Did ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb (رضي الله عنه) Establish 8 Rakʿāt for Tarāwīḥ?
Source: Fatāwā Amunpuri by Shaykh Ghulām Muṣṭafā Ẓahīr Amunpuri
Is there authentic evidence that ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb (رضي الله عنه) instructed the Companions to perform eight rakʿāt of Tarāwīḥ?
Yes, ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb (رضي الله عنه) commanded the Companions to perform eleven rakʿāt in total, including three rakʿāt of Witr, which means eight rakʿāt of Tarāwīḥ specifically.
➊ Narrated by al-Sāʾib ibn Yazīd (رضي الله عنه):
"ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb ordered Ubayy ibn Kaʿb and Tamīm al-Dārī to lead the people in prayer with eleven rakʿāt."
(Al-Muwaṭṭaʾ of Imām Mālik: 138; Sharḥ Maʿānī al-Āthār by al-Ṭaḥāwī: 1/293; al-Sunan al-Kubrā by al-Bayhaqī: 2/496; Mishkāt al-Maṣābīḥ: 1/407)
Chain of narration: Authentic
This narration perfectly aligns with the well-known ḥadīth of ʿĀʾishah (رضي الله عنها) found in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, wherein the Prophet ﷺ would not exceed eleven rakʿāt during Ramadan or otherwise.
➋ Narrated again by al-Sāʾib ibn Yazīd (رضي الله عنه):
"ʿUmar gathered the people behind Ubayy and Tamīm, and they would lead eleven rakʿāt in prayer."
(Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah: 2/391; Tārīkh al-Madīnah by ʿUmar ibn Shabbah: 2/713)
Chain of narration: Authentic
➌ He further states:
"During the time of ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb, we used to pray eleven rakʿāt."
(Sunan Saʿīd ibn Manṣūr, cited in: al-Ḥāwī lil-Fatāwā by al-Suyūṭī: 1/349; Ḥāshiyat Āthār al-Sunan by al-Nīmawī al-Ḥanafī: 250)
Chain of narration: Authentic
➍ Imām al-Subkī said regarding the isnād of this narration:
"Its chain is of the highest level of authenticity."
(Sharḥ al-Minhāj, cited in: al-Ḥāwī lil-Fatāwā: 1/350)
☑ The above authentic narrations confirm that ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb (رضي الله عنه) established eleven rakʿāt for Tarāwīḥ (including Witr), thus confirming eight rakʿāt of Tarāwīḥ.
☑ There is no sound evidence that he ever established twenty rakʿāt, as claimed by some.
☑ Therefore, the claim that Tarāwīḥ should be twenty rakʿāt as Sunnah Mu’akkadah is incorrect and not supported by the actions of ʿUmar or the consensus of the Companions.
May Allah grant us the ability to act upon this authentic Sunnah. Āmīn.
Source: Fatāwā Amunpuri by Shaykh Ghulām Muṣṭafā Ẓahīr Amunpuri
❖ Question:
Is there authentic evidence that ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb (رضي الله عنه) instructed the Companions to perform eight rakʿāt of Tarāwīḥ?
❖ Answer:
Yes, ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb (رضي الله عنه) commanded the Companions to perform eleven rakʿāt in total, including three rakʿāt of Witr, which means eight rakʿāt of Tarāwīḥ specifically.
✿ Primary Evidence from the Companions:
➊ Narrated by al-Sāʾib ibn Yazīd (رضي الله عنه):
"ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb ordered Ubayy ibn Kaʿb and Tamīm al-Dārī to lead the people in prayer with eleven rakʿāt."
(Al-Muwaṭṭaʾ of Imām Mālik: 138; Sharḥ Maʿānī al-Āthār by al-Ṭaḥāwī: 1/293; al-Sunan al-Kubrā by al-Bayhaqī: 2/496; Mishkāt al-Maṣābīḥ: 1/407)
Chain of narration: Authentic This narration perfectly aligns with the well-known ḥadīth of ʿĀʾishah (رضي الله عنها) found in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, wherein the Prophet ﷺ would not exceed eleven rakʿāt during Ramadan or otherwise.✿ Consensus of the Companions in ʿUmar’s Time:
➋ Narrated again by al-Sāʾib ibn Yazīd (رضي الله عنه):
"ʿUmar gathered the people behind Ubayy and Tamīm, and they would lead eleven rakʿāt in prayer."
(Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah: 2/391; Tārīkh al-Madīnah by ʿUmar ibn Shabbah: 2/713)
Chain of narration: Authentic➌ He further states:
"During the time of ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb, we used to pray eleven rakʿāt."
(Sunan Saʿīd ibn Manṣūr, cited in: al-Ḥāwī lil-Fatāwā by al-Suyūṭī: 1/349; Ḥāshiyat Āthār al-Sunan by al-Nīmawī al-Ḥanafī: 250)
Chain of narration: Authentic➍ Imām al-Subkī said regarding the isnād of this narration:
"Its chain is of the highest level of authenticity."
(Sharḥ al-Minhāj, cited in: al-Ḥāwī lil-Fatāwā: 1/350)
Conclusion:
☑ The above authentic narrations confirm that ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb (رضي الله عنه) established eleven rakʿāt for Tarāwīḥ (including Witr), thus confirming eight rakʿāt of Tarāwīḥ.
☑ There is no sound evidence that he ever established twenty rakʿāt, as claimed by some.
☑ Therefore, the claim that Tarāwīḥ should be twenty rakʿāt as Sunnah Mu’akkadah is incorrect and not supported by the actions of ʿUmar or the consensus of the Companions.
✦ Supplication:
May Allah grant us the ability to act upon this authentic Sunnah. Āmīn.
