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Concerning the Number of Rak'ahs in Taraaweeh
Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih Al-'Uthaymeen
www.bakkah.net
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[ In the Name of Allaah, the All-Merciful... After mentioning the Sunnah of praying 11 and 13 rak'ahs for Taraaweeh, and that it is best, Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih Al-'Uthaymeen then said: ]
However, if the people of the masjid prefer that he (the imaam) shortens the length of the recitation and the length of the bowings and prostrations, and increases the number of
rak'ahs, saying:
"Verily this is easier on us," then there is no harm if he agrees with them, due to the generality of the statement of the Prophet (
sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam):
"Make things easy and do not make things difficult." [1]
And also due to the generality of his statement (
sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam):
"When one of you leads the people (in prayer)
, then let him shorten (the length of the prayer)
." [2]
So long as we do not fall into anything prohibited, then bringing ease to those under our authority is better and takes precedence. The imaam is the one responsible for the masjid, having been put in authority over the praying people, thus he is called the "imaam." The imaam is the one who has authority over them in affairs related to the prayer, for example he orders them to establish their rows and straighten them. So if the imaam is requested to be easy on them by increasing the number (of
rak'ahs) while shortening the bowings, prostrations, and recitations, then there is no harm in that.
With this we must say that it is not befitting for us that we be excessive or neglectful, as some of the people commit
ghuluw (excessiveness) when they stick to the Sunnah of the number (of
rak'ahs), saying,
"It is not permissible to increase upon the number that comes in the Sunnah," and they speak in the sternest way against someone who increases upon that (by praying more than 11 or 13
rak'ahs), saying that he is sinful and disobedient. And there is no doubt that this is a mistake. How could he be sinful or disobedient when the Prophet (
sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) was asked about the night prayer, and he said:
"(It is)
two (rak'ahs)
by two (rak'ahs)
." [3]
And he did not limit it to any set number. And it is well known that a person who asks about the night prayer does not know the number (of its
rak'ahs), since the one who does not know how to pray the night prayer would more rightfully not know the number (of its
rak'ahs). Furthermore, he (the questioner) was not from the servants of the Messenger (
sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam), so we can not say that he knew about the affairs within his house.
So since the Prophet (
sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) told him about the manner that the night prayer is to be prayed, and he did not limit it to any set number, then it is known that there is leeway in the affair, and that a man may even pray 100
rak'ahs and then perform Witr with one
rak'ah.
As for his statement (
sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam):
"Pray as you have seen me praying." [4]
Then this hadeeth is not unrestricted, even with those people (who say that 11 or 13 is the limit). Thus, they themselves do not say that it is obligatory on the people to perform
Witr by praying five
rak'ahs sometimes, seven
rak'ahs other times, and sometimes nine. So if we understood this hadeeth in a general, unrestricted way, then we would have to say that it is obligatory to perform
Witr by praying exactly five
rak'ahs sometimes, seven other times, and sometimes nine. Rather, the meaning is,
"Pray in the manner as you have seen me praying." As for the number of
rak'ahs, then no (this is not understood from the hadeeth), except that which is limited by a text.
Anyway, a man must not be harsh on the people in an affair that has some leeway. We have even seen some of the brothers who are harsh about this declaring some imaams to be innovators, those who increase upon 11 (
rak'ahs), and they leave the masjid, thus losing the reward that the Messenger (
sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) spoke of:
"Whoever stands (in prayer)
with the imaam until he leaves, then it will be written for him that he stood a (complete)
night (in prayer)
." [5]
And perhaps they may sit out after having prayed ten
rak'ahs, thus causing a gap in the row by sitting there. And perhaps they may even speak (while sitting out) sometimes, thus disturbing those who are praying. All of these (scenarios) are wrong. We have no doubt that they intend good, and that they were
mujtahids (seeking to arrive at what is correct), however not every
mujtahid is correct.
Another group of people take the opposite stance. They speak very harshly and sternly against those who restrict themselves to 11
rak'ahs, saying,
"You have gone against ijmaa' (scholarly concensus) and verily Allaah has said:
"And whoever contradicts the Messenger after the guidance has been made clear to him, and he follows a way other than the way of the believers, then We will turn him to that which he has turned himself to, and cause him to enter Jahannam, what an evil abode!" [6]
"All of those before you did not know anything other than 23 rak'ahs!" And they speak very harshly against them. This is also wrong…[7]
rticle was taken from BAKKAHnet (www.bakkah.net)
FOOTNOTES
[1]
Al-Bukhaaree (69) and
Muslim (4503)
[2]
Al-Bukhaaree (703) and
Muslim (1046)
[3]
Al-Bukhaaree (473) and
Muslim (1746)
[4]
Al-Bukhaaree (631)
[5]
Sunan An-Nasaa'ee (1605) and
Sunan At-Tirmithee (806); Al-Albaanee called it
saheeh.
[6] the meaning of
Soorah An-Nisaa' (4):115
[7]
As-Sharh Al-Mumti', 4/52-54
TEST YOUR UNDERSTANDING
Does the hadeeth,
"Pray as you have seen me praying," indicate that it is not permissible to pray more than 13 rak'ahs for
Taraaweeh since the Prophet (
sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) never did so? Why or why not?
Does a person get the reward mentioned in the hadeeth,
"Whoever stands (in prayer)
with the imaam until he leaves, then it will be written for him that he stood a (complete)
night (in prayer)
," if he only prays some of the
Taraaweeh Prayer with the imaam? Why or why not?
[ In the Name of Allaah, the All-Merciful... Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih Al-'Uthaymeen also said, after affirming that the Sunnah is to pray 11
rak'ahs in another place in the same book: ]
So then what if someone says,
"You have established that 11 rak'ahs (is the Sunnah)
, so then what do you say if we pray behind an imaam who prays 23 or more, should we remain seated and not pray with him when he stands for the sixth tasleem (after 10
rak'ahs)
, or is it better to finish with him?"
The answer: It is best to complete (the prayer) with him, and the evidence for this is from two angles:
The first one is the statement of the Prophet (
sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) about the night prayers of Ramadhaan:
"Verily whoever stands (in prayer)
with the imaam until he leaves, then it will be written for him that he stood a (complete)
night (in prayer)
." [5]
So whoever remained seated and waited for the imaam to reach the
Witr Prayer, then he has not prayed with the imaam until he has left, since he has left off a portion of his prayer.
The second angle of proof is the generality of the statement of the Prophet (
sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam):
"Verily the imaam has only been appointed to be followed." [8]
This includes every action the imaam does, so long as it is not a forbidden one, and increasing upon 11 (
rak'ahs) is not forbidden, so then we follow the imaam. However, if the increase is forbidden, like if the imaam prays five
rak'ahs for Thuhr Prayer, then we do not follow him.
Furthermore, we must know that the unity of the Ummah is something sought after with the highest priority from the Islaamic
Sharee'ah, since Allaah has said:
"And this is your Ummah, a single Ummah." [9]
And differing between members of the Ummah is something to be rejected, as Allaah the Most High has said:
"And do not be like those who split up and differed after the clear proofs came to them." [10]
And Allaah the Most High has said:
"Allaah has legislated as part of the Religion that which he enjoined upon Nooh, that which We sent down to you, and what he enjoined upon Ibraaheem, Moosaa, and 'Eesaa: That you establish the Religion and do not be divided over it." [11]
And He, the Most High, has said:
"Verily those who split up their Religion and became sects, then you have absolutely nothing to do with them. Rather your affair is solely with Allaah, and He will inform them of what they used to do." [12]
And the Prophet (
sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) used to say when lining the people up for prayer:
"Do not differ, or your hearts will differ." [13]
And when 'Uthmaan (may Allaah be pleased with him) prayed the prayers that have four
rak'ahs during Hajj in Minaa, he did not shorten them after eight years of his
khilaafah had passed. The people detested this, saying,
"The Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) shortened (his prayer), and so did Aboo Bakr and 'Umar, as you did in the beginning of your khilaafah." However, he (may Allaah be pleased with him) changed his position, and those Companions that spoke against this action of his still prayed four
rak'ahs behind him, while detesting it. This was while this increase was inseparable from the prayer, and it was an evil thing to them, however they still followed the imaam, preferring unity.
So what do you think about when the increase is separate, not directly connected to the prayer, and when a person does it intentionally it does not nullify the prayer? And he (the one who does not pray more than 11 or 13
rak'ahs with the imaam) says,
"We are people who stick to the Sunnah and follow the narrations from the Companions," with this contradiction of his in this issue.
So I say: Surely any person that says he follows the Sunnah and the guidance of the Salaf, it is not for him to abandon the imaam when he prays 23 (
rak'ahs) and say,
"I will follow the Sunnah and pray 11 rak'ahs," since you have been ordered to follow your imaam, and you have been prohibited from contradicting (him). Furthermore, you have not been prohibited from increasing upon 11
rak'ahs.
So then it is binding upon the students of knowledge specifically, and upon all people in general, to be vigilant in preserving unity whenever it is possible, since the only hope for the people of disobedience and the criminals is that the people of goodness differ. This is because they have no weapon more effective than differing, and verily Moosaa said to the magicians:
"Woe to you, do not invent lies against Allaah, lest he wipe you out with a (single)
punishment, for those who lie will suffer loss. Then they differed over their affair between themselves." [14]
Once they differed, they failed and lost their strength.
So this differing that we find with some of our brothers who are (overly) stern in following the Sunnah in this issue and others, I view it as a contradiction to the Sunnah and to the goals of the
Sharee'ah, like the unifying of the positions and the unity of the people, since this, and for Allaah is the praise, is not something that is haraam nor is it a
munkar, rather it is something that is based upon
ijtihaad. So as for us bringing about division and causing the hearts to have animosity, hatred, and mockery for the one who opposes our position, while it is permissible and not in opposition to the Sunnah, then it is obligatory on every man to protect and guard over the unity of the ranks whenever possible. [15]
This article was taken from BAKKAHnet (www.bakkah.net)
FOOTNOTES
[8]
Al-Bukhaaree (732) and
Muslim (920)
[9] the meaning of
Soorah Al-Ambiyaa' (21):92
[10] the meaning of
Soorah Aali 'Imraan (3):105
[11] the meaning of
Soorah Ash-Shooraa (42):13
[12] the meaning of
Soorah Al-An'aam (6):159
[13]
Muslim (971)
[14] the meaning of
Soorah Taa-Haa (20):61-62
[15]
Ash-Sharh Al-Mumti', 4/61-63
TEST YOUR UNDERSTANDING
What are some Verses from the Qur'aan that show the importance of the unity of the Muslims?
What are the two hadeeths used by Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen to say that a person should complete the
Taraaweeh with his imaam if he prays 23
rak'ahs?
'Uthmaan (may Allaah be pleased with him) did not shorten his prayers in Minaa while performing Hajj, and the Companions who did not agree with this still prayed behind him. What is the relationship between this and the
Taraaweeh Prayer?
Source.
:wasalamex