Author: Hafiz Muhammad Ishaq Zahid (Hafidhahullah), Kuwait
"The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) did not pray more than eleven rak'ahs in Ramadan or in other months."
(Bukhari: Hadith No. 2013)
2. Sayyidina Jabir bin Abdullah (رضي الله عنه) reports that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) led us in eight rak'ahs and witr during Ramadan. On the next night, we gathered, hoping he would come out again, but we waited until morning. When we later discussed this with the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم), he replied:
"I feared that witr might become obligatory upon you."
(Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah: 0170, Ibn Hibban: 2401, Abu Ya'la: 3/336)
Sheikh Al-Albani (رحمه الله) has authenticated this narration in Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah, stating that while some scholars have critiqued the narrator Isa bin Jariyah, his narration remains acceptable due to validation from scholars like Abu Zur’ah and Ibn Hibban.
3. Imam Malik has narrated from As-Sa'ib bin Yazid that "Sayyidina Umar (رضي الله عنه) ordered Ubayy bin Ka'b and Tamim Ad-Dari (رضي الله عنهما) to lead eleven rak'ahs."
(Muwatta, 1/73, Chapter: Qiyam in Ramadan, Ibn Abi Shaybah, 2/391)
2. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) led his Companions (رضي الله عنهم) in congregational prayer of eleven rak'ahs during Ramadan.
3. When Sayyidina Umar (رضي الله عنه) gathered people for Tarawih prayer, he instructed two of his Companions, Ubayy bin Ka'b and Tamim Ad-Dari (رضي الله عنهما), to lead with eleven rak'ahs.
(Hasan Sahih, Hadith No. 787, Abu Dawood: 1362, An-Nasa'i: 1364, Ibn Khuzaymah: 2206, Ibn Hibban: 2538)
This narration indicates that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) did not pray Tahajjud separately during Ramadan, as he would extend Tarawih until suhoor. If Tarawih and Tahajjud were separate, he would have performed both. Hence, Tarawih in Ramadan is the same as Tahajjud, and the same night prayer referred to as Tahajjud in other months is known as Tarawih in Ramadan.
This narration, however, is mursal (disconnected) and weak because its narrator, Yazid bin Ruman, did not meet Sayyidina Umar (رضي الله عنه). If this second narration is accepted, the first is still preferred as it aligns with the sunnah, reflecting Sayyidina Umar’s (رضي الله عنه) instruction for eleven rak'ahs.
Note:
All narrations suggesting Sayyidina Umar (رضي الله عنه) instructed twenty rak'ahs are weak.
1. Sheikh Ibn Baz (رحمه الله)
"The most virtuous is what the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) regularly practiced, which is to perform eight rak'ahs with two-rak'ah salams, followed by three rak'ahs of witr. Tranquility and proper recitation are essential."
(Fatawa al-Lajnah ad-Daimah, 7/212)
2. Saudi Fatwa Committee
"Tarawih is a sunnah of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم), evidenced by his practice of not exceeding eleven rak'ahs in or out of Ramadan."
(Fatawa al-Lajnah ad-Daimah, 7/194)
Signed by four Saudi scholars: Sheikh Abdullah bin Qa’ood, Sheikh Abdullah bin Ghudayyan, Sheikh Abdur Razzaq Afifi, Sheikh Ibn Baz.
3. Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen (رحمه الله)
He explains the varied opinions of the salaf (pious predecessors) on the rak'ahs of Tarawih and witr, noting opinions from 41 to 11 rak'ahs. He concludes that the most authentic are eleven or thirteen rak'ahs, based on narrations from Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim (Majalis Shahr Ramadan, p.19).
1. These scholars base the rak'ahs of Tarawih on the narration of Sayyidah Aisha (رضي الله عنها), interpreting the eleven rak'ahs mentioned therein as Tarawih.
2. They advocate adhering to the Prophet’s (صلى الله عليه وسلم) practice of eleven rak'ahs, including witr.
3. They hold that Sayyidina Umar (رضي الله عنه) also instructed praying eleven rak'ahs.
Note:
Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen’s (رحمه الله) mention of thirteen rak'ahs includes two additional rak'ahs performed by the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) after witr. Scholars explain these might have been Fajr sunnahs or additional nafl after witr, thus preserving the count of eleven rak'ahs for Tarawih.
Evidence from Hadith
1. In Sahih Bukhari, Abu Salamah bin Abdur Rahman asked Sayyidah Aisha (رضي الله عنها) about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) during Ramadan. She replied:"The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) did not pray more than eleven rak'ahs in Ramadan or in other months."
(Bukhari: Hadith No. 2013)
2. Sayyidina Jabir bin Abdullah (رضي الله عنه) reports that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) led us in eight rak'ahs and witr during Ramadan. On the next night, we gathered, hoping he would come out again, but we waited until morning. When we later discussed this with the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم), he replied:
"I feared that witr might become obligatory upon you."
(Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah: 0170, Ibn Hibban: 2401, Abu Ya'la: 3/336)
Sheikh Al-Albani (رحمه الله) has authenticated this narration in Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah, stating that while some scholars have critiqued the narrator Isa bin Jariyah, his narration remains acceptable due to validation from scholars like Abu Zur’ah and Ibn Hibban.
3. Imam Malik has narrated from As-Sa'ib bin Yazid that "Sayyidina Umar (رضي الله عنه) ordered Ubayy bin Ka'b and Tamim Ad-Dari (رضي الله عنهما) to lead eleven rak'ahs."
(Muwatta, 1/73, Chapter: Qiyam in Ramadan, Ibn Abi Shaybah, 2/391)
Key Points Derived from Hadith
1. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) consistently performed eleven rak'ahs in Ramadan and throughout the year.2. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) led his Companions (رضي الله عنهم) in congregational prayer of eleven rak'ahs during Ramadan.
3. When Sayyidina Umar (رضي الله عنه) gathered people for Tarawih prayer, he instructed two of his Companions, Ubayy bin Ka'b and Tamim Ad-Dari (رضي الله عنهما), to lead with eleven rak'ahs.
Tarawih as Tahajjud in Ramadan
Sayyidina Abu Dharr (رضي الله عنه) narrated that they fasted Ramadan with the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم), who did not lead them in qiyam until seven days remained. On the night of the 23rd, he led them, reciting so long that a third of the night passed. On the 24th night, he did not lead them. On the 25th, he led until half the night passed. He skipped the 26th, then on the 27th night, he recited so long that they feared they would miss suhoor.(Hasan Sahih, Hadith No. 787, Abu Dawood: 1362, An-Nasa'i: 1364, Ibn Khuzaymah: 2206, Ibn Hibban: 2538)
This narration indicates that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) did not pray Tahajjud separately during Ramadan, as he would extend Tarawih until suhoor. If Tarawih and Tahajjud were separate, he would have performed both. Hence, Tarawih in Ramadan is the same as Tahajjud, and the same night prayer referred to as Tahajjud in other months is known as Tarawih in Ramadan.
Did Sayyidina Umar (رضي الله عنه) Not Order Tarawih?
We have referenced Muwatta and Ibn Abi Shaybah, which report that Sayyidina Umar (رضي الله عنه) instructed Ubayy bin Ka'b and Tamim Ad-Dari (رضي الله عنهما) to lead with eleven rak'ahs. However, another narration states that people prayed 23 rak'ahs during his time. (Muwatta, 1/73)This narration, however, is mursal (disconnected) and weak because its narrator, Yazid bin Ruman, did not meet Sayyidina Umar (رضي الله عنه). If this second narration is accepted, the first is still preferred as it aligns with the sunnah, reflecting Sayyidina Umar’s (رضي الله عنه) instruction for eleven rak'ahs.
Note:
All narrations suggesting Sayyidina Umar (رضي الله عنه) instructed twenty rak'ahs are weak.
Views of Saudi Scholars on Tarawih
The stance of Saudi scholars on Tarawih aligns with the details above. Some notable opinions include:1. Sheikh Ibn Baz (رحمه الله)
"The most virtuous is what the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) regularly practiced, which is to perform eight rak'ahs with two-rak'ah salams, followed by three rak'ahs of witr. Tranquility and proper recitation are essential."
(Fatawa al-Lajnah ad-Daimah, 7/212)
2. Saudi Fatwa Committee
"Tarawih is a sunnah of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم), evidenced by his practice of not exceeding eleven rak'ahs in or out of Ramadan."
(Fatawa al-Lajnah ad-Daimah, 7/194)
Signed by four Saudi scholars: Sheikh Abdullah bin Qa’ood, Sheikh Abdullah bin Ghudayyan, Sheikh Abdur Razzaq Afifi, Sheikh Ibn Baz.
3. Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen (رحمه الله)
He explains the varied opinions of the salaf (pious predecessors) on the rak'ahs of Tarawih and witr, noting opinions from 41 to 11 rak'ahs. He concludes that the most authentic are eleven or thirteen rak'ahs, based on narrations from Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim (Majalis Shahr Ramadan, p.19).
Summary of the Views of Saudi Scholars
The above excerpts reveal:1. These scholars base the rak'ahs of Tarawih on the narration of Sayyidah Aisha (رضي الله عنها), interpreting the eleven rak'ahs mentioned therein as Tarawih.
2. They advocate adhering to the Prophet’s (صلى الله عليه وسلم) practice of eleven rak'ahs, including witr.
3. They hold that Sayyidina Umar (رضي الله عنه) also instructed praying eleven rak'ahs.
Note:
Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen’s (رحمه الله) mention of thirteen rak'ahs includes two additional rak'ahs performed by the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) after witr. Scholars explain these might have been Fajr sunnahs or additional nafl after witr, thus preserving the count of eleven rak'ahs for Tarawih.