This excerpt is taken from Kitab al-Sawm, compiled by Sheikh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amanpuri, may Allah preserve him.
Question:
How many Sunnah rak'ahs are there in Taraweeh?
Answer:
Taraweeh is only eight rak'ahs as Sunnah.
❀ Allama Anwar Shah Kashmiri Deobandi Sahib says:
لا مناص من تسليم أن تراويحه كانت ثمانية ركعات ولم يثبت في رواية من الروايات أنه صلى التراويح والتهجد على حدة في رمضان
"There is no option but to accept that the prayer of Taraweeh of the Holy Prophet ﷺ was eight rak'ahs, and there is no narration proving that the Prophet ﷺ offered Tahajjud and Taraweeh separately in Ramadan."
Reference: (Al-'Urf ash-Shadhi: 1/166)
❀ Allama Khalil Ahmad Saharanpuri Deobandi Sahib writes:
"Ibn Humam has written eight as Sunnah and the extra as Mustahabb, so this statement is not subject to criticism."
Reference: (Barahin Qati'ah: 18)
❀ He further writes:
"It is agreed upon that Taraweeh of eight rak'ahs is Sunnah Mu'akkadah; if there is any difference, it is regarding twelve."
Reference: (Barahin Qati'ah: 195)
❀ Allama Ashraf Ali Thanwi Deobandi Sahib says:
"I tell the sick to pray eight rak'ahs of Taraweeh, but I do not tell the healthy to do so."
Reference: (Al-Kalam al-Hasan, Part Two, p. 89)
❀ Allama Abdul Shakoor Farooqi Lucknawi Deobandi Sahib writes:
"Although eight rak'ahs of Taraweeh from the Holy Prophet ﷺ is Sunnah, and in a weak narration from Ibn Abbas, twenty rak'ahs are mentioned."
Reference: (Ilm al-Fiqh: 198)
The same is mentioned by Allama Ibn Humam Hanafi
Reference: (Fath al-Qadeer: 1/468)
, Allama Ayni Hanafi
Reference: (Umdat al-Qari: 17/171)
, Ibn Najim Hanafi
Reference: (Al-Bahr ar-Ra'iq: 2/66)
, Ibn Abidin Shami Hanafi
Reference: (Radd al-Muhtar: 1/521)
, Abu al-Hasan Sharnblali Hanafi
Reference: (Maraqī al-Falah: 244)
, Tahtawi Hanafi
Reference: (Hashiyat al-Tahtawi 'ala ad-Durr al-Mukhtar: 1/295)
, and others.After the decision of our Hanafi elders that eight rak'ahs of Taraweeh is Sunnah, now observe the arguments very briefly:
➊ Abu Salamah bin Abdul Rahman, may Allah have mercy on him, asked Umm al-Mu'minin Sayyidah Aisha Siddiqah, may Allah be pleased with her, about the manner of the Holy Prophet's ﷺ Qiyam in Ramadan. She said:
ما كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يزيد في رمضان ولا في غيره على إحدى عشرة ركعة
"Whether it was Ramadan or not, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ usually did not pray more than eleven rak'ahs."
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari: 1147, 2013; Sahih Muslim: 738)
The majority of scholars prove eight rak'ahs of Taraweeh from the Hadith of Sayyidah Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her.
❀ Allama Abu al-Abbas Qurtubi, may Allah have mercy on him
Reference: (656 AH)
, says:ثم اختلف في المختار من عدد القيام وقال كثير من أهل العلم إحدى عشرة ركعة أخذا بحديث عائشة المتقدم
"There is a difference in the preferred number of Qiyam. Many great scholars have taken the Hadith of Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, as evidence and said that it is eleven rak'ahs."
Reference: (Al-Mufham: 2/389-390)
❀ Hafiz Suyuti, may Allah have mercy on him
Reference: (911 AH)
, says:فيه دلالة ظاهرة على أنه لم يصل التراويح عشرين ركعة وقد أفردت في ذلك كراسة
"This Hadith is clear evidence that the Holy Prophet ﷺ did not pray twenty rak'ahs of Taraweeh. I also have a separate treatise on this."
Reference: (At-Tawshih Sharh al-Jami' as-Sahih: 3/998)
❀ Allama Anwar Shah Kashmiri Deobandi Sahib
Reference: (1352 AH)
says:في الصحاح صلاة تراويحه عليه الصلاة والسلام ثماني ركعات وفي السنن الكبرى وغيره بسند ضعيف من جانب أبي شيبة فإنه ضعيف اتفاقا عشرون ركعة وأما عشرون ركعة الآن إنما هو سنة الخلفاء الراشدين ويكون مرفوعا حكما وإن لم نجد إسناده قويا
"From authentic Ahadith, the Taraweeh of the Holy Prophet ﷺ is proven to be eight rak'ahs only, and the narration of twenty rak'ahs in Sunan al-Kubra etc. came through Abu Shaybah with a weak chain, who is unanimously considered a weak narrator. Now, twenty rak'ahs is the Sunnah of the Rightly Guided Caliphs and is in the category of Marfoo' (attributed to the Prophet), although we have not found any strong chain from the Prophet ﷺ."
Reference: (Al-'Urf ash-Shadhi: 1/101)
See! Shah Sahib proves eight rak'ahs of Taraweeh from the authentic Hadith of Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim from the Prophet ﷺ and also states that we have not found a strong chain for twenty rak'ahs from the Prophet ﷺ. You yourself estimate what status a matter holds which is not proven with a strong chain and is also against the muttafaqun 'alayh (agreed upon) Hadith of Bukhari and Muslim? Moreover, there is no authentic or fabricated narration proving twenty rak'ahs of Taraweeh from the Rightly Guided Caliphs, so calling twenty rak'ahs of Taraweeh the Sunnah of the Rightly Guided Caliphs is a clear mistake.
Besides Allama Anwar Shah Kashmiri Sahib, many Hanafi jurists have also used the Hadith of Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, as evidence for eight rak'ahs of Taraweeh and have accepted that there is no difference between Taraweeh and Tahajjud; these are two different names for the same prayer.
Reference: (Fayd al-Bari: 2/420 and others)
➋ Sayyiduna Saib bin Yazid, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates:
أمر عمر بن الخطاب أبي بن كعب وتميما الداري أن يقوما للناس بإحدى عشرة ركعة
"Sayyiduna Umar bin Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, ordered Sayyiduna Abi bin Ka'b, may Allah be pleased with him, and Sayyiduna Tamim Dari, may Allah be pleased with him, to lead eleven rak'ahs of Taraweeh (including Witr)."
Reference: (Al-Muwatta of Imam Malik: 1/115; Sharh Ma'ani al-Athar by At-Tahawi: 1/293; Sunan al-Kubra by Al-Bayhaqi: 2/496; Mishkat al-Masabih: 1/407; and its chain is authentic)
This order of Sayyiduna Umar bin Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, is in accordance with the Hadith of Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim. This order of Sayyiduna Umar bin Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, is exactly in line with the noble Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ. It is proven that Sayyiduna Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, ordered eight rak'ahs of Taraweeh to be prayed during his caliphate, and this also refutes those who advocate and practice twenty rak'ahs of Taraweeh and declares their theory of twenty rak'ahs being Sunnah Mu'akkadah as incorrect.
Some say that we pray twenty rak'ahs of Taraweeh because Sayyiduna Umar bin Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, prayed twenty rak'ahs. But it cannot be proven that Sayyiduna Umar bin Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, prayed twenty rak'ahs; rather, there was consensus among the Companions on eight rak'ahs of Taraweeh during the era of Farooq.
➌ Sayyiduna Saib bin Yazid, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates:
إن عمر جمع الناس على أبي وتميم فكانا يصليان إحدى عشرة ركعة
"Sayyiduna Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, gathered people behind Sayyiduna Abi bin Ka'b, may Allah be pleased with him, and Sayyiduna Tamim Dari, may Allah be pleased with him, to lead. Both of them prayed eleven rak'ahs of Taraweeh."
Reference: (Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 2/391; Tarikh al-Madina by Ibn Shabba: 2/713; and its chain is authentic)
➍ Sayyiduna Saib bin Yazid, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates:
كنا نقوم في زمان عمر بن الخطاب بإحدى عشرة ركعة
"We (the Companions) used to pray eleven rak'ahs (Taraweeh) during the time of Sayyiduna Umar bin Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him."
Reference: (Sunan Sa'id bin Mansur, quoted from Al-Hawi lil-Fatawa by Suyuti: 1/349; Hashiyat Athar as-Sunan by Al-Naimi Hanafi: 250; and its chain is authentic)
❀ Allama Subki, may Allah have mercy on him, writes:
إسناده في غاية الصحة
"The chain of this is of the highest level of authenticity."
Reference: (Sharh al-Minhaj, quoted from Al-Hawi lil-Fatawa: 1/350)
From the above evidence, it is proven that eight rak'ahs of Taraweeh is the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet ﷺ, and Sayyiduna Umar bin Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, ordered Sayyiduna Abi bin Ka'b, may Allah be pleased with him, and Sayyiduna Tamim Dari, may Allah be pleased with him, to lead eleven rak'ahs of Taraweeh including Witr, and they prayed eleven rak'ahs of Taraweeh in compliance with his order, and the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, prayed as well. May Allah, the Lord of Glory, grant us the ability to act upon this. Ameen!
Review of the Arguments for Twenty Rak'ahs of Taraweeh:
It is not correct to consider twenty rak'ahs of Taraweeh as Sunnah; here is a brief but comprehensive scholarly and research-based review of its evidences:
➊ Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to pray twenty rak'ahs and Witr in Ramadan.
Reference: (Musannif Ibn Abi Shaybah: 2/294, Al-Sunan Al-Kubra by Al-Bayhaqi: 2/496, Al-Mu'jam Al-Kabir by Al-Tabarani: 11/393)
It is very weak; Abu Shaybah Ibrahim bin Uthman is a "Matrook Al-Hadith" (a narrator whose hadiths are abandoned).
❀ Allama Qaduri Hanafi (may Allah have mercy on him) called him a liar.
Reference: (Al-Tajreed: 1/203)
❀ Allama Zailai Hanafi (may Allah have mercy on him) states:
هو معلول بأبي شيبة إبراهيم بن عثمان جد الإمام أبي بكر بن أبي شيبة وهو متفق على ضعفه ولينه ابن عدي في الكامل ثم إنه مخالف للحديث الصحيح عن أبي سلمة بن عبد الرحمن أنه سأل عائشة كيف كانت صلاة رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم في رمضان قالت ما كان يزيد في رمضان ولا في غيره على إحدى عشرة ركعة
"This narration is weak due to Abu Shaybah Ibrahim bin Uthman, who is the grandfather of Imam Abu Bakr bin Abu Shaybah. There is consensus on its weakness. Imam Ibn Adi (may Allah have mercy on him) declared it weak in Al-Kamil. Also, this narration contradicts the authentic hadith in which Abu Salamah bin Abdul Rahman (may Allah have mercy on him) asked Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) in Ramadan, and she said: The Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) did not pray more than eleven rak'ahs in Ramadan or outside Ramadan."
Reference: (Nasb Al-Rayah: 2/153)
The narration of Abu Shaybah and the scholars of the Hanafi school:
➊ Allama Anwar Shah Kashmiri Deobandi Sahib says:
أما النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فصح عنه ثمان ركعات وأما عشرون ركعة فهم عنه عليه السلام بسند ضعيف وعلى ضعفه اتفاق
"Eight rak'ahs of Taraweeh are authentically proven from the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, and the narration of twenty rak'ahs is weak; there is consensus on its weakness."
Reference: (Al-'Urf al-Shadhi: 1/166)
➋ Allama Abdul Shakoor Farooqi Sahib has declared it "weak."
Reference: (Ilm al-Fiqh p. 198)
➌ Mufti Darul Uloom Deoband, Allama Azizur Rahman Sahib writes:
"Yes, there is no doubt that this hadith is weak."
Reference: (Fatawa Darul Uloom Deoband: 1/249)
➍ Allama Ibn Abidin Shami Hanafi, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
ضعيف بأبي شيبة متفق على ضعفه مع مخالفته للصحيح
"The hadith is weak because Abu Shaybah (Ibrahim bin Uthman) is unanimously weak, and also this hadith contradicts the authentic hadiths of Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim (the authentic hadith of Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her)."
Reference: (Minhat al-Khaliq: 2/66)
The same has been stated by Allama Ibn Humam Hanafi
Reference: (Fath al-Qadeer: 1/468)
, Allama Ayni Hanafi
Reference: (Umdat al-Qari: 17/177)
, Ibn Najim Hanafi
Reference: (Al-Bahr al-Ra'iq: 2/66)
, Ibn Abidin Shami Hanafi
Reference: (Radd al-Muhtar: 1/521)
, Abu al-Hasan Sharnbulali Hanafi
Reference: (Maraqī al-Falah: 244)
, Tahtawi Hanafi
Reference: (Hashiyat al-Tahtawi 'ala al-Durr al-Mukhtar: 1/295)
, and others.❀ Imam Salih bin Muhammad Jazirah, may Allah have mercy on him, declared this narration as rejected.
Reference: (Tarikh Baghdad by Al-Khatib: 7/21, and its chain is authentic)
❀ Hafiz Ibn Hajar, may Allah have mercy on him, said its chain is weak.
Reference: (Fath al-Bari: 4/254)
❀ Hafiz Suyuti, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
هذا الحديث ضعيف جدا لا تقوم به حجة
"This hadith is very weak; it cannot be used as proof or evidence."
Reference: (Al-Masabeeh fi Salah al-Taraweeh: 17)
❀ Mufti Ahmad Yar Khan Naeemi Barelvi Sahib, in his book "Jaa al-Haqq" (2/243), while discussing "Do not recite Al-Hamd Sharif in funeral prayer," quotes Imam Tirmidhi, may Allah have mercy on him, and writes:
"Ibrahim bin Uthman Abu Shaybah is a denier of hadith."
But in the appendix of the same book (1/447), in the included treatise "Lama'at al-Masabeeh 'ala Rak'at al-Taraweeh," he presents this hadith as proof. This is not a fair approach. And Allah knows best!
Also, in this narration, Hukm bin Utaybah is a mudallis (one who conceals the source), and there is no specification of hearing.
Sayyiduna Jabir, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates that on one night in Ramadan, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ came out and led the companions in twenty-four rak'ahs and three rak'ahs of Witr.
Reference: (Tarikh Jurjan by Abu Qasim Hamza bin Yusuf al-Sahmi, p. 275)
It is fabricated:
➊ Umar bin Harun Balkhi is "abandoned and liar." Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal, Imam Abdul Rahman bin Mahdi, Imam Abdullah bin Mubarak, Imam Ajli, Imam Ali ibn Madini, Imam Nasai, Imam Darqutni, Imam Ibn Hibban, and Imam Abu Hatim Razi, may Allah have mercy on them, have declared him defective and unreliable. Hafiz Abu Ali Nishapuri, may Allah have mercy on him, called him "abandoned." Imam Yahya bin Ma'in and Imam Salih Jazirah, may Allah have mercy on them, called him a liar.
❀ Imam Abu Ishaq Ibrahim bin Musa, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
الناس تركوا حديثه
"The great muhaddithin have abandoned his hadith."
Reference: (Al-Jarh wa al-Ta'dil by Ibn Abi Hatim: 6/141)
Hafiz Dhahabi, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
أجمع على ضعفه
"There is consensus on his weakness."
Reference: (Talkhis al-Mustadrak: 848)
➋ Muhammad bin Humayd Razi is weak and liar according to the majority.
➌ He is an unknown narrator.
➍ Sayyiduna Abi bin Ka'b, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates that Sayyiduna Umar bin Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, ordered him to lead people in prayer during Ramadan. He said: People fast during the day but cannot recite well; if you recite the Qur'an to them at night, it will be good. Sayyiduna Abi bin Ka'b, may Allah be pleased with him, said: Commander of the Faithful! This has never happened before. He said: It is known, but this is a good thing. So Abi bin Ka'b, may Allah be pleased with him, led people in twenty rak'ahs.
Reference: (Al-Ahadith al-Mukhtara for Ad-Dhiya: 1161, Kanz al-Ummal: 8/409)
The chain is weak. Imam Ibn Hibban, may Allah have mercy on him, in the biography of Rabi' bin Anas says:
الناس يتقون حديثه ما كان من رواية أبي جعفر عنه لأن فيها اضطراب كثير
"The muhaddithin avoid the narrations that Abu Ja'far narrated from him because they contain much confusion."
Reference: (Ath-Thiqat: 4/228)
The above narration is also narrated by Isa bin Abu Isa bin Mahan Abu Ja'far Razi from Rabi' bin Anas; this criticism is explanatory and should not be rejected.
➊ It is attributed to Hasan Basri, may Allah have mercy on him:
إن عمر بن الخطاب رضي الله عنه جمع الناس على أبي بن كعب فكان يصلي لهم عشرين ركعة
"Sayyiduna Umar bin Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, gathered people behind Sayyiduna Abi bin Ka'b, may Allah be pleased with him, who led them in twenty rak'ahs."
Reference: (Siyar A'lam al-Nubala: 10/400, Jami' al-Masanid wa al-Sunan by Ibn Kathir: 1/55)
① The words عشرين ركعة are a clear example of distortion. The original words were عشرين ليلة. Some publishers changed the words "twenty nights" to عشرين ركعة, alas!
No manuscript of Sunan Abu Dawood contains the words "twenty rak'ahs." All manuscripts mention "twenty nights." Recently, Muhammad Awamah's research on a manuscript of Sunan Abu Dawood, which compared seven or eight manuscripts, also mentions عشرين ليلة, i.e., twenty nights.
❀ Allama Muhammad Awamah writes:
من الأصول كلها
"All the primary manuscripts contain these words."
Reference: (Sunan Abi Dawood with research by Muhammad Awamah: 2/256)
A strong argument for the distortion of عشرين ركعة is that Imam Bayhaqi, may Allah have mercy on him,
Reference: (Al-Sunan al-Kubra: 2/298)
narrated this hadith with the chain of Imam Abu Dawood, may Allah have mercy on him, and it contains the words عشرين ليلة (twenty nights).These words have been mentioned by Hanafi jurists in their books.
As for the issue of the words عشرين ركعة found in Siyar A'lam al-Nubala and Jami' al-Masanid wa al-Sunan, this is a copyist's error because no manuscript of Sunan Abu Dawood contains these words. Even Allama Ayni Hanafi, in his commentary on Abu Dawood (5/343), only mentioned the words عشرين ليلة and did not mention any manuscript differences.
If the words ركعة were in any manuscript, Allama Ayni Hanafi would certainly have quoted them. For this reason, Allama Zafar Ahmad Usmani Thanvi also did not mention it as evidence for twenty rak'ahs of Taraweeh.
➋ Even if some accept the words of certain people, it cannot be their proof.
❀ Allama Khalil Ahmad Saharanpuri Deobandi Sahib
Reference: (1346 AH)
writes:"If a phrase is present in some manuscripts and absent in others, it is doubtful."
Reference: (Bazl al-Majhud: 4/471, Beirut)
❀ Allama Sarfaraz Khan Safdar Deobandi Sahib writes about another narration:
"When this phrase is not in the common and circulated manuscripts, what credibility can rare and unpublished manuscripts have?"
Reference: (Khazain al-Sunan: 2/97)
Therefore, according to the second party's mentioned principle, the narration is also doubtful.
Mufti Ahmad Yar Khan Naeemi Barelvi Sahib (1391 AH) also mentioned the words عشرين ليلة in this narration.
Reference: (Jaa al-Haqq: 2/95, discussion: It is forbidden to recite Qunoot Nazilah)
➌ Also, it is weak due to discontinuity.
❀ Allama Zaili Hanafi, may Allah have mercy on him, and Allama Ayni Hanafi, may Allah have mercy on him, say:
لم يدرك عمر بن الخطاب
"Hasan Basri, may Allah have mercy on him, did not live in the time of Sayyiduna Umar bin Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him."
Reference: (Nasb al-Rayah: 2/126, Sharh Abi Dawood: 5/343)
Therefore, this narration is disconnected.
➍ Allama Ayni Hanafi, may Allah have mercy on him, declared it "weak."
Reference: (Sharh Sunan Abi Dawood: 5/343)
➎ Hafiz Nawawi, may Allah have mercy on him, also said it is "weak."
Reference: (Khilasat al-Ahkam: 1/565)
The order of Sayyiduna Umar bin Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, to pray eleven rak'ahs of Taraweeh including Witr is proven with an authentic chain.
Reference: (Al-Muwatta of Imam Malik: 1/115, Al-Sunan al-Kubra of Bayhaqi: 2/496, Sharh Ma'ani al-Athar of Tahawi: 1/293, Ma'rifat al-Sunan wa al-Athar of Bayhaqi: 4/42, Fada'il al-Awqat of Bayhaqi: 274, Qiyam al-Layl of Marwazi: 220, Mishkat al-Masabeeh: 1/407, and its chain is authentic)
Yazid bin Ruman, may Allah have mercy on him, says that people used to pray twenty-three rak'ahs in Ramadan during the time of Sayyiduna Umar bin Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him.
Reference: (Al-Muwatta of Imam Malik: 1/98, Al-Sunan al-Kubra of Bayhaqi: 1/494)
The chain is weak. Yazid bin Ruman did not live in the time of Sayyiduna Umar bin Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him.
❀ Imam Bayhaqi, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
يزيد بن رومان لم يدرك عمر بن الخطاب
"Yazid bin Ruman did not live in the time of Sayyiduna Umar bin Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him."
Reference: (Fada'il al-Awqat of Bayhaqi, under number: 127, Nasb al-Rayah of Zaili: 2/163)
Therefore, this narration is disconnected, while in Muwatta Imam Malik, this disconnected narration is proven with an earlier authentic continuous chain that Sayyiduna Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, ordered eleven rak'ahs.
❀ Allama Anwar Shah Kashmiri Deobandi Sahib says:
ترجيح المتصل على المنقطع
"The rule is that a continuous chain is preferred over a disconnected one."
Reference: (Al-'Urf al-Shadhi: 11)
❀ Allama Ashraf Ali Thanvi Deobandi Sahib says:
"The narration in Muwatta Imam Malik is disconnected."
Reference: (Ashraf al-Jawab: 172)
It is not correct to take proof from a disconnected narration against authentic hadiths.
➏ Yahya bin Saeed, may Allah have mercy on him, narrates that Sayyiduna Umar bin Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, ordered a person to lead people in twenty rak'ahs.
Reference: (Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 2/393)
The chain is weak. Yahya bin Saeed Ansari, may Allah have mercy on him, did not live in the time of Sayyiduna Umar.
❀ Allama Naimwi Hanafi, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
يحيى بن سعيد لم يدرك عمر
"Yahya bin Saeed Ansari did not live in the time of Sayyiduna Umar, may Allah be pleased with him."
Reference: (At-Ta'liq al-Hasan: 253)
➐ Abdul Aziz bin Rafi', may Allah have mercy on him, narrates that Sayyiduna Abi bin Ka'b, may Allah be pleased with him, used to lead people in Medina in twenty rak'ahs and three rak'ahs of Witr during Ramadan.
Reference: (Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 2/393)
The chain is disconnected.
❀ Allama Naimwi Hanafi, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
عبد العزيز بن رفيع لم يدرك أبي بن كعب
"Abdul Aziz bin Rafi' did not live in the time of Sayyiduna Abi bin Ka'b, may Allah be pleased with him."
Reference: (At-Ta'liq al-Hasan: 253)
➑ Sayyiduna Saib bin Yazid, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates that during the caliphate of Sayyiduna Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, people used to pray twenty rak'ahs in Ramadan.
Reference: (Musnad Ali bin al-Ja'd: 2825, Al-Sunan al-Kubra of Bayhaqi: 2/496, and its chain is authentic)
These people who prayed twenty rak'ahs were other than the companions because the companion of the Prophet, Sayyiduna Saib bin Yazid, may Allah be pleased with him, himself says:
كنا أي الصحابة نقوم في عهد عمر بن الخطاب بإحدى عشرة ركعة
"We (the companions) used to pray eleven rak'ahs (Taraweeh including Witr) during the time of Sayyiduna Umar bin Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him."
Reference: (Sunan Sa'id bin Mansur, quoted from Al-Hawi lil-Fatawa by Suyuti: 1/349, Hashiyat Athar al-Sunan by Naimwi Hanafi: 250, and its chain is authentic)
Allama Subki, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
إسناده في غاية الصحة
"Its chain is extremely authentic."
Reference: (Sharh al-Minhaj, quoted from Al-Hawi lil-Fatawa by Suyuti: 1/350)
The actions of other people against the companions, may Allah be pleased with them, are not proof, nor does the narration clarify whether these unknown people considered the twenty rak'ahs as Sunnah Mu'akkadah or just as voluntary nafl.
If someone considers eight rak'ahs as Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ and twelve as additional nafl, what harm can there be? These people probably did the same.
❀ Allama Khalil Ahmad Saharanpuri Deobandi Sahib says:
"Ibn Humam wrote eight rak'ahs as Sunnah and the rest as recommended, so this statement is not objectionable."
Reference: (Barahin Qati'ah: 18)
❀ He further writes:
"It is agreed that eight rak'ahs are Sunnah Mu'akkadah of Taraweeh; if there is any difference, it is about the twelve."
Reference: (Barahin Qati'ah: 195)
➒ Saib bin Yazid, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates that we used to pray twenty rak'ahs of Taraweeh and Witr during the time of Sayyiduna Umar, may Allah be pleased with him.
Reference: (Ma'rifat al-Sunan wa al-Athar of Bayhaqi: 4/42)
The narration is anomalous. Due to opposition by Imam Malik, Imam Yahya bin Saeed Qattan, Imam Darawardi, may Allah have mercy on them, and others, it is considered anomalous. Although Khalid bin Mukhlad is "trustworthy," his narration is not accepted due to opposition by senior trustworthy narrators. In this narration, senior trustworthy narrators mention eleven rak'ahs.
➓ Abu Abdur Rahman Salmi, may Allah have mercy on him, narrates that Sayyiduna Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, ordered the reciters to lead twenty Taraweeh in Ramadan. Sayyiduna Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, led them in Witr.
Reference: (Al-Sunan al-Kubra of Bayhaqi: 2/496)
The narration is weak.
➊ Hammad bin Shu'ayb is weak. Imam Yahya bin Ma'in, Imam Abu Zur'ah, Imam Nasai, and Hafiz Dhahabi, may Allah have mercy on them, declared him weak.
➋ Ata bin al-Sa'ib is mixed. Hammad bin Shu'ayb is not among those from whom he heard before mixing.
➌ Abu Hasna narrates that Sayyiduna Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, ordered a person to lead twenty Taraweeh.
Reference: (Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 2/393)
The chain is weak. Abu Hasna is unknown.
❀ Hafiz Dhahabi, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
لا يعرف
"He is unknown."
Reference: (Mizan al-I'tidal: 4/515)
Allah Almighty has not made us responsible for the narrations of unknown narrators.
➍ A'mash, may Allah have mercy on him, narrates that Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud, may Allah be pleased with him, used to pray twenty Taraweeh.
Reference: (Mukhtasar Qiyam al-Layl of Marwazi: 157)
The chain is weak. In Umdat al-Qari (11/127), this narration is from Hafs bin Ghiyath from A'mash, while both Hafs bin Ghiyath and A'mash are mudallis, and there is no specification of hearing.
A Support for Eleven Rak'ahs of Taraweeh:
قال الإمام أبو بكر النيسابوري (م: 324) حدثنا يوسف بن سعيد ثنا حجاج عن ابن جريج حدثني إسماعيل بن أمية أن محمد بن يوسف ابن أخت السائب بن يزيد أخبره أن السائب بن يزيد أخبره قال جمع عمر بن الخطاب الناس على أبي بن كعب وتميم الداري فكانا يقومان بمائة في ركعة فما ننصرف حتى نرى أو نشك في فروع الفجر قال فكنا نقوم بأحد عشر قلت أو واحد وعشرين قال لقد سمع ذلك من السائب بن يزيد ابن خصيفة فسألت يزيد بن خصيفة فقال حسبت أن السائب قال أحدا وعشرين
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Saib bin Yazid رضي الله عنه that Sayyiduna Umar bin Khattab رضي الله عنه gathered people to pray Taraweeh with Ubayy bin Ka'b رضي الله عنه and Tamim Dari رضي الله عنه. Both of them used to recite one hundred verses in one rak'ah. Then when we were about to finish the prayer, we used to think that Fajr had already arrived. Saib bin Yazid رضي الله عنه says: We used to pray eleven rak'ahs.
The narrator of this hadith, Isma'il bin Umayyah رحمه الله, when he heard it from Muhammad bin Yusuf رحمه الله, asked: Eleven rak'ahs or twenty-one rak'ahs? Muhammad bin Yusuf رحمه الله said: Such a thing was heard by Yazid bin Khusifah رحمه الله from Saib bin Yazid رضي الله عنه. Isma'il bin Umayyah رحمه الله says that then I asked Yazid bin Khusifah رحمه الله about this, and he said: I think Saib bin Yazid رضي الله عنه said twenty-one.
Reference: (Fawaid Abi Bakr al-Naysaburi: 16)
It should be noted that Muhammad bin Yusuf narrated eleven rak'ahs.
When Isma'il bin Umayyah asked Muhammad bin Yusuf whether it was eleven or twenty-one, he said that the twenty-one narration was heard by Yazid bin Khusifah. Isma'il bin Umayyah then asked Yazid bin Khusifah if he really heard the twenty-one narration, and he said: I think Sayyiduna Saib bin Yazid رضي الله عنه narrated twenty-one.
Yazid bin Khusifah was mistaken in narrating twenty-one rak'ahs because:
➊ Yazid bin Khusifah expressed doubt by saying حسبت.
➋ Yazid bin Khusifah often falls into error when narrating from memory.
❀ Imam Ibn Hibban رحمه الله says:
كان يهم كثيرا إذا حدث من حفظه
"When narrating from memory, they are very prone to error."
Reference: (Mashahir Ulama al-Umam: 1066)
Here, Yazid bin Khusifah narrated this hadith from his memory. Therefore, it is his error, as is evident from the words. Meanwhile, Muhammad bin Yusuf narrates eleven rak'ahs directly from Sayyiduna Saib bin Yazid رضي الله عنه.
Furthermore, Isma'il bin Umayyah is not unique in narrating from Muhammad bin Yusuf; six other students also narrated the same hadith with the wording of eleven rak'ahs from Muhammad bin Yusuf, and none objected to Muhammad bin Yusuf. Observe:
➊ Imam Malik bin Anas رحمه الله
Reference: (Muwatta Imam Malik: 138)
➋ Usamah bin Zaid al-Laythi رحمه الله
Reference: (Fawaid Abi Bakr Naysaburi: 17)
➌ Isma'il bin Ja'far Ansari رحمه الله
Reference: (Ahadith Isma'il bin Ja'far: 140)
➍ Abdul Aziz bin Muhammad Darawardi رحمه الله
Reference: (Sunan Sa'id bin Mansur via Al-Hawi Lil Fatawa Lil Suyuti: 1/416)
❀ Allama Subki رحمه الله says:
في الموطأ وفي مصنف سعيد بن منصور بسند في غاية الصحة عن السائب بن يزيد إحدى عشرة ركعة
"It is narrated with an extremely authentic chain in Muwatta Imam Malik and Sunan Sa'id bin Mansur that Sayyiduna Saib bin Yazid رضي الله عنه mentioned eleven rak'ahs."
Reference: (Al-Hawi Lil Fatawa Lil Suyuti: 1/417)
➎ Imam Yahya bin Sa'id al-Qattan رحمه الله
Reference: (Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 7671)
➏ Imam Muhammad bin Ishaq رحمه الله
Reference: (Fawaid Abi Bakr Naysaburi: 19)
All the students narrate eleven rak'ahs from their teacher Muhammad bin Yusuf رحمه الله without any hesitation or doubt. It is established that Isma'il bin Umayyah's inquiry from Muhammad bin Yusuf was not due to doubt or hesitation. And all praise is due to Allah!
❀ The wording of twenty-one rak'ahs from Sayyiduna Saib bin Yazid رضي الله عنه has not been narrated by anyone except Yazid bin Khusifah.
In a narration of the author Abdul Razzaq (7733), Al-Harith bin Abdul Rahman bin Abi Dhabab al-Sadusi mentions twenty-three rak'ahs from Sayyiduna Saib bin Yazid رضي الله عنه, but that narration is false.
➊ Ibrahim bin Muhammad Aslami is abandoned and a liar.
➋ Imam Abdul Razzaq bin Hammam رحمه الله is a mudallis (one who conceals the source), and did not specify the hearing.
❀ Those friends who accept Yazid bin Khusifah's narration of twenty-one rak'ahs as correct and use it as evidence for the Sunnah of twenty rak'ahs Taraweeh, they will also have to issue a fatwa permitting one Witr. Will our brothers issue a fatwa for one Witr?
Summary:
It is absolutely not established that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ or any companion prayed twenty Taraweeh. The Sunnah is only eight rak'ahs.
❀ Allama Zarkashi, may Allah have mercy on him
Reference: (794 AH)
, says:دعوى أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم صلى بهم في تلك الليلة عشرين ركعة لم يصح
"It is not correct to say that the Noble Prophet ﷺ led the companions in twenty rak'ahs that night."
Reference: (Al-Masabih fi Salat al-Taraweeh by Al-Suyuti)
❀ Hafiz Suyuti, may Allah have mercy on him
Reference: (911 AH)
, says:الحاصل أن العشرين ركعة لم تثبت من فعله صلى الله عليه وسلم
"The summary is that praying twenty Taraweeh is not established from the Noble Prophet ﷺ."
Reference: (Al-Masabih fi Salat al-Taraweeh)
As for Imam Ata bin Abi Rabah, Imam Ibn Abi Mulaika, Imam Suwaid bin Ghaflah, may Allah have mercy on them and others, their praying twenty rak'ahs is not beneficial for our friends, because there is no evidence that they considered those twenty rak'ahs as an emphasized Sunnah. We pray that Allah, the Lord of Glory, grants us understanding of the truth. Ameen!
