:arabic7:
In reply to your answer to your first question. Is it bid'ah to perform more then 8 rakat in the taraweeh?
The first of all the first bid'ah we have here is calling it taraweeh for it was tahajjud prayer which the Prophet (pbuh&hf) prayed during those three nights in ramadhan. While on the forth night the prophet did not come out and pray in the mosque for he thought this prayer would become obligatory on them.
Volume 3, Book 32, Number 229:
Narrated 'Urwa:
That he was informed by 'Aisha, "Allah's Apostle went out in the middle of the night and prayed in the mosque and some men prayed behind him. In the morning, the people spoke about it and then a large number of them gathered and prayed behind him (on the second night). In the next morning the people again talked about it and on the third night the mosque was full with a large number of people. Allah's Apostle came out and the people prayed behind him. On the fourth night the Mosque was overwhelmed with people and could not accommodate them, but the Prophet came out (only) for the morning prayer. When the morning prayer was finished he recited Tashah-hud and (addressing the people) said, "Amma ba'du, your presence was not hidden from me but I was afraid lest the night prayer (Qiyam) should be enjoined on you and you might not be able to carry it on." So, Allah's Apostle died and the situation remained like that (i.e. people prayed individually). "
As you see in the above qouted hadith Aisha has said middle of the night to this particular prayer. This automatically tells you that it was tahajjud prayer that the prophet prayed as taraweeh is prayed after Isha.
Second of all the second bid'ah to night prayer of ramadhan is praying in concgretion for it is recorded that the Prophet (pbuh&hf) said, "the best prayer of a person is that he performs at home except the cumpolsery one".
Volume 8, Book 73, Number 134:
Narrated Zaid bin Thabit:
Allah's Apostle made a small room (with a palm leaf mat). Allah's Apostle came out (of his house) and prayed in it. Some men came and joined him in his prayer. Then again the next night they came for the prayer, but Allah's Apostle delayed and did not come out to them. So they raised their voices and knocked the door with small stones (to draw his attention). He came out to them in a state of anger, saying, "You are still insisting (on your deed, i.e. Tarawih prayer in the mosque) that I thought that this prayer (Tarawih) might become obligatory on you. (So you people, offer this prayer at your homes, for the best prayer of a person is the one which he offers at home, except the compulsory (congregational) prayer)."
And for those who will argue then why did the prophet allow the people to pray behind him, that is a very simple question. This was not a optional prayer upon Rasullah (pbuh&hf). Allah says in the quran Surah Isra Ayat 79,
And during a part of the night, pray Tahajjud beyond what is incumbent on you; maybe your Lord will raise you to a position of great glory.
Therefore, Rasulullah (pbuh&hf) was only offering was only offering the Compulsory Prayer with Niyyah of “Fardh”, and when people joined behind him, they only followed the Niyyah of Imam.
Hence, it is wrong to say that Rasool (saw) made the Jamma’ah for any Nafl Prayer during his whole life.
It was Umar who had ordered it to be read in one group.
Volume 3, Book 32, Number 227:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah's Apostle said, "Whoever prayed at night the whole month of Ramadan out of sincere Faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven." Ibn Shihab (a sub-narrator) said, "Allah's Apostle died and the people continued observing that (i.e. Nawafil offered individually, not in congregation), and it remained as it was during the Caliphate of Abu Bakr and in the early days of 'Umar's Caliphate." 'Abdur Rahman bin 'Abdul Qari said, "I went out in the company of 'Umar bin Al-Khattab 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 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 Ka'b. Then on another night I went again in his company and the people were praying behind their reciter. On that, 'Umar remarked, 'What an excellent Bid'a (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."
Third of all the third bid'ah is the amount of rakat you perform in this taraweeh prayer of yours. The Prophet (pbuh&hf) only prayed 8 rakats while he performed 3 as witr. I will cite a hadith from Bukhari again to prove this.
Volume 2, Book 21, Number 248:
Narrated Abu Salma bin 'Abdur Rahman:
I asked 'Aisha, "How is the prayer of Allah's Apostle during the month of Ramadan." She said, "Allah's Apostle never exceeded eleven Rakat in Ramadan or in other months; he used to offer four Rakat-- do not ask me about their beauty and length, then four Rakat, do not ask me about their beauty and length, and then three Rakat." Aisha further said, "I said, 'O Allah's Apostle! Do you sleep before offering the Witr prayer?' He replied, 'O 'Aisha! My eyes sleep but my heart remains awake'!"
If the Prophet didn't perform this prayer in the manner it is performed today then who would have introduced it in this manner. Let me guess, you will say it is a good inovation. astaghfirullah... Do you not know that the Prophet has said:"Every Bidah is misguidance and every path of misguidance goes to hell". Think about it why would you seriously except a Bid'ah.
Volume 3, Book 32, Number 227:
...On that, 'Umar remarked, 'what an excellent Bid'a (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(Tahajjud).
Why is that this prayer was performed in its unique form the khalifat of Abu Bakar but changed at the khalifat of Umar. Why is it the adhan was the same at the Khalifat of Abu Bakar and altered By Umar while he was Khalifah. Why is that Mut'ah was allowed through the khalifat of Abu Bakar and prohibitted at the khalifat of Umar. Anyways it is only my job to tell you of the truth and can not force you to perform any acts.
