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سنن دارمي
Darimi
من كتاب الصللاةFrom the Book of Prayer
باب في صَلاَةِ اللَّيْلِ:Chapter: Night prayer
Hadith 1498
اُردوEn
أَخْبَرَنَا خَالِدُ بْنُ مَخْلَدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنْ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ: سَأَلَ رَجُلٌ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنْ صَلَاةِ اللَّيْلِ، فَقَالَ: "مَثْنَى مَثْنَى، فَإِذَا خَشِيَ أَحَدُكُمْ الصُّبْحَ، فَلْيُصَلِّ رَكْعَةً وَاحِدَةً تُوتِرُ مَا قَدْ صَلَّى".
Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: A man asked the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) about the night prayer (Tahajjud), so the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “(It) is in sets of two rak‘ahs. When one of you fears that morning is approaching, let him pray one rak‘ah as Witr, and it will make all his prayer odd-numbered.”
Brief Explanation
(Explanation of Hadith 1497)
The night prayer is known and famous by the names of Qiyam al-Layl or Salat al-Tahajjud, and it is also called Salat al-Tarawih.
In the aforementioned hadith, when the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam was asked about its number (of rak‘ahs), he gave a general answer that it is performed two by two rak‘ahs; he did not specify how many. And Sayyidah Aisha radi Allahu anha informed that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam never prayed more than eleven rak‘ahs of the night prayer in Ramadan or outside of Ramadan.
From this, it is understood that Tahajjud or Tarawih is only eleven rak‘ahs, and the three nights in which the Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam led Tarawih in congregation, that too was eleven rak‘ahs. Therefore, the Sunnah of the Messenger sallallahu alayhi wa sallam is eleven rak‘ahs of Tarawih; however, if someone wishes to pray more, there is no prohibition.
In the time of Sayyiduna Umar radi Allahu anhu, two reciters would lead ten rak‘ahs each of Tarawih.
In the time of Imam Malik rahimahullah, 36 and at some times even 42 rak‘ahs of Tarawih were performed in the Sacred Mosque (Haram Sharif), and this is probably because the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam did not specify the number of rak‘ahs for this night prayer.
And Allah knows best. The discussion of Witr is coming ahead in the chapters of Witr: how many should be prayed and in what manner?
The night prayer is known and famous by the names of Qiyam al-Layl or Salat al-Tahajjud, and it is also called Salat al-Tarawih.
In the aforementioned hadith, when the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam was asked about its number (of rak‘ahs), he gave a general answer that it is performed two by two rak‘ahs; he did not specify how many. And Sayyidah Aisha radi Allahu anha informed that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam never prayed more than eleven rak‘ahs of the night prayer in Ramadan or outside of Ramadan.
From this, it is understood that Tahajjud or Tarawih is only eleven rak‘ahs, and the three nights in which the Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam led Tarawih in congregation, that too was eleven rak‘ahs. Therefore, the Sunnah of the Messenger sallallahu alayhi wa sallam is eleven rak‘ahs of Tarawih; however, if someone wishes to pray more, there is no prohibition.
In the time of Sayyiduna Umar radi Allahu anhu, two reciters would lead ten rak‘ahs each of Tarawih.
In the time of Imam Malik rahimahullah, 36 and at some times even 42 rak‘ahs of Tarawih were performed in the Sacred Mosque (Haram Sharif), and this is probably because the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam did not specify the number of rak‘ahs for this night prayer.
And Allah knows best. The discussion of Witr is coming ahead in the chapters of Witr: how many should be prayed and in what manner?
