Source: "Ahkam wa Masail in the Light of the Qur’an and Hadith", Volume 02
Offering the Tarawih prayer in congregation at the mosque is not only permissible but also Sunnah. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ performed Tarawih in congregation with his Companions (رضي الله عنهم) on several nights during the month of Ramadan, establishing both its permissibility and its Sunnah status.
Hadith reports confirm that the Prophet ﷺ performed Tarawih in congregation on some nights of Ramadan. According to the narration of Abu Dharr (RA), the Prophet ﷺ led the Companions in Tarawih on one night for about a third of the night, and on another night until the middle of the night.
(Sunan al-Tirmidhi)
After a few nights of leading Tarawih in congregation, the Prophet ﷺ discontinued the practice out of concern that it might be made obligatory upon the Ummah. Hence, he refrained from coming out to the mosque again for Tarawih despite the Companions gathering.
ʿA’ishah (RA) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
"I am aware of what you were doing, but I feared that it might be made obligatory upon you.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim)
Following the death of the Prophet ﷺ, when divine revelation ceased and the fear of Tarawih becoming obligatory was no longer valid, ʿUmar ibn al-Khattab (RA) reintroduced the practice of praying Tarawih in congregation. Since then, this has remained a widely practiced and established Sunnah among Muslims.
① Performing Tarawih in congregation at the mosque is both permissible and Sunnah.
② The Prophet ﷺ practiced it, but stopped to avoid it being made obligatory.
③ After the end of revelation, the Companions reinstated it, and it remains a commendable Sunnah practice today.
❖ Shar‘i Ruling on Congregational Tarawih in the Mosque
Offering the Tarawih prayer in congregation at the mosque is not only permissible but also Sunnah. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ performed Tarawih in congregation with his Companions (رضي الله عنهم) on several nights during the month of Ramadan, establishing both its permissibility and its Sunnah status.
❖ The Prophet ﷺ Leading Tarawih in Congregation
Hadith reports confirm that the Prophet ﷺ performed Tarawih in congregation on some nights of Ramadan. According to the narration of Abu Dharr (RA), the Prophet ﷺ led the Companions in Tarawih on one night for about a third of the night, and on another night until the middle of the night.
(Sunan al-Tirmidhi)
❖ Why the Prophet ﷺ Discontinued Congregational Tarawih
After a few nights of leading Tarawih in congregation, the Prophet ﷺ discontinued the practice out of concern that it might be made obligatory upon the Ummah. Hence, he refrained from coming out to the mosque again for Tarawih despite the Companions gathering.
ʿA’ishah (RA) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
"I am aware of what you were doing, but I feared that it might be made obligatory upon you.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim)
❖ Ruling After the Prophet's ﷺ Demise
Following the death of the Prophet ﷺ, when divine revelation ceased and the fear of Tarawih becoming obligatory was no longer valid, ʿUmar ibn al-Khattab (RA) reintroduced the practice of praying Tarawih in congregation. Since then, this has remained a widely practiced and established Sunnah among Muslims.
✦ Summary
① Performing Tarawih in congregation at the mosque is both permissible and Sunnah.
② The Prophet ﷺ practiced it, but stopped to avoid it being made obligatory.
③ After the end of revelation, the Companions reinstated it, and it remains a commendable Sunnah practice today.
