmatullahi Alaih mentions that we would stand (for Taraweeh) in twenty Raka’aats and Witr Salaah during the era of ʿUmar Radhiyallahu Anhu.

Yahya ibn Sa’id Rahmatullahi Alaih says that ʿUmar ibn al-Khattaab Radhiyallahu Anhu commanded a person to lead the people in twenty Raka’aats of (Taraweeh) Salaah.

The following Imaams have all testified to the fact that during the reign of ʿUmar Radhiyallahu Anhu, Taraweeh Salaah remained on twenty Raka’aats: Imaam al-Bayhaqī, ʿAllaamah al-Baajī, Imaam al-Qasṭallaanī, Ibn Qudaamah al-Maqdisī, Ḥaafiẓ Ibn Ḥajar, ʿAllaamah aṭ-Ṭaḥṭaawī, Imaam Ibn al-Humaam, etc. (Rahmatullahi Alaihim) Ibn Taymiyyah Rahmatullahi Alaih has also mentioned this in his Fataawaa.

ʿUmar Radhiyallahu Anhu was that very Sahabi Radhiyallahu Anhu with regard to whom Nabee Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam said, “Had there been a Nabee after me, it would have been ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭaab Radhiyallahu Anhu”. The same personality with regard to whom it was said, “The sternest regarding the matters of Allaah is ʿUmar Radhiyallahu Anhu”. Would it be possible then for him to introduce into Deen something which has no connection with Deen? Had twenty Raka’aats of Taraweeh been a Bidʿah (innovation), it would mean that all the Sahaabah Radhiyallahu Anhum were responsible for perpetrating an innovation (Allah forbid!), and not one Sahabi Radhiyallahu Anhu had the courage to stop this “Bidʿah”!

In the Time of ʿUthmaan Radhiyallahu Anhu

Sa’id ibn Yazid Rahmatullahi Alaih mentions that the people (the Sahaabah Radhiyallahu Anhum) during the reign of ʿUmar Radhiyallahu Anhu would perform twenty Raka’aats of Taraweeh during the month of Ramadaan. They would recite hundreds of Ayaat, and during the rule of ʿUthmaan Radhiyallahu Anhu, people would lean on their staffs due to the difficulty of standing for such lengthy periods.

Not one name can be presented during the era of ʿUthmaan Radhiyallahu Anhu wherein a person performed only eight Raka’aats of Taraweeh Salaah!

In the time of ʿAli Radhiyallahu Anhu

ʿAli Radhiyallahu Anhu called those who were experts in the Qur’aan (the Qurraa’) and commanded one of them to lead the people in twenty Raka’aats. ʿAli Radhiyallahu Anhu would then lead them in the Witr Salaah.

ʿAli Radhiyallahu Anhu commanded a person to lead the people in Taraweeh Salaah with five Tarweehah’s (breaks between every four Raka’aats), a total of twenty Raka’aats.

ʿAli Radhiyallahu Anhu is the very Sahabi Radhiyallahu Anhu who narrated from RasoolullahSallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam, “Madeenah Munawwarah is a sacred place from such and such a mountain to such and such a place. Whoever introduces an innovation or gives refuge to an innovator, then upon him is the curse of Allaah, the Angels, and all the people. None of his Nafl (optional) acts, nor any of his Faraa’iḍ (compulsory) acts will be accepted from him.”

After relating a Hadeeth of this nature (in which innovations have been condemned), will ʿAli Radhiyallahu Anhu then ‘innovate’ this act of twenty Raka’aats of Taraweeh?!

Not one name can be presented from anyone during the era of ʿAli Radhiyallahu Anhu who denied twenty Raka’aats of Taraweeh!

Not one name can be presented from anyone during the era of ʿAli Radhiyallahu Anhu who would perform eight Raka’aats of Taraweeh and would then leave the Masjid!

It should also be understood that from this Hadeeth it is proven that a twenty-Raka’aat Salaah is called ‘Taraweeh’. Not one Sahabi Radhiyallahu Anhu used the word ‘Taraweeh/Tarweehah’ with eight Raka’aats.

The Emphatic Command of Following the Khulafaa’ Raashideen

Al-ʿIrbaaḍ ibn Saariyah Radhiyallahu Anhu narrates that Rasoolullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam said: “Beware of innovations for verily they are misguidance. Whoever finds innovations should hold firm onto my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the rightly guided caliphs. Hold onto it firmly with your molars.”

The Khulafaa’ Raashideen Radhiyallahu Anhum established and upheld this Sunnah. Whatever the Khulafaa’ Raashideen Radhiyallahu Anhum have established becomes a Sunnah Mu’akkadah for the Ummah, which the Ummah also have to uphold. Another example of a Sunnah which one of the Khulafaa’ Raashideen Radhiyallahu Anhum established and is upheld to this day without any difference of opinion is the first Adhaan on the day of Jumuʿah. ʿUthmaan Radhiyallahu Anhu was the first to introduce this Adhaan. Like how this Sunnah is upheld without any difference of opinion, similarly should the Sunnah of twenty Raka’aats be upheld without any objections.

The Majority of the Sahaabah Radhiyallahu Anhum

Ibraahīm an-Nakhaʿī Rahmatullahi Alaih mentions that the Sahaabah Radhiyallahu Anhum would perform (Taraweeh Salaah) with five Tarweehah’s (breaks between every four Raka’aats – which equals to twenty Raka’aats).

ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz ibn Rufayʿ Rahmatullahi Alaih mentions, Ubay ibn Kaʿb Radhiyallahu Anhum used to lead the people in the Taraweeh Salaah in Madeenah; twenty Raka’aats of Taraweeh and three Raka’aats of Witr Salaah. 

ʿAṭaa’ ibn Abī Rabaaḥ Rahmatullahi Alaih says, I found the Sahaabah Radhiyallahu Anhum performing twenty-three Raka’aats of Taraweeh including Witr.

The Taabiʿīn Rahimahullahu Anhum

Abū al-Khaṣīb Rahmatullahi Alaih mentions that Suwayd ibn Ghaflah Rahmatullahi Alaih (a senior Taabiʿī) would lead us in Ramadaan with five breaks every four Raka’aats, a total of twenty Raka’aats.

Similarly, Shutayr ibn Shakal Rahmatullahi Alaih from among the companions of ʿAli Radhiyallahu Anhu would lead the people in Ramadaan, twenty Raka’aats and Witr Salaah in three Raka’aats.

ʿAbd al-Malik Rahmatullahi Alaih says, Sa’id ibn Jubayr Rahmatullahi Alaih would lead us in Ramadaan (in Taraweeh Salaah) … He would perform it with five Tarweehah’s.

Abū al-Bukhtarī Rahmatullahi Alaih would perform Taraweeh Salaah with five Tarweehah’s and three Raka’aats of Witr Salaah.

Sa’id ibn ʿUbayd Rahmatullahi Alaih says, ʿAli ibn Rabīʿah Rahmatullahi Alaih would lead them in Ramadaan in Taraweeh Salaah with five Tarweehah’s.

Ibn Abī Mulaykah Rahmatullahi Alaih would lead the people in Ramadaan in twenty Raka’aats.

Al-Ḥaarith Rahmatullahi Alaih would lead the people in Ramadaan in twenty Raka’aats and would perform three Raka’aats of Witr.

Sufyaan ath-Thawrī and ibn al-Mubaarak Rahmatullahi Alaihima would perform twenty Raka’aats of Taraweeh.

From the above, it is shown that ‘twenty Raka’aats’ was used only with ‘Taraweeh Salaah’. In none of the books of Hadeeth, the word ‘Taraweeh’ is used with ‘eight Raka’aats’. This is also clear that the act of twenty Raka’aats was prominent among the Taabiʿīn Rahmatullahi Alaihim without them having any reservations.

Not one name can be presented from the Khayr al-Qurūn who either negated twenty Raka’aats, called it an innovation, or would perform eight Raka’aats and leave the Masjid.

Taraweeh in the Ḥaramayn

Makkah Mukarramah

ʿAṭaa’ ibn Abī Rabaaḥ Rahmatullahi Alaih – who was from Makkah Mukarramah – says, I found the people performing twenty-three Raka’aats including the Witr Salaah.

Imaam Shafiʿī Rahmatullahi Alaih mentions that I found the people in our city Makkah, performing twenty Raka’aats.

Madeenah Munawwarah

ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz ibn Rufayʿ Rahmatullahi Alaih mentions, Ubay ibn Kaʿb Radhiyallahu Anhu used to lead the people in Taraweeh Salaah in Madeenah; twenty Raka’aats of Taraweeh and three Raka’aats of Witr Salaah.

Other narrations mention that the general practice of the people of Madeenah Munawwarah (Taʿaamul Ahl al-Madeenah) was to perform thirty-six Raka’aats.

Al-WAli ibn al-ʿIraaqī Rahmatullahi Alaih mentions that his father al-Ḥaafiẓ al-ʿIraaqī (d. 806) Rahmatullahi Alaih, when he took the post of being the Imaam in a certain Masjid in Madeenah Munawwarah, he would keep up their old tradition, together with keeping in mind what the majority of the people were doing. He would perform twenty Raka’aats in the beginning portion of the night as was the normal habit. Thereafter, he would perform an additional sixteen Raka’aats (Nafl) in the Masjid. Thus, they would end up completing two recitations of the Qur’aan in congregation in the month of Ramadaan.

Consensus (Ijmaaʿ) on Twenty Rakaʿats

Consensus (Ijmaaʿ) of the Ummah is one of the primary sources from which the Sharīʿah is derived.

Ibn Qudaamah al-Maqdisī Rahmatullahi Alaih (d. 620) in his Kitaab, al-Mughnī mentions that twenty Raka’aats of Taraweeh Salaah is established like Ijmaaʿ.

Shihaab ad-Deen Abū al-ʿAbbas Aḥmad al-Qasṭallaanī Rahmatullahi Alaih (d. 923) also mentions that twenty Raka’aats is like Ijmaaʿ.

Imaam ʿAlaa’ ad-Deen al-Kaasaanī  Rahmatullahi Alaih (d. 587) in his Kitaab, Badaa’iʿ aṣ-Ṣanaa’iʿ mentions that none of the Sahaabah Radhiyallahu Anhum objected regarding twenty Raka’aats of Taraweeh Salaah. Therefore, this will be considered as their consensus.

If the Sahaabah Radhiyallahu Anhum unanimously agreed upon a certain matter, we will most certainly rule out any person who comes later and rejects or denies that matter.

The View of the Imaams of the Four Madhaahib

Imaam Abū Hanīfah Rahmatullahi Alaih , Imaam Shaafiʿī Rahmatullahi Alaih , the preferred view of Imaam Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal Rahmatullahi Alaih and one view of Imaam Maalik Rahmatullahi Alaih  is that Taraweeh is twenty Raka’aats. The second view of Imaam Maalik Rahmatullahi Alaih is thirty-six Raka’aats, twenty Raka’aats of Taraweeh, and sixteen of Nafl which would be performed later after the Taraweeh Salaah.

The four Madhaahib are well established and fortified. The proof for it is the existence of all its segments including the primary and secondary purports up till this day. Any person who wishes to go against any of the four Madhaahib is on a wild-goose chase.

Since they have accepted twenty Raka’aats as the minimum Sunnah, we will not pay attention to those who direct us to a lesser amount.

Eight Raka’aats

Those who believe in eight Raka’aats to be the Sunnah present a Hadeeth in which ʿAA’ishah Radhiyallahu Anha says that Rasoolullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam would perform eleven Raka’aats out of Ramadaan and in Ramadaan. Our answer to this Hadeeth is that this refers to Tahajjud (8 Raka’aats Tahajjud plus 3 Raka’aats Witr) and not to Taraweeh because no one performs Taraweeh out of the month of Ramadhaan.

ʿUmar Radhiyallahu Anhu prescribed twenty Raka’aats in the year 15 A.H. ʿAA’ishah Radhiyallahu Anha passed away in the year 57 A.H. Can we be so bold to say that for forty-two years, a “Bidʿah” (“innovation”) of twenty Raka’aats was taking place in Masjid an-Nabawī whilst ʿAA’ishah Radhiyallahu Anha was in the room adjacent to the Masjid? Obviously not! ʿAA’ishah Radhiyallahu Anha is the very Ṣaḥaabiyyah Radhiyallahu Anha who narrated from Rasoolullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam that, “Whoever innovates in Islaam an innovation which is not part of it is rejected.” Not once did she object to them performing twenty Raka’aats by presenting to them the Hadeeth of eight Raka’aats. One thing can hence be understood here; which is that ʿAA’ishah Radhiyallahu Anha knew that the Hadeeth of eight Raka’aats (related above) does not refer to Taraweeh Salaah but rather to Tahajjud Salaah, If twenty Raka’aats Taraweeh was an “innovation”, did she not have the courage or that amount of love for the Sunnah to object to this “innovation” which was taking place right in the Masjid of Rasoolullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam ? Do those scholars who consider twenty Raka’aats Taraweeh as an “innovation” have more love for the Sunnah than her? Obviously not! This type of thinking is nothing but like the thinking of a Shīʿī. (Naʿūdhu Billaah!).

If she did not present this Hadeeth to them to prove eight Raka’aats, what right do those have who have come centuries later and claim Taraweeh was only eight Raka’aats?

Another Hadeeth which they present to prove eight Raka’aats is a Hadeeth narrated by Jaabir Radhiyallahu Anhu, that Rasoolullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam led us in the month of Ramadaan; eight Raka’aats and he then performed the Witr. The next day we gathered in the Masjid in the hope that he would come out and lead us again in Salaah. Nabee Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam did not come out until the morning. When he eventually came out. We asked, “O Rasoolullah, we gathered last night in the Masjid and we hoped that you would come out and lead us in Salaah.” Nabee Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam replied, “Verily, I feared that it may be made compulsory upon you.”

Jaabir Radiallahu Anhu passed away in the year 70 A.H. in Madeenah Munawwarah. For at least fifty-five years, twenty Raka’aats were being performed in front of Jaabir Radhiyallahu Anhu. Jaabir Radhiyallahu Anhu is the very Sahabi Radhiyallahu Anhu who narrated from Rasoolullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam that, “The worst of all matters are innovations. And every innovation is a Bidʿah.” Can it be possible that Jaabir Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam believes twenty Raka’aats to be a Bidʿah and remains quiet regarding it without objecting to it? Or can it be proven from Jaabir Radhiyallahu Anhu that after eight Raka’aats were performed, he would leave the Masjid?

If he did not present this Hadeeth to prove eight Raka’aats while twenty Raka’aats were taking place in front of him, what right do we have to use this Hadeeth and say that it refers to Taraweeh Salaah?

From the above, it is understood that had twenty Raka’aats been a Bidʿah, the Sahaabah Radhiyallahu Anhum would not have kept silent and would have raised an objection against it. The acceptance of the Sahaabah Radhiyallahu Anhum of this act is proof that this is an established Sunnah. And in this manner, the consensus of Sahaabah Radhiyallahu Anhum is established.

The Meaning of ‘Taraweeh’

The word ‘Taraweeh’ is the plural of ‘Tarweehah’, which means a pause, a break, a rest, which takes place after every four Raka’aats. Since the word ‘Taraweeh’ is in the plural form, it will refer to at least three breaks, as is the rule of the Arabic language. That will equal to twelve Raka’aats. For this reason, the word Taraweeh will never be found in the Ahadeeth or statements of the Salaf (early scholars) together with eight Raka’aats; which will then be said as ‘Tarwīḥatayn’ – two Tarweehah’s, eight Raka’aats –.

What is the Sunnah Amount According to the Ahadeeth?

According to some ʿUlamaa’, the amount of Raka’aats in the beginning was eight with very lengthy Tilaawah, and then the Raka’aats were increased to twelve but the Tilaawah was decreased, and then increased to twenty with even less Tilaawah. Thereafter, it remained on twenty.

In Makkah Mukarramah, in every Tarweehah (break) the people would make one Ṭawaaf. Therefore, the people of Madeenah Munawwarah introduced for every Tarweehah an additional four Raka’aats. Four Tarweehah’s (after four, eight, twelve and sixteen Raka’aats) multiplied by four Raka’aats equals to sixteen. As such, the people of Madeenah Munawwarah started performing thirty-six Raka’aats (which comprised of twenty Raka’aats Taraweeh and sixteen Raka’aats Nafl).  .

After the amount of Raka’aats remained established on twenty Raka’aats, it varied between twenty and forty-one Raka’aats (thirty-six of Taraweeh and five of Witr).

Therefore, it should be understood that what remained established was nothing less than twenty Raka’aats.

Is Twenty Raka’aats the Sunnah of Nabee Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam

To perform Taraweeh itself will be considered a Sunnah Mu’akkadah of Nabee Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam because of the virtues he mentioned for standing in prayer during the month of Ramadaan. For example, Nabee Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam mentioned “Whoever stands in prayer during the month of Ramadaan with Īmaan and full conviction of receiving reward, all of his past (minor) sins will be forgiven.”

Twenty Raka’aats will hence be considered as an established  Sunnah of the Khulafaa’ Raashideen Radhiyallahu Anhum, and not a Sunnah of Nabee Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam. The reason being that Nabee Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam did not perform twenty Raka’aats continuously. It is only proven from ʿUmar Radhiyallahu Anhu onwards that twenty Raka’aats were performed as a general practice. However, the Sunnah of the Khulafaa’ Raashideen Radhiyallahu Anhum is just one level below the Sunnah of NabeeSallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam. Therefore, to omit upholding a Sunnah established by the Khulafaa’ Raashideen Radhiyallahu Anhum is just one level below omitting the Sunnah of Nabee Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam, and such a person will be sinful.

A question may arise, ‘why did Rasoolullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam not establish Taraweeh Salaah himself as a regular practice, rather, the Khulafaa’ Radhiyallahu Anhum after him established it?’ The answer to this was given by Nabee Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam himself when he said to the Sahaabah Radhiyallahu Anhum: “I feared it may become compulsory upon you”. Therefore, out of mercy for his followers, he refrained from performing it in congregation continuously (as an ʿAAdah/regular practice).

Conclusion

Taraweeh Salaah itself is an emphasized Sunnah of NabeeSallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam.

Twenty Raka’aats will be considered as an emphasized Sunnah of the Khulafaa’ Raashideen Radhiyallahu Anhum as they upheld this amount and none of the other Sahaabah Radhiyallahu Anhum objected to this.

The Taabiʿīn, the Imaams of the four Madhaahib (Rahmatulahi Alaihim) and Ulema of the different centuries after them, all unanimously accepted that Taraweeh Salaah consists of a minimum of twenty Raka’aats.

Those narrations which mention twenty Raka’aats gain strength from the Ijmaaʿ (consensus) and the Tawaaruth (continuous practice of the Ummah).

In the Ḥaramayn, it was the general practice to perform twenty Raka’aats Taraweeh right up to this era.

Eight Raka’aats most probably refers to Tahajjud Salaah. Since Nabee Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam did not perform Taraweeh Salaah as a general practice, nor did he perform it in congregation except on two or three occasions, it is difficult to specify an established amount which Nabee Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam performed as Taraweeh.

Nabee Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam did not establish the Taraweeh Salaah himself out of fear that it may become compulsory upon the Ummah, and out of mercy upon them, left it for the Khulafaa’ Radhiyallahu Anhum after him to establish. Nabee Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam had already taught that holding onto the Sunnah of the Khulafaa’ Raashideen Radhiyallahu Anhum after him is just as important as holding onto his Sunnah.

The Amount of Tilaawah to be Recited in the Taraweeh Salaah

The amount which is mentioned in the narrations regarding the amount which the Salaf would recite differs.

Below are some examples:

In the time of ʿUmar Radhiyallahu Anhu, they would recite fifty to sixty aayaat in every Rakʿah.

Sa’id ibn Yazid Rahmatullahi Alaih mentions that the people (the Sahaabah Radhiyallahu Anhum) during the reign of ʿUmar Radhiyallahu Anhu would perform twenty Raka’aats of Taraweeh during the month of Ramadaan. They would recite hundreds of Ayaat, and during the rule of ʿUthmaan Radhiyallahu Anhu people would lean on their staffs due to the difficulty of standing for such lengthy periods.

Abū Bakr Anṣaarī Rahmatullahi Alaih says, upon completing Taraweeh Salaah, we would rush the servants to bring the food for Suḥūr (Sehri) out of fear that the time of Fajr might enter.

This means that the Taraweeh Salaah would continue till just before the beginning time of the Fajr Salaah!

ʿUthmaan an-Nahdī Rahmatullahi Alaih narrates that ʿUmar Radhiyallahu Anhu called three reciters of the Qur’aan and asked them to recite. He commanded the one who recited the fastest to recite thirty aayaat, the one who recited slower than him to recite twenty-five aayaat, and the one who recited the slowest to recite twenty aayaat.

This would roughly equal to about three Juz of the Qur’aan each night.

ʿAbd ar-Raḥmaan al-Aʿraj Rahmatullahi Alaih says, “the Qaarī (reciter) would recite the entire Sūrah al-Baqarah in eight Raka’aats. If he would recite that amount in twelve Raka’aats, the people would consider it as though he shortened and made it easy for them.”

This means he would recite about two and a quarter Juz in only eight Raka’aats. The total would be roughly four to five Juz.

Other narrations mention ten aayaat in every Rakʿah when performing thirty-six Raka’aats of Taraweeh, whilst others mention forty aayaat. After adding up the amount of Tilaawah which would be recited in the earlier centuries, it works out to about four to eight Khatms (different amounts from different people).

All of these narrations indicate that they would recite lengthy durations of Tilaawah in Taraweeh Salaah. The more a person can recite according to his strength and ability (without omitting the rules of Tajwīd), the better it will be. Imaam al-Muḥsin al-Marwazī Rahmatullahi Alaih encouraged that three Khatms should be made, one Khatm every ten nights, as each of the ten nights of Ramadaan have their own special virtue. This can easily be done by reciting about thirty aayaat in each Rakʿah.

It is however, Sunnah to complete one recitation of the Qur’aan. Therefore, one should, at the bare minimum complete one Khatm (recitation) of the Qur’aan in Taraweeh Salaah.