This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Abu Hamza Abdul Khaliq Siddiqi's book Sahih Fazail-e-Amaal.
عن أبى هريرة، رضى الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: من قام رمضان إيمانا واحتسابا غفر له ما تقدم من ذنبه .
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever stands (in prayer) during Ramadan out of faith and seeking reward, his previous sins will be forgiven."
Reference: Sahih Bukhari, Book of Faith, Chapter: Voluntary Standing in Ramadan from Faith, No: 27.
It is narrated from Sayyeda Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that:
كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم لا يصلي فيما بين أن يفرغ من صلاة العشاء وهى التى يدعو الناس العتمة إلى الفجر، إحدى عشرة ركعة، يسلم بين كل ركعتين، ويوتر بواحدة .
"The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to pray eleven rak'ahs from after Isha prayer until Fajr, and he would give salam after every two rak'ahs and would pray one Witr. People also called the Isha prayer 'Atamah'."
Reference: Sahih Muslim, Book of Travelers' Prayer, Chapter: Night Prayer and the Number of Rak'ahs of the Prophet (peace be upon him) at Night, No: 736.
From this authentic hadith, it is understood that the number of rak'ahs of the night prayer (Taraweeh) of the Prophet (peace be upon him) was eleven.
Abu Hashim (may Allah have mercy on him) says that I came to Sayyeda Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) and asked her about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) in the blessed month of Ramadan, and she said:
كانت صلاته ثلاث عشرة ركعة منها ركعتا الفجر .
"His prayer was thirteen (13) rak'ahs, and two of them were the rak'ahs of Fajr."
Reference: Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah, No: 2213 -
Ibn Khuzaymah has declared it "Sahih".Meaning, he used to pray eleven rak'ahs.
Abu Salamah asked Sayyeda Aisha Siddiqah (may Allah be pleased with her) how the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to pray (Taraweeh) in Ramadan, and Sayyeda Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said:
ما كان يزيد فى رمضان ولا فى غيره على إحدى عشرة ركعة .
"Whether it was Ramadan or not, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) did not pray more than eleven rak'ahs."
Reference: Sahih Bukhari, Book of Taraweeh Prayer No: 2013. Sahih Muslim, Book of Travelers' Prayer, Chapter: Night Prayer and the Number of Rak'ahs of the Prophet (peace be upon him) at Night, No: 738. Muwatta Imam Muhammad, p: 142.
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) that Abi bin Ka'b (may Allah be pleased with him) came to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and said: O Messenger of Allah! The women of my household said to me on the night of Ramadan, "We do not know the Qur'an, we will pray with you."
فصليت بهن ثمان ركعات وأوترت فكانت سنة الرضا ولم يقل شيئا .
"I taught them eight rak'ahs and Witr. The Prophet (peace be upon him) did not say anything about it. This became a Sunnah with his approval."
Reference: Majma' al-Zawa'id: 77/2.
Allama Haithami says: Its chain is "Hasan".
Reference: Musnad Abi Ya'la: 236/3, No: 1801.
