Wisdom behind Taraweeh

“Taraweeh” is an Arabic word.  It is plural of “Tarweeha,” which means “to rest once.”  In Taraweeh, after every 4 Raka’at, a break is taken so that people can rest a bit.  There are a total of 5 breaks.  That is why this Salaat is called “Taraweeh,” plural of “Tarweeha.”  Imam Ibn Manzoor writes in Lisan Ul Arab:   Translation: In Ramadhan, “Tarweeha” is there so that people rest after every 4 Raka’at.  In Hadith, the words “Salaat Ut Taraweeh” have been used because people take a break after 4 Raka’at.  “Taraweeh” is a plural of “Tarweeha” i.e. to rest a bit like to “Tasleema” to say the Salaam once (on ending the Salaat).   In Arabic language, plural is for more than 2.  If Taraweeh is considered to be 8 Raka’at, then its name will not hold true at all.  Even those who consider Taraweeh to be 8 Raka’at call this Salaat, Taraweeh.  8 Raka’at will have only 2 “Tarweeha.”  Thus language and philology also demand that Taraweeh should be more than 8 Raka’at.   Apart from the Hadith, philologically as well, Taraweeh is proven to be 20 Raka’at.     Wisdom behind 20 Raka’at of Taraweeh The reason as to why there are 20 Raka’at in Taraweeh is that the number of Fardh Raka’at in the daily 5 Salaat, including Witr, adds up to 20.  Taraweeh is a Sunnah and the Sunnah complete the Fardh.  To complete the Fardh Raka’at, the number of Raka’at in Taraweeh has been decreed 20.  As Allama Ibn Nujaim Misri (May Allah shower His mercy upon him) writes on the authority of Allama Halbi:   Translation: The wisdom behind ordaining the number of Taraweeh Raka’at as 20 that the Sunnah completes the Fardh.  All the Fardh Salaat including Witr add up to 20.  For this reason, Taraweeh is also of the same number, so that the Salaat which are to be completed and the Salaat which complete become equal.   Imam Zaila‘i Hanafi (May Allah shower His mercy on Him) writes:   Translation: Only Allah knows the wisdom as to why 20 Raka’at have been ordered for Taraweeh.  It might be that the Raka’at should equal the number of Fardh Salaat, as all the Fardh Salaat including Witr adds up to 20.  (Tabyeen Ul Haqaiaq, Kitab Us Salaat)

Dr. Mufti Syed Ziauddin Naqshbandi Mujaddidi Qadri

Shaykh Ul Fiqh, Jamia Nizamia; Founder - Director

Mufti Maulana Syed Zia Uddin Naqshbandi Quadri

Shaik-ul-Fiqh - Jamia Nizamia

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Wisdom behind Taraweeh