The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, led the congregational Taraweeh prayer for only three nights throughout Ramadan. Then, fearing that this congregational prayer might become obligatory and that the Ummah would be sinful if they abandoned it, he discontinued leading it in congregation and instructed people to pray at home. Consequently, people continued to pray Taraweeh at home until the Prophet passed away. This practice continued during the caliphate of Abu Bakr Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, and also in the early period of Umar, may Allah be pleased with him. Later, Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, established the practice of performing Taraweeh prayer in congregation.
It is narrated from Umm al-Mu’minin Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her:
صلى ذات ليلة فى المسجد فصلى بصلاته ناس ثم صلى من القابلة فكثر الناس ثم اجتمعوا من الليلة الثالثة أو الرابعة فلم يخرج إليهم رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فلما أصبح قال قد رأيت الذى صنعتم ولم يمنعني من الخروج إليكم إلا أني خشيت أن تفرض عليكم وذلك فى رمضان
“The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, prayed one night in the mosque, and the companions prayed with him. The next night, he prayed again, and the number of worshippers increased greatly. On the third or fourth night, the entire gathering was present, but the Prophet, peace be upon him, did not come to lead the prayer that night. In the morning, he said: ‘I saw how large a gathering you had become, but the thought that prevented me from coming out was the fear that this prayer might become obligatory upon you.’ This incident occurred in Ramadan.”
Women also participated in the Taraweeh prayer mentioned during Ramadan. It is narrated from Abu Dharr, may Allah be pleased with him, that:
صمنا مع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فلم يصل بنا حتى بقي سبع من الشهر فقام بنا حتى ذهب ثلث الليل ثم لم يقم بنا فى السادسة وقام بنا فى الخامسة حتى ذهب شطر الليل فقلنا له يا رسول الله لو نفلتنا بقية ليلتنا هذه فقال إنه من قام مع الإمام حتى ينصرف كتب له قيام ليلة ثم لم يصل بنا حتى بقي ثلاث من الشهر وصلى بنا فى الثالثة ودعا أهله ونساءه فقام بنا حتى تخوفنا الفلاح قلت له وما الفلاح قال السحور
“We fasted with the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, and he prayed the Isha prayer until seven nights remained in the month—that is, on the twenty-sixth night, he stood with us for Taraweeh prayer until one-third of the night passed. Then he did not stand again when six nights remained—that is, on the twenty-fourth night. Then on the twenty-fifth night, he stood with us in prayer until midnight passed, and we said: ‘O Messenger of Allah! We wish that you would pray more voluntary prayers with us during the rest of the night.’ He said: ‘Whoever prays with the Imam until he finishes, it is recorded for him as if he prayed the entire night.’ Then he did not pray again until three nights remained in the month. Then on the twenty-seventh night, he prayed with us and called his family and the women and stood with us in prayer until we feared missing the pre-dawn meal (suhoor).’ The narrator asked Abu Dharr, may Allah be pleased with him: ‘What is the fear?’ He said: ‘The fear was that the time for suhoor would pass.'”
The three nights of prayer that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, led in Ramadan consisted of eleven rak’ahs, including three Witr. It is narrated from Jabir bin Abdullah, may Allah be pleased with both of them:
صلى بنا رسول الله فى رمضان ثمان ركعات ثم أوتر
“The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, led us in Ramadan in eight rak’ahs (Taraweeh) and then prayed Witr.”
Umm al-Mu’minin Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, said:
أن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم كان يعتكف العشر الأواخر من رمضان حتى توفاه الله ثم اعتكف أزواجه من بعده
“The Prophet, peace be upon him, used to perform I’tikaf (spiritual retreat) in the last ten nights of Ramadan until his death, and after him, his pure wives continued to observe I’tikaf.”
The Commander of the Faithful, Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, during his caliphate, ordered Sulaiman bin Abi Hama, may Allah be pleased with him, to lead the women in Taraweeh prayer in a corner of the mosque during Ramadan.
Thus, it is established that women should come to the mosque for prayer, and the practice of the pious predecessors supports this, especially for Taraweeh prayer during Ramadan, so that women remain engaged in worship and religious knowledge and are protected from worldly superstitions. However, they are not obligated to come to the mosque for every prayer. The practice of the Mothers of the Believers shows that women should also perform I’tikaf in the mosque, not at home.
