Taraweeh Prayer: Rules, Sunnah Raka’ats, and Misconceptions Clarified
Performing prayer during Ramadan nights is called Qiyam Ramadan. This is the same prayer known as Qiyam al-Layl and Tahajjud in other months. In Ramadan, it is commonly referred to as Taraweeh. It is a Nafl (voluntary) prayer and carries great reward. The hadith states:
“He who observed the night prayer in Ramadan because of faith and seeking his reward (from Allah), all his previous sins would be forgiven.”
(Sahih Muslim: 759)
Number of Raka’ats in Taraweeh
The Sunnah number of Taraweeh raka’ats is eight. The strongest proof is the statement of Aisha (RA) in Sahih Bukhari:
“He (ﷺ) did not pray more than eleven rak`at in Ramadan or in any other month. He used to pray four rak`at —- let alone their beauty and length—-and then he would pray four —-let alone their beauty and length —- and then he would pray three rak`at (witr).
(Sahih Bukhari: 2013)
Responses to Some Objections
Objection 1: This is Tahajjud, not Taraweeh
Response: Tahajjud and Taraweeh are two names for the same prayer.
Objection 2: Taraweeh and Tahajjud are separate prayers
Response: Both are the same. The hadith itself states that the Prophet (ﷺ) always prayed eight raka’ats in both Ramadan and other months. If we assume this was only Tahajjud, then we must also assume he prayed a separate Taraweeh, but there is no evidence for that. Moreover, when the Sahabah gathered for Taraweeh on the fourth night, and the Prophet (ﷺ) did not come out, they did not return for another prayer later in the night, which indicates that it was the same prayer. Even Hanafi scholar Anwar Shah Kashmiri accepted that Tahajjud and Taraweeh are one prayer. (See: Arf al-Shadhi: 309)
Objection 3: If this is Taraweeh, why does the hadith mention praying in sets of four?
Response: The hadith describes the beauty and length of four raka’ats, not that the Prophet (ﷺ) prayed four without a break. There are clear hadiths proving that he prayed two-two raka’ats:
• “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to pray eleven rak’ahs at night, observing the Witr with a single rak’ah,.”
(Sahih Muslim: 736)
• “The night prayer is in sets of two. If one fears the approach of dawn, he should pray one (witr) to make his prayer odd-numbered.”
(Sahih Bukhari: 990, Sahih Muslim: 749)
Other Important Issues About Taraweeh
✔ Taraweeh can be prayed individually or in congregation.
✔ Women can pray behind a male imam in Taraweeh.
✔ Taraweeh can be performed at home or in the mosque.
✔ It is permissible to read from the Qur’an while praying Taraweeh.
✔ Completing the full Qur’an in Taraweeh is not obligatory, but preferable. The Prophet (ﷺ) completed the entire Qur’an during Ramadan.
✔ There is no authentic hadith proving that the Prophet (ﷺ) prayed twenty raka’ats of Taraweeh.
Clearing Two Misconceptions
1st Misconception: Umar (RA) Established 20 Raka’ats of Taraweeh
Many people believe that Umar (RA) ordered people to pray twenty raka’ats. However, the hadith about twenty raka’ats is weak and contradicts authentic hadiths. The correct narration states:
“Umar (RA) commanded Ubayy bin Ka’b and Tamim al-Dari to lead the people in eleven raka’ats.”
(Tuhfat al-Ahwazi: 3/234)
This hadith has been authenticated by Shaikh Albani (in Mishkat, Irwa al-Ghaleel, Tamam al-Minnah, and Salat al-Taraweeh), Shaikh Ibn Uthaymeen (in his commentaries on Bulugh al-Maram and Riyadh al-Saliheen), and Allama Mubarakpuri (in Tuhfat al-Ahwazi).
This proves that Umar (RA) gathered the people on eleven raka’ats, which is consistent with Aisha’s (RA) hadith in Sahih Bukhari.
2nd Misconception: If Sunnah Taraweeh is 8 Raka’ats, Why Are 20 Raka’ats Prayed in Haram?
Makkah and Madinah are global places of worship. In the past, there were four different prayer spots in Haram, but the Saudi rulers unified them to prevent division. Since Taraweeh was a point of dispute, they established twenty raka’ats for convenience. However, two imams are appointed:
• Each imam prays ten raka’ats and then leaves.
• Each imam prays one separate witr alone, completing eleven raka’ats as per Sunnah.
This way, the Sunnah of eleven raka’ats is maintained for the imams, while the people are given flexibility. In most mosques in Saudi Arabia, only eight raka’ats of Taraweeh are prayed because that is the view of Arab scholars and their fatwas.
The Permanent Committee for Islamic Research and Fatawa (Saudi Arabia) stated:
“The best way is what the Prophet (ﷺ) mostly did, which is to pray eight raka’ats with salaam after every two, followed by three witr, with humility, tranquility, and proper recitation of the Qur’an. Aisha (RA) narrated: ‘The Prophet (ﷺ) never prayed more than eleven raka’ats in Ramadan or outside it.’”
(Fatawa al-Lajnah al-Da’imah: 7/212)
This is also the fatwa of Shaikh Ibn Baz, Shaikh Ibn Uthaymeen, and other Arab scholars.
Final Dua
May Allah grant us the understanding of Sunnah and enable us to act upon it. Ameen.
Writer: Shaikh Maqbool Ahmed Salafi (Hafizahullah)
⟨Jeddah Dawah Center, Hay Al-Salamah, Saudi Arabia⟩
English Interpreter: Hasan Fuzail
