Question
The Tarawih prayer consists of eleven rak’ahs according to the Sunnah, but if a person wants to pray more than eleven, is this permissible?
Answer
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
Regarding voluntary acts of worship, Allah the Almighty has not specified any particular number or restriction. As the Divine command is:
﴿وَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًۭا فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَاكِرٌ عَلِيمٌ﴾
Imam Bukhari, may Allah have mercy on him, narrated in his Sahih from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
((إن الله قال من عادى لى وليافقدآذنته بالحرب وماتقرب الى عبدى بشىءأحب إلى مماافترضت عليه ومايزال عبدى يتقرب إلى بالنوافل حتى أحبه فاذاأحببته كنت سمعه الذى يسمع به وبصره الذى يبصربه ويده التى يبطش بهاورجله التى بمشى بهاوإن سالنى لاعطينه ولئن استعاذنى لأعيذنه وماترددت عن شىءأنافاعله ترددى عن نفس المومن يكره الموت وأناأكره مسائته))
“Allah the Exalted says: Whoever harms one of My close servants, I declare war against him. My servant does not draw near to Me with anything more beloved to Me than the duties I have imposed upon him. My servant continues to draw near to Me with voluntary acts until I love him. When I love him, I become his hearing with which he hears, his sight with which he sees, his hand with which he grasps, and his foot with which he walks. If he asks Me, I give him; and if he seeks refuge with Me, I grant him refuge.”
Statement of the Holy Prophet ﷺ
The Holy Prophet ﷺ did not set any specific limit for voluntary prayers. It is authentically narrated:
((خمس صلوات فى اليوم والليلةفقال هل على غيرهاقال لاإلاأن تطوع قال رسول اللهﷺوصيام رمضان قال هل على غيره قال لاإلاأن تطوع قال وذكرله رسول اللهﷺالزكاةقال هل على غيرهاقال لاإلاأن تطوع قال فادبرالرجل وهو يقول والله لاأزيدعلى هذا ولاأنقص قال رسول اللهﷺأفلح إن صدق))
“A man asked the Prophet ﷺ about Islam, and he ﷺ said: There are five prayers in the day and night. He asked: Is there anything besides these? He said: No, except that you may offer voluntary prayers. Then he ﷺ spoke about the fasts of Ramadan: These are obligatory. He asked: Are there any besides these? He said: No, but if you keep voluntary fasts, it is up to you. Then he ﷺ mentioned Zakat, and the man said: Is there anything besides this? He said: No, but if you give voluntary charity, it is also up to you. The man was about to leave and said: By Allah! I will neither do more nor less than this. The Prophet ﷺ said: He has succeeded if he is truthful.”
Limit of Voluntary Worship
It is also clear from this hadith that the Prophet ﷺ did not set any specific limit for voluntary (nafl) worship. It depends on each individual how much voluntary worship they can perform. Sometimes a person increases nafl prayers out of the desire of the heart, sincerity, and the sweetness of divine supplication, and their sole purpose is to attain closeness to Allah Almighty. In such a case, they should perform voluntary worship.
However, it is also necessary not to overdo it to the extent that fatigue, laziness, or deviation overcomes them, or they begin to neglect the obligatory duties.
Moderation in Voluntary Worship
When a person observes these conditions, they may perform as much voluntary worship as they wish; there is no harm in it.
But as far as Taraweeh prayer is concerned, without any doubt, according to the Sunnah, Taraweeh consists of only eleven rak‘ahs. Increasing beyond this is considered merely an addition to voluntary worship.
◄ Taraweeh as a confirmed Sunnah consists of only eleven rak’ahs.
◄ If someone prays additional rak’ahs with the intention of Nafl, it is permissible.
◄ However, these extra rak’ahs should not be considered as Fard, Wajib, necessary conditions, or confirmed Sunnah.
◄ Nor should those who omit these rak’ahs be called bad or hurtful.
◄ If these are considered at the level of Fard or confirmed Sunnah, it would be transgressing the limits set by Allah.
◄ And whoever transgresses the limits set by Allah is indeed a wrongdoer.
In such a case, this Nafl worship will not be a means of nearness to Allah, but rather will be counted as a blameworthy innovation, which is never desirable.
Historical Aspect
It is true that some people used to pray twenty rak’ahs, as happened during the era of Farooq (Hazrat Umar رضي الله عنه), which is mentioned in
and its chain of narration is also authentic. In fact, some companions used to perform more than twenty rak’ahs.
Although Hazrat Umar رضي الله عنه ordered to pray eleven rak’ahs in congregation, he did not forbid adding more to it.
Summary
◈ The truth is that eleven rak’ahs of Taraweeh prayer are established from the Sunnah.
◈ If a person prays more rak’ahs with the intention of Nafl, that is also permissible.
ھذا ما عندی واللہ اعلم بالصواب
