OBJECTIONS AND ANSWERS TO TARAWEEH BEING 20 RAKAATS

OBJECTION 1: Hadrat Umar رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہordered Hadrat Ubai ibn Ka'ab رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ and Hadrat Tamim ibn Daari رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ to lead people in 11 rakaats. -Mishkaat, Baabu Qiyaami Shahri Ramadaan & Muatta Imam Maalik رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ.

This proves that there were 8 rakaats of Taraweeh (the rest were Witr).

Answer - There are a few replies to this,

1. This Hadith is disordered (muztarib) and you cannot extract a proof from this category of Hadith. Its narrator is Muhammad ibn Yusuf. In the Muatta, the narration is of 11 rakaats and Muhammad ibn Nasr, through the chain of Muhammad Ishaaq, narrates 13 rakaats from this very Muhammad ibn Yusuf.

Muhaddith Abdur-Razaaq رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ through different chains of narrations, also reports 21 rakaats from Muhammad ibn Yusuf Refer to Fathul-Baari Sharah Bukhari, Vol. 4, Pg. 180 for study into this. The narration of just one narrator having this much contradiction is known as Iztiraab. Therefore, all of these narrations are not credible and to use them as proof is incorrect.

2. Even if this Hadith was Sahih, Taraweeh would be established as 8 rakaats and Witr 3. So why do you perform only one rakaat of Witr? Based on your view, the narration should state 9 rakaats. Do you accept one half of a Hadith and reject the other?

3. In the time of Hadrat Umar رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ Taraweeh was first ordered as 8 rakaats, then 12, and finally 20. After this Hadith in Mishkaat, the following has been said, "In the 8 rakaats, the Qaari (reciter) used to recite Surah Baqarah, and when he read this Surah within 12 rakaats, people felt ease." 27.2

Mulla Ali Qaari رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ writes under this Hadith, "These Ahadith have been explained in the following manner, that 8 rakaats were originally ordered and thereafter consensus was reached on 20 rakaats. It is these 20 rakaats which became the transmitted amount of Taraweeh." 27.3 – Mtrqootul-­Mafateeh.

4. Taraweeh is originally the Sunnat of Rasoolullah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم while three other things are the Sunnah of Hadrat Umar رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ.

1. To always perform it.

2. To performing it with jamaat.

3. To read 20 rakaats.

The Holy Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم didn't always perform 20 rakaats nor did he order the Companions to read it with jamaat. Now, if only 8 rakaats are performed, the Sunnah of Hadrat Umar رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ would not be practiced upon.

However, if 20 rakaats are read, all will be practiced upon because 8 is included in 20 but 20 isn't in 8. The Hadith states, "Practice my Sunnah and the Sunnah of my Khulafaa." The opposition also performs Taraweeh formally with jamaat whereas both of these things are not proven from the Holy Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم at, They are the Sunnah of Hadrat Umar رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہSo, perform 20.

OBJECTION 2: Hadrat Abu Salma رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہا once asked Sayyidah Aisha رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہا, "How many rakaats did the Prophet perform in Ramadaan?" She answered, “ما کان رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم یزید فی رمضان و لا فی غیرہ علی احدی عشر رکعات”. Bukhari Sharif

This proves that Rasoolullah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم would ever read anything more than 8 rakaats of Taraweeh, The rest was witr. Performing 20 rakaats of Taraweeh is a False Innovation (Bidat-e-Sayyi'a).

Answer - There are a few replies to this as well,

1. Tahajjud Salaah is what is being referred to in this Hadith, not Taraweeh, because Hadrat Aisha رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہا said, "The Holy Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم never read more than 8 rakaats in Ramadaan and out of it," proving that this matter concerns the very namaaz which is read at all times (i.e. Tahajjud), not Taraweeh which is only in Ramadaan. Also, Imam Tirmidhi رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ has written a chapter for this very Hadith named 'Baabu maa Ja'a fi Wasfi Salaatin-Nabi". It is known from this that Salaatul-Lail here means Tahajjud Salaah, not Taraweeh.

In the end of this Hadith, Sayyidah Aisha رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہا asked, "Ya Rasoolallah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم why do you sleep before Esha?" He replied, "Aisha رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہا my eyes sleep but my heart remains awake," proving that the Holy Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم used to perform these rakaats after waking up. Witr should also be performed with these rakaats, which is why Sayyidah Aisha رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہا was surprised that Rasoolullah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم orders us to perform Witr and then sleep while he used to first sleep and then perform it with Tahajjud. He answered that he has complete certainty that he will wake up. Those who don't should read the Witr and sleep after. Likewise, Taraweeh is performed before sleeping and Tahajjud is read after.

2. If 20 rakaats Taraweeh was a Bad Innovation, why did Hadrat Umar رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہand other Sahaaba authorize it? Why didn't Sayyidah Aisha رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہا oppose them? What verdict will you pass on all of them? Today, those people who reject being Hanafi, Shafee, etc. perform Taraweeh with Jamaat during the entire month of Ramadaan. Isn't this also a Bad Innovation?

If the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم read 8 rakaats of Taraweeh, he did so only for a couple of days. You [the opposition] perpetually perform it. Who are you to do so, evading the Prophet's صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم Hadith? If you are true followers of the Hadith, perform Taraweeh only a couple of days in the entire month of Ramada an.

According to the narration of Tirmidhi Sharif, it is shown that the people of Makkah agreed upon Taraweeh being 20 rakaats and the people of Madina on 41. None of them practiced 8.

Are all these people Innovators (Bidaties) and sinners or not? If they are, can we accept Hadith from them? It must be remembered that the narration of a sinner isn't credible. Also, have Muslims in any country performed 8 rakaats of Taraweeh?

3. Even if 8 rakaats of Taraweeh are proven from this Hadith, then 3 rakaats of Witr are also established from it. Only then will the amount of It be reached. Why do you then read one rakaat of Witr? Do you do so for ease? The truth is that there is no elucidation of Taraweeh being 8 rakaats anywhere, because wherever the

Qiyaam of Ramadaan is mentioned, there is silence on the amount of rakaats. Those Ahadith which mention II rakaats do not refer to Taraweeh's rakaats, but Tahajjud Namaaz. Present a Hadith that clearly proves 8 rakaats of Taraweeh.

Insha-Allah, you will never be able to do so.