Taraweeh, the special night prayers offered in Ramadan, holds a significant place in Islamic tradition. The practice traces its roots to the actions of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), who initiated it during his lifetime. However, he did not continue leading it in the congregation throughout the entire month due to concerns that it might become an obligatory act upon his followers. The subsequent practice under the Caliphate of Umar bin Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) further institutionalized it as a congregational prayer, demonstrating its firm grounding in Sunnah.
Taraweeh in the Time of the Prophet (peace be upon him)
Abu Dharr al-Ghifari (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) observed i‘tikaf in the last ten nights of Ramadan. On the 22nd day, after Asr prayers, he announced:
“We shall watch this night in prayers, In shaa Allah. Whoever wishes to do so may join.”
That night, corresponding to the 23rd of Ramadan, the Prophet (peace be upon him) led the people in Taraweeh prayers for about one-third of the night before returning to his camp. On the 24th night, he did not lead the prayer but repeated the announcement on the 25th night, praying again for one-third of the night. On the 27th night, he extended the duration, leading the prayers for two-thirds of the night. When some companions expressed their desire to continue until morning, the Prophet (peace be upon him) advised:
“O Abu Dharr! When you pray behind your imam and complete the prayer with him, it is as if you have prayed the entire night.”
(Musnad Ahmad: H.21842)
This hadith confirms that the Prophet (peace be upon him) himself initiated Taraweeh immediately after Isha’s prayers in Ramadan.
General Encouragement for Night Prayers in Ramadan
Several hadiths emphasize the virtue of praying at night during Ramadan:
- Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever prays at night in Ramadan with faith and seeking reward, his past sins will be forgiven.”
(Musnad Ahmad: H.10855, Sahih Bukhari: H.2012, Sahih Muslim: H.761) - Abdur Rahman bin Auf (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Verily, Allah has enjoined fasting in Ramadan, and I have made its night prayer a Sunnah. Whoever fasts and prays at night with faith and expectancy, he will be cleansed of sins as on the day he was born.”
(Musnad Ahmad: H.1660, Sunan Ibn Majah: H.1328)
These hadiths suggest that the Night Prayer was recommended for the full month of Ramadan, instead of only three nights.
Why Did the Prophet (peace be upon him) Not Lead Taraweeh Throughout the Month?
Despite initiating Taraweeh, the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not lead it every night. A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated:
“The Prophet (peace be upon him) came out one night and led the people in prayer. The next night, more people joined him, and on the third night, even more gathered. However, on the fourth night, the mosque was full, yet he did not come out. The next morning, he explained: ‘I refrained from coming out only because I feared that this prayer would be made obligatory upon you.’”
(Musnad Ahmad: H.25876, Sahih Bukhari: H.2009, Sahih Muslim: H.760)
This fear of obligation prevented the Prophet (peace be upon him) from establishing a fixed routine for Taraweeh during his lifetime. Nevertheless, the companions continued praying in small groups.
Ayeshah Siddiqa (May Allah be pleased with her) says: ” People used to say prayers in the Masjid of Allah’s Messenger. The man who had memorized any part of the Quran got around about five or six men and they said prayers collectively. On the night of Ramadhan the Prophet (May Allah shower His blessings and peace be on him) ordered her to install a barrier on her room entrance and she did so. Then the Prophet (May Allah shower His blessings and peace be on him) came out to them after Esha’s prayers and he offered night prayers and the people present in the Masjid at that time, prayed with him till late at night. Then he entered her room and left the barrier in its position. ……….”
[Musnad Imam Ahmad:H.26838]
Anas bin Malik (May Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet (May Allah shower His blessings and peace be on him) was offering night prayers in Ramadhan. I came and stood behind him. Afterward, a man came and stood beside me. Then another man came even though we were a group.
[Musnad Imam Ahmad:H.13043, Sahih Muslim:H.1104]
The practice of Taraweeh prayers in small groups continued in the Caliphate of Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him and the early days of Umar bin Khattab’s Caliphate.
The Practice of Taraweeh Under Umar bin Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him)
During the Caliphate of Umar bin Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), he noticed that people were praying in scattered groups. He then organized them under one imam, Ubayy bin Ka‘b (may Allah be pleased with him), to ensure a more orderly congregational Taraweeh:
“If I gather them behind one Qari, it would be closer to the Sunnah.”
“How excellent this new way is, but what you miss while sleeping is even better.”
(Sahih Bukhari: H.2010, Muwatta Imam Malik: H.250)
This was not an innovation in religion but rather a revival of the Prophet’s practice, as evidenced by the hadiths. The consensus of the companions proves that it was an accepted and authentic practice.
Addressing Misconceptions about Taraweeh
- Did Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) Innovate Taraweeh? Some claim that Taraweeh in the congregation was an innovation of Umar bin Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him). However, he himself stated that his decision was a return to the Sunnah. The companions accepted this without any objections, confirming that it was not an innovation (bid‘ah) but a revival of the Prophet’s practice.
- Is Taraweeh the Same as Tahajjud? Some assert that Taraweeh and Tahajjud are the same. However, classical scholars distinguish between them: Taraweeh: Performed immediately after Isha during Ramadan. Tahajjud: Performed in the last third of the night throughout the year. (Al-Mughni wa al-Sharh al-Kabeer, vol.1, pp.770, 797)
- The Number of Rak‘ahs in Taraweeh The common practice of praying 20 rak‘ahs is supported by historical reports: Yazid bin Ruman (Rahimahullah) narrated: “People used to pray 23 rak‘ahs during the time of Umar bin Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him).” (Muwatta Imam Malik: H.252) Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) commanded a man to lead the people in prayer for five Tarweeḥat (rest periods), totaling twenty Rak‘ahs. (Al-Musannaf ibn Abi Shaybah: H.7621, Sunan al-Bayhaqi: H.4391)
This included 20 rak‘ahs of Taraweeh and 3 rak‘ahs of Witr. Many leading scholars, including Imam Abu Hanifah, Imam Malik, Imam Shafi‘i, and Imam Ahmad (Rahimahumullah), upheld this practice, demonstrating its widespread acceptance. - Taraweeh is a plural noun of Tarweehah, referring to a small pause after four cycles of Night Prayers. Eight Rak’at can have only two pauses that do not constitute the term Taraweeh. Along with the continued practice of 20 Raka’at generation after generation, throughout the Islamic world, this literal analogy supports this practice.
- We can produce hundreds of references to classic Muslim scholars who recommended 20 Rakaat of Taraweeh, while a few scholars allowed 8 rak‘ahs. It suggests the precedence and traditional practice is 20 rak‘ahs, instead of 8. We don’t say that 8 rak‘ahs are bidah, but it is an income[plete number that does not align with the Sunnah of the Messenger (peace be upon him). Abdullah bin Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (May Allah shower His blessings and peace be on him) offered 20 Rakat and Witr individually in the month of Ramadan.” (Sunan al-Bayhaqi)
Conclusion
Taraweeh prayers are an established Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), which he initiated but did not continue every night to avoid its obligation. After his passing, Umar bin Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) formally organized it into a single congregation under one imam, a decision that gained consensus among the companions.
Thus, Taraweeh remains an important act of worship in Ramadan, and its congregational practice is not an innovation but a revival of the Prophet’s tradition. The number of rak‘ahs, whether 8 or 20, is a matter of scholarly interpretation, with strong historical precedent for 20 rak‘ahs. May Allah grant us the ability to perform it with sincerity and devotion, seeking His pleasure and forgiveness. Ameen.
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