RAMADAN TARAWEEH PRAYER: Not an obligation, but a special option.

Ramadan Taraweeh Prayer

Not An Obligation, But

A Special Option With

No Fixed Number

(M. Javed Naseem)

It is so surprising to see that people are so un-informed or ill-informed on the subject of Taraweeh prayer during the month of Ramadan. Let me shock you with this revelation that there is no mention of “Salaat-ut-Taraweeh” (Taraweeh prayer) in the Quran, nor in the authentic Ahadith of Bukhari. The only mention we find in the Quran and in authentic Ahadith, is of the “Qayam-ul-Layl” (rising or standing to prayer at night) which scholars have named as ‘Salaat-ul-Layl’ or ‘Tahajjud’; and the ‘Qayam-i-Ramadan’. Qayam-i-Ramadan is a special prayer our Prophet recommended us to offer only during that particular month to gain extra rewards. The scholars later called it ‘Taraweeh’.

The funny thing is that none of the two prayers or ‘Qayam’ is referred to or connected to the night prayer (Salaat-ul-Isha). Both of those prayers are described or referred to the ‘later’ part of the night, before the morning (Fajr) prayer – in other words, the time of ‘Tahajjud’ prayer. That means that the special Ramadan prayer (Taraweeh) is the prayer that should be performed at the time of Tahajjud, and not with Isha prayer.

“Truly the rising by night is most potent for

governing (the soul), and most suitable for

(framing) the Word (of Prayer and Praise).”

(al-Quran 73:6)

“Stand (to prayer) by night, but not all night,
half of it, or a little less, or a little more;

and recite the Quran in slow, measured

rhythmic tones.”

(al-Quran 73:2-4)

Here’s how it all started during the month of Ramadan in Madinah:

Narrated Urwa that he was informed by Aayesha (r.a.a.), ‘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 (Fajr). When the morning-prayer (Fajr) 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 (Qayam) should be enjoined on you and you might not be able to carry it on.”

So, when Allah's Apostle died, the situation remained like that (i.e. people prayed individually).’

(Bukhari, Book 21 & 32, No. 229)

In other words, it is not necessary to perform Taraweeh prayer in congregation; or in a mosque; or soon after the Isha prayer. It is an optional (Nafl) prayer preferably to be performed in the last part of the night, but before the Fajr prayer.

Finishing the Quran 2 or 3 Times:

The Quran is Allah’s message (or command) to us and we should pay attention to it. It is a ‘how to’ for a Muslim as it tells us how to live and conduct ourselves. Allah requires from us that we study the Quran, understand it, ponder (think) upon it, and finally act upon it or live by it. Reading it without understanding it or without living by it does not serve its purpose.

The following verse of the Quran also clarifies the matter for those ignorant people who insist on finishing (reading) the Quran 2 or 3 or 5 times during a particular period. Finishing the Quran in one month is NOT required. You can recite as much as you easily can. Allah is the most Merciful and Generous to give you the countless rewards.

“Your Lord does know that you stand forth

(to prayer) nearly two-thirds of the night,

or half the night, or a third of the night, and

so does a party of those with you. But Allah

does appoint night and day in due measure.

He knows that you are unable to keep count

thereof. So, He has turned to you (in mercy).

Recite, therefore, of the Quran as much as

may be easy for you.”

(al-Quran 73:20)

The subject is vast but I would like to be as brief as possible. I prefer to quote you some authentic Ahadith. Study them, along with the Quran – especially Surah al-Muzammil – and make up your own mind. It’s your life and it’s your Hereafter! Only you would be questioned about it.

Remember one thing! The prayer of Isha (night) is obligatory (Fard/Farz) while Tahajjud and Taraweeh are optional (Nafl) prayers. Obligatory prayers have fixed number of Rakaats, whereas optional prayers have no fixed number. You perform as much or as little as you easily can. Two Rakaats are the minimum to offer.

There are many narrations (Ahadith) on the subject of ‘Night Prayer’ and, if you study all of them, you come to the conclusion that Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) generally performed 11 (occasionally 13) Rakaats (of prayer) at the time of Tahajjud (the last 1/3^rd of the night) and it included 3 Rakaats of Witr prayer as well. The 13-Rakaats session also included in it the 2-Rakaats of Sunnah (Nafl) prayer of Fajr.

Don’t over-do it!

Remembering Allah and offering prayers is an excellent thing to do but at the same time we should remember that Allah sent us to live in this world so that we have to handle the affairs of this world too. We need to keep the balance. We should not force or kill ourselves for the sake of ‘prayer’ by over-doing it. Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) prohibited it in the following Hadith:

Hadith:

Narrated Aayesha, (r.a.a.): “Once the Prophet (s.a.w.) came home while a woman was sitting with me. He said, "Who is she?" I replied, "She is so-and-so," and told him about her (excessive) prayers.

He said disapprovingly: "Do (good) deeds which are within your capacity (without being overtaxed) as Allah does not get tired (of giving rewards) but (surely) you will get tired; and the Deen (good, righteous deed, act of worship) loved most by Allah is that which is done regularly”. (Bukhari, Book 2, No. 41)

*********************************

Offering optional prayers is like

putting extra money in your saving

bank account. You can benefit from

their rewards in the Hereafter when

your good deeds might not be enough

to save you from the Hellfire!

*********************************

Hadith:

Narrated Aayesha (r.a.a.): “Allah's Apostle used to offer eleven Rakat and that was his prayer. He used to prolong the prostration to such an extent that one could recite fifty verses (of the Quran) before he would lift his head. He used to pray two Rakat (Sunna) before the Fajr prayer and then used to lie down on his right side till the call-maker came and informed him about the prayer.”  (Bukhari, Book 21, No. 223)

Hadith:

Narrated Aayesha (r.a.a.): “Allah's Apostle used to give up a good deed, although he loved to do it, for fear that people might act on it and it might be made compulsory for them. The Prophet never prayed the Duha prayer, but I offer it.”

(Bukhari, Book 21, No. 228)

Quality, Not the Quantity:

Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) did not perform too many Rakaats of prayer late night. He generally offered 11 or 13 Rakaats (including Witr prayer) but he used to recite a lot of the Quran in those Rakaats.

Hadith:  

Mughirah bin Shubah (r.a.a.) reported that Rasul-Allah (s.a.w.) performed such lengthy ‘Nafl’ (optional) prayers, that his feet used to swell. Once, the companions said: "O Messenger of Allah! You undergo such hardships despite that Allah has forgiven your past and future sins."

Rasul-Allah (s.a.w.) answered: "When Allah Taala has blessed me so much, shouldn’t I be a grateful servant of Allah?”

Hadith:

Abu Hurairah (r.a.a.) narrated: "Rasul-Allah (s.a.w.) performed so many ‘nawafil’ (optional prayers) that his legs swelled. Someone asked him: “You endure so much pain while you have been given the good news that Allah has forgiven your past and future sins?” The Prophet (s.a.w.) replied: “Should I not be a grateful servant then?”

Hadith:

Narrated Al-Mughira: “The Prophet used to stand (in the prayer) or pray till both his feet or legs swelled. He was asked why (he offered such an unbearable prayer) and he said, "should I not be a thankful slave."

(Bukhari, Book 21, No. 230)

Hadith:

Narrated Abdullah bin Amr bin Al-aas, “Allah's Apostle told me: The most beloved prayer to Allah is that of David and the most beloved fasts to Allah are those of David. He used to sleep for half of the night and then pray for one third of the night and again sleep for its sixth part and used to fast on alternate days."

(Bukhari, Book 21, No. 231)

Hadith:

Narrated Abu-Wael: Abdullah said, "One night I offered the Tahajjud prayer with the Prophet and he kept on standing till an ill-thought came to me." We said, "What was the ill-thought?" He said, "It was to sit down and leave the Prophet (standing)."

(Bukhari, Book 21, No. 236)

Hadith:

Narrated Ibn Abbas: “The prayer of the Prophet used to be of thirteen Rakat, i.e. of the night prayer.”

(Bukhari, Book 21, No. 239)

Hadith:

Narrated Masruq: “I asked Aayesha (r.a.a.) about the night prayer of Allah's Apostle and she said, ‘It was seven, nine or eleven Rakaats besides the two Rakaats of the Fajr prayer (i.e. Sunnah)."

(Bukhari, Book 21, No. 240)

Hadith:

Narrated Aayesha (r.a.a.), “The Prophet (s.a.w.) used to offer thirteen Rakaats of the night prayer and that included the Witr and two Rakaats (Sunnah) of the Fajr prayer.”

(Bukhari, Book 21, No. 241)

Hadith:

Narrated Abu Huraira: “Allah's Apostle (s.a.w.) said, ‘Our Lord, the Blessed, the Superior, comes every night down on the nearest Heaven to us when the last third of the night remains, saying: "Is there anyone to invoke Me, so that I may respond to invocation? Is there anyone to ask Me, so that I may grant him his request? Is there anyone seeking My forgiveness, so that I may forgive him?"

(Bukhari, Book 21, No. 246)

Hadith:

Narrated Abu Salma bin Abdur Rahman: “I asked Aayesha (r.a.a.), ‘How is the prayer of Allah's Apostle during the month of Ramadan."

She said, "Allah's Apostle never exceeded eleven Rakaats in Ramadan or in other months. He used to offer four Rakaats – do not ask me about their beauty and length, then four Rakaats, do not ask me about their beauty and length, and then three Rakaats." She further said, "I said, 'O Allah's Apostle! Do you sleep before offering the Witr prayer?' He replied, 'O Aayesha! My eyes sleep but my heart remains awake'!"

(Bukhari, Book 21, No. 248)  

Hadith:

Narrated Aayesha (r.a.a.): “With the start of the last ten days of Ramadan, the Prophet used to tighten his waist belt (i.e. work hard) and used to pray all night, and used to keep his family awake for the prayers.”

(Bukhari, Book 32, No. 241)

Night of Qadr (Lailat-ul-Qadr:

Hadith:

Narrated Aayesha (r.a.a.): Allah's Apostle used to practice Aitikaf in the last ten nights of Ramadan and used to say, "Look for the Night of Qadr in the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan ,"

(Bukhari, Book 32, No. 237)

Hadith:

Narrated Ubada bin As-Samit: The Prophet came out to inform us about the Night of Qadr but two Muslims were quarreling with each other. So, the Prophet said, "I came out to inform you about the Night of Qadr but such-and-such persons were quarreling, so the news about it had been taken away; yet that might be for your own good, so search for it on the 29th, 27th and 25th (of Ramadan).  

(Bukhari, Book 32, No. 240)

Hadith:

Narrated Aayesha (r.a.a.): “Allah's Apostle said, Search for the Night of Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan."

(Bukhari, Book 32, No. 234)

Fake Ahadith:

We should be very careful about Ahadith. There are so many fake, fabricated and weak Ahadith printed in the books that people just ‘copy and paste’ without caring about their authenticity. Muslims don’t have the habit of verifying the contents of religious messages and translations. Any Hadith that does not conform to the teachings or message of the Quran, or contradicts the teachings/message of the Quran, or deviates from it in interpretation, is NOT authentic. Simple as that!

Hadith:

Narrated Ali, (r.a.a.): The Prophet (s.a.w.) said: "Do not tell a lie against me for whoever tells a lie against me (intentionally) then he will surely enter the Hellfire.”

(Bukhari, Book 3, Ch. 38, No.106)

Hadith:

Narrated Abdullah bin Zubair: “I said to my father, "I do not hear from you any narration (Hadith) of Allah's Messenger (s.a.w.) as I hear (his narrations) from so-and-so?”

Zubair replied, "I was always with him (the Prophet, s.a.w.) and I heard him saying, “Whoever tells a lie against me (intentionally) then (surely) let him occupy his seat in Hellfire”.

(Bukhari, Book 3, Ch. 38, No.107)

Hadith:

Narrated Salama: “I heard the Prophet (s.a.w.) saying, "Whoever (intentionally) ascribes to me what I have not said, then (surely) let him occupy his seat in Hellfire."

(Bukhari, Book 3, Ch. 38, No.109)

{Excerpts from chapter: ‘Prayer of the Prophet’ of my book: “The Way (Sunnah) of The Prophet (s.a.w.)”}

*************