Taraweeh Prayers Bismilahir Rahmanir Raheem. Issues like this are easily resolved by sticking to the Authentic Sunnah as it takes as away from unnecessary disputes and debates! Allah (SWT) says in the Qur’aan: 1) First and foremost Ramadhan is a month to get closer to Allah (SWT), to be loved by Allah (SWT) and have our sins forgiven and the only way to do this by following the Sunnah: [3:31] Say (O Prophet): If you really love Allah, then follow me, and Allah shall love you and forgive you your sins. Allah is Most-Forgiving, Very-Merciful. 2) Secondly, the rewards during the month of Ramdhan are multiplied tremendously: “…Whoever draws nearer (to Allah) by performing any of the (optional) good deeds in (this month) shall receive the same reward as performing an obligatory deed at any other time, and whoever discharges an obligatory deed in (this month) shall receive the reward of performing seventy obligations at any other time... ” [Narrated by Ibn Khuzaymah] 3) Thirdly, to be specific praying at night (in Ramadhan) is specifically linked to forgiveness of all your previous sins. Narrated Abu Huraira (RA): I heard Allahs Apostle (Sallahu Alaihi Wassallam) saying regarding Ramadan, Whoever prayed at night in it (the month of Ramadan) out of sincere Faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven. (Bukhari) 4) Fourthly, the Sunnah of Taraweeh according to most Scholars is that this prayer is to be performed in congregation (with Jamaah) and that was the practise of the Sahaba (RA), which Sayyidina Ammerul-Mumineen Umar (RA) initiated: Abdur Rahman bin Abdul Qari (RA) said, I went out in the company of Umar bin Al-Khattab (RA) one night in Ramadan to the mosque and found the people praying in different groups. A man praying alone or a man praying with a little group behind him. So, Umar (RA) said, In my opinion I would better collect these (people) under the leadership of one Qari (Reciter) (i.e. let them pray in congregation!). So, he made up his mind to congregate them behind Ubai bin Kab (RA). Then on another night I went again in his company and the people were praying behind their reciter. On that, Umar (RA) remarked, What an excellent Bida (i.e. innovation in religion) this is; but the prayer which they do not perform, but sleep at its time is better than the one they are offering. He meant the prayer in the last part of the night. (In those days) people used to pray in the early part of the night. (Bukhari) 5) Fifthly, the discussion about the Rakaat should be skipped as it is established that: a) Praying at night at Ramadhan has great reward b) It is Sunnah to pray in congregation And the command of our beloved Nabi (Sallahu Alaihi Wassallam) specifically about the prayers in Ramdhan is to FINISH WITH THE IMAM! He (Sallahu Alaihi Wassallam) said: When a man prays with an imam till he goes he is reckoned as having spent a whole night in prayer. (Abu Daud). There is no dispute amongst Scholars in Islam that the established Sunnah of Taraweeh is to pray in congregation and finish with the Imam, whether he prays 11, 13 Rakaat.
Posted on: Sun, 29 Jun 2014 10:37:47 +0000