Written by: Ash-Shaykh Mubashshir Ahmad Rabbani (ḥafiẓahullāh)
How many Rak‘ahs of Tarawīḥ are proven from the practice of the Prophet ﷺ and the noble Companions (رضي الله عنهم)? Please explain with evidence.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
من قام رمضان إيمانا واحتسابا غفر له ما تقدم من ذنبه
“Whoever stands (in prayer) during the nights of Ramadan with faith and seeking reward (from Allah), his past sins will be forgiven.”
— [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Īmān, Chapter: Voluntary Night Prayer in Ramadan, 37; Muslim 760]
The Tarawīḥ prayer is referred to as Qiyām al-Ramaḍān, Ṣalāh in Ramadan, Qiyām al-Layl, or Ṣalāt al-Layl. Its time extends from after ʿIshāʾ until Fajr, and it may be performed at any time during the night.
Sayyidah ʿĀʾishah (رضي الله عنها) narrated:
كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يصلي فيما بين أن يفرغ من صلاة العشاء إلى الفجر إحدى عشرة ركعة، يسلم بين كل ركعتين ويوتر بواحدة
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to pray between the end of ʿIshāʾ and the Fajr prayer eleven rak‘ahs. He would offer salām after every two rak‘ahs and pray one rak‘ah as Witr.”
— [Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb Ṣalāt al-Musāfirīn, Chapter on the Night Prayer and the Number of Rakʿahs the Prophet Offered, 736]
In another narration:
ما كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يزيد في رمضان ولا في غيره على إحدى عشرة ركعة
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not exceed eleven rak‘ahs in Ramadan or outside of it.”
— [Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 738]
Sayyidunā ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb (رضي الله عنه) appointed Ubayy ibn Kaʿb and Tamīm al-Dārī (رضي الله عنهما) to lead the people in prayer during Ramadan with eleven rakʿahs.
— [Al-Muwaṭṭaʾ 1/114; Al-Bayhaqī 2/496]
During the time of ʿUmar (رضي الله عنه), the people prayed eleven rakʿahs of Tarawīḥ.
— [Sunan Saʿīd ibn Manṣūr, as cited in al-Taʿlīq al-Ḥasan 1/392; al-Ḥāwī lil-Fatāwā 1/349]
“The practice I adopt for myself regarding Qiyām in Ramadan is what ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb gathered the people upon—eleven rakʿahs. That is the prayer of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. I do not know who introduced this excessive bowing (i.e., the longer number of rakʿahs).”
— [al-Ṣalāh wa al-Tahajjud, pg. 287, by ʿAbd al-Ḥaqq al-Ashbalī]
From the authentic aḥādīth, noble Athār, and the clarification of Imām Mālik (رحمه الله), it is clear that:
✔ The Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ,
✔ The practice of ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb (رضي الله عنه),
✔ And the understanding of the early scholars,
—all affirm that Tarawīḥ consists of eleven rakʿahs.
❖ Question:
How many Rak‘ahs of Tarawīḥ are proven from the practice of the Prophet ﷺ and the noble Companions (رضي الله عنهم)? Please explain with evidence.
❖ Answer:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
من قام رمضان إيمانا واحتسابا غفر له ما تقدم من ذنبه
“Whoever stands (in prayer) during the nights of Ramadan with faith and seeking reward (from Allah), his past sins will be forgiven.”
— [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Īmān, Chapter: Voluntary Night Prayer in Ramadan, 37; Muslim 760]
The Tarawīḥ prayer is referred to as Qiyām al-Ramaḍān, Ṣalāh in Ramadan, Qiyām al-Layl, or Ṣalāt al-Layl. Its time extends from after ʿIshāʾ until Fajr, and it may be performed at any time during the night.
❖ Number of Rakʿahs According to the Sunnah:
Sayyidah ʿĀʾishah (رضي الله عنها) narrated:
كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يصلي فيما بين أن يفرغ من صلاة العشاء إلى الفجر إحدى عشرة ركعة، يسلم بين كل ركعتين ويوتر بواحدة
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to pray between the end of ʿIshāʾ and the Fajr prayer eleven rak‘ahs. He would offer salām after every two rak‘ahs and pray one rak‘ah as Witr.”
— [Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb Ṣalāt al-Musāfirīn, Chapter on the Night Prayer and the Number of Rakʿahs the Prophet Offered, 736]
In another narration:
ما كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يزيد في رمضان ولا في غيره على إحدى عشرة ركعة
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not exceed eleven rak‘ahs in Ramadan or outside of it.”
— [Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 738]
❖ Practice of the Companions:
Sayyidunā ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb (رضي الله عنه) appointed Ubayy ibn Kaʿb and Tamīm al-Dārī (رضي الله عنهما) to lead the people in prayer during Ramadan with eleven rakʿahs.
— [Al-Muwaṭṭaʾ 1/114; Al-Bayhaqī 2/496]
During the time of ʿUmar (رضي الله عنه), the people prayed eleven rakʿahs of Tarawīḥ.
— [Sunan Saʿīd ibn Manṣūr, as cited in al-Taʿlīq al-Ḥasan 1/392; al-Ḥāwī lil-Fatāwā 1/349]
❖ Statement of Imām Mālik (رحمه الله):
آخذ لنفسي في قيام رمضان هو الذي جمع عمر بن الخطاب عليه الناس إحدى عشرة ركعة، وهي صلاة رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، ولا أدري من أحدث هذا الركوع الكثير“The practice I adopt for myself regarding Qiyām in Ramadan is what ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb gathered the people upon—eleven rakʿahs. That is the prayer of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. I do not know who introduced this excessive bowing (i.e., the longer number of rakʿahs).”
— [al-Ṣalāh wa al-Tahajjud, pg. 287, by ʿAbd al-Ḥaqq al-Ashbalī]
❖ Conclusion:
From the authentic aḥādīth, noble Athār, and the clarification of Imām Mālik (رحمه الله), it is clear that:
✔ The Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ,
✔ The practice of ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb (رضي الله عنه),
✔ And the understanding of the early scholars,
—all affirm that Tarawīḥ consists of eleven rakʿahs.
