Allah Ta’ala’s Beloved Prophet Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam has stated that, “Ramadhan is the month of my followers.” One way in which this Hadith has been explained is that ‘Allah Ta’ala has given this month to my followers so that they can worship extensively in this month and obtain the Pleasure of the Lord. They can Fast during the day, perform voluntary prayers in the night, recite the Holy Qur’an, spend their wealth in the path of Allah Ta’ala, help the poor, needy and helpless and become deserving of the Mercy of Allah Ta’ala.’
Due to the fact that is it difficult to do all the things mentioned above all year long, that is why Allah Ta’ala granted one month in which Muslims can focus all their attention towards worshipping Him.
Just as the other worships hold an exalted position, similarly the excellences of Taraweeh prayers have been mentioned extensively in the Ahadith and the fact that Rasool Allah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam performed it continuously is also reported. Read the following carefully and prepare yourselves to perform this exalted worship regularly.
Meaning of Taraweeh
The word ‘Taraweeh’ is the plural of the word ‘Tarweehatun’, which means ‘to rest for a while’. Due to the fact that we are ordered to sit after each four Rak’ats for the same length of time that it takes to pray those four Rak’ats, it is called ‘Taraweeh’.
The Habit of Rasool Allah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam
The performing of Taraweeh is proven from Rasool Allah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam , as is narrated by Hazrat Ibn ‘Abbas Radiallaho Ta’ala ‘Anhuma, who reports that, “Rasool Allah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam used to perform 20 Rak’ats Taraweeh in Ramadhan.” (Musannif Ibn Abi Shaiba, Vol 2, Page 394)
Punctuality of the Companions in Praying Taraweeh
Taraweeh used to be performed during the time of Rasool Allah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam but it was not arranged in the manner in which it is arranged nowadays. It was started during the rule of Hazrat ‘Umar bin Khattab Radiallaho Ta’ala ‘Anhu and the tradition is still present amongst Muslims. Hazrat ‘Abdur Rehman bin ‘Abd Qari Radiallaho Ta’ala ‘Anhu states that, “I went to the Masjid in Ramadhan with Hazrat ‘Umar bin Khattab Radiallaho Ta’ala ‘Anhu, and people were performing prayers separately. Hazrat ‘Umar Radiallaho Ta’ala ‘Anhu said, ‘By Allah! I think that if I gather all these people together and they perform prayers together behind one Qari, then it will be better.’ Then he gathered everyone behind Hazrat Abi bin Ka’ab Radiallaho Ta’ala ‘Anhu and one night saw everyone praying behind Hazrat Abi bin Ka’ab Radiallaho Ta’ala ‘Anhu. Upon seeing this Hazrat ‘Umar Radiallaho Ta’ala ‘Anhu said, ‘This is a good innovation,’ and people used to pray Taraweeh as soon as it was time.”
Rules of Taraweeh
* Offering Taraweeh salah is a Sunnat-e-Mu’akkadah (emphatic sunnah) for every sane, mature and adult Islamic brother and sister. (Ad-Dur-rul-Mukhtaar, V2, P493) Missing taraweeh is not permissible.
* The Jama’at of taraweeh is a Sunnat Mu’akkadah ‘alal Kifayah. If all the people miss it they all will be considered to have committed an isaa’at (disliked act). If a few people say it with jama’at then those offering alone will not be able to get the reward of Jama’at. (Hidayah, V1, P70)
* The time for the taraweeh salah begins after the farz of Isha and ends at dawn (Subh-e-Sadiq). If it is offered before the farz of Isha then it will not be valid. (Alamgiri, V1, P115)
* Taraweeh can be offered even after the farz and witr of Isha as well. (Ad-Dur-rul-Mukhtaar, V2, P494) This sometimes happens on the 29th (of Sha’ban) in case of delay in acquiring the evidence of the moon’s appearance.
* It is mustahab (preferable) to delay the taraweeh until one third (1/3) part of the night has passed. There is no harm in offering Taraweeh even after the second half of the night. (Ad-Dur-rul-Mukhtaar, V2, P495)
* If missed, there is no qada (repetition) for the taraweeh salah. (Ad-Dur-rul-Mukhtaar, V2, P494)
Rak’ats in Taraweeh
20 Rak’ats Taraweeh have been performed from the time of the Blessed Companions Ridwanullahi ‘Alaihim Ajma’een. It is reported in countless Ahadith that the Companions used to perform 20 Rak’ats of Taraweeh prayers, and we are presenting some Ahadith in relation to this.
Yazid bin Rooman reports that during the time of Hazrat ‘Umar bin Khattab Radiallaho Ta’ala ‘Anhu, people used to perform 23 Rak’ats (including ‘Isha Witr prayer). In a similar manner, Ibn Nasar reports on the authority of Sa’ib that in Ramadhan, the Companions used to stand for 20 Rak’ats, and during the time of Hazrat ‘Umar Radiallaho Ta’ala ‘Anhu people used to lean on their sticks (due to the length of standing).
Another narration from some of the companions of Hazrat ‘Ali Radiallaho Ta’ala ‘Anhu states that Hazrat ‘Ali Radiallaho Ta’ala ‘Anhu used to lead 20 Rak’ats of Taraweeh prayer and 3 Rak’ats of Witr prayer in Ramadhan.
As well as the above mentioned Ahadith, there are many others which give evidence that Taraweeh prayer consists of 20 Rak’ats.
Excellence of Taraweeh
Hazrat Abu Hurairah Radiallaho Ta’ala ‘Anhu narrates that Rasool Allah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “The person who stands and performs prayer in Ramadhan with faith has his previous sins forgiven.”
‘Allama Noowi Rehmatullahe Ta’ala ‘Alaihi states that ‘standing in Ramadhan’ means Taraweeh prayers and all the Scholars of the Nation are united on the belief that it is better (Mustahab) to perform Taraweeh prayers. In the above mentioned Hadith, Rasool Allah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam has stated that performing Taraweeh is the means to have sins forgiven, because Taraweeh is a voluntary prayer and Allah Ta’ala has said, “No doubt, good deeds obliterate evil deeds.” We commit many sins unknowingly and Allah Ta’ala’s Beloved Prophet Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam has given us an excellent way to have our sins forgiven. It is our responsibility in this case to arrange Taraweeh prayers in the month of Ramadhan and have our sins forgiven. However, one thing that must be kept in mind is that the sins that are mentioned in the above Hadith refers to small sins being forgiven or it refers to a reduction in the large sins, because large sins are only forgiven by sincere repentance, or by intercession, or by the Supreme Grace of Allah Ta’ala. I supplicate in the Court of Allah Ta’ala that He grants us the guidance to worship abundantly in the month of Ramadhan.
Completing the Qur’an in Taraweeh
It is better to complete the Qur’an at least once in Taraweeh during the month of Ramadhan ul Mubarak. The punctuality and insistence of the Companions of this has been reported in various narrations. Hazrat Hasan has reported that, “The person who is leading the Taraweeh prayers should make it easy on the followers. If he recites slowly, he should complete one Qur’an; if he recites at an intermediate speed, he should complete one and a half Qur’an’s; and if he recites at a fast pace, he should complete two Qur’an’s in Ramadhan.”
The above narration proves that at least one Qur’an should be completed in Taraweeh prayers. In another similar narration, Hazrat Abu ‘Uthman narrates that Hazrat ‘Umar Radiallaho Ta’ala ‘Anhu would appoint three people to lead Taraweeh prayers in Ramadhan. The one who used to recite the fastest was ordered to recite 30 verses in each Rak’at; the one who recited at an intermediate speed was ordered to recite 25 verses, and the one who recited slowly was ordered to recite 20 verses in each Rak’at. Therefore, we should also complete at least one Qur’an in Taraweeh prayers and if Allah Ta’ala gives us the guidance, we should complete one and a half or two Qur’an’s. May Allah Ta’ala
guide us all towards this, Aameen.
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