20 Rakat of Taraweeh is what the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) performed

Ramadhan is the month of mercy, blessings and forgiveness.  In this month, for Nafl, the reward of Fardh is given and on the performance of Fardh, the reward of 70 Fardh is given.  Thus, we should make it a point to perform worship as much as possible in this month.  The self (Nafs) takes human beings towards what is wrong and the soul (Ruh), urges towards what is good.  Eating, drinking and having sex in excess promote the desires of the self.  Fast weakens the desires of the self.

 

For the progress and the strengthening of the soul, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) ordered Taraweeh for us.  At the same time, through the fasts, the base desires are weakened and through Taraweeh and the recitation of the Holy Quran, the spiritual strength is increased.  There is a Hadith in Sunan Nansai  and Sunan Ibn Majah that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:

 

Translation of Hadith: Allah Ta’ala has made the fasts of Ramadhan Fardh for you and I declare Taraweeh a Sunnah for you.  Whoever fasts in this month with faith and sincerity and offers Taraweeh, that person is cleaned of sins as on the day when his (or her) mother had given birth to him (or her).  (Sunan Nasai, Hadith No. 2222)

 

These are the words of Mufti Hafidh Syed Ziauddin Naqshbandi Qadri, Naib Shaykh Ul Fiqh, Jamia Nizamia, Founder/Director, Abul Hasanaat Islamic Research Center in the ongoing lecture series, which is being held under the auspices of Abul Hasanaat Islamic Research Center at Masjid Abul Hasanaat, Jahanuma.  This is the second lecture of the series.

 

Mufti Sahab quoted a Hadith on the authority of Sunan Baihaqui, Mojam Kabeer Lit Tabarani, Mojam Ausat Lit Tabarani, Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaiba, Musnad Abd Bin Humaid, Al Matalib Al A’aliya Li Ibn Hajr Asqalani, Majma Uz Zawaaid, Zujajatul Masabeeh that:

 

Translation of Hadith: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abdullah Bin Abbas (May Allah be well pleased with him) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would perform 20 Raka’at Taraweeh and Witr in Ramadhan.

 

Twenty Raka’at of Taraweeh is established by the acts of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  However, performing it with congregation for the whole month started in the era of Hadhrat Umar Farooq (May Allah be well pleased with him).  All the Sahabah agreed to this judgment of Hadhrat Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him).  Shaykh Ibn Taimiyah writes in his Fatawa:

 

Translation: This is well established that Hadhrat Ubai Bin Ka’ab (May Allah be well pleased with him) would lead the congregation in 20 Raka’at of Taraweeh and 3 Raka’at of Witr.  Thus, the opinion of a great number of Ulema is that this is Sunnah, as Hadhrat Ubai Bin Ka’ab did this before a great number of Muhajirin and Ansar and none of them denied it.

 

 

Mufti Sahab said: In the era of Hadhrat Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him), Hadhrat Usman (May Allah be well pleased with him) and Hadhrat Ali (May Allah be well pleased with him), Taraweeh was offered as 20 Raka’at and from that time to now, in very era, it has been offered as 20 Raka’at only.  The Hadith in Sahih Bukhari about 11 Raka’at is about Tahajjud.

A lecture series on Ramadhan is being organized under the auspices of Abul Hasanaat Islamic Research Center.

 

Mufti Syed Ziauddin Naqshbandi Qadri will address from August 1, 2010, to August 5, 2010, at Masjid Abul Hasanaat, Jahanuma, after Maghrib.  The topics to be covered are:

 

Fasting, scientific benefits and its rules as per the Shariah (over)

 

The number of Raka’at in Taraweeh – A scholarly analysis (over)

 

Zakaat and current issues

 

The Holy Quran – Fountain of guidance

 

Excellence of Shab Qadr