Some think that Tarawih Prayer should not be less than twenty Rak‘ahs
(units of Prayer). While others think it is not permissible to offer
more than eleven or thirteen Rak‘ahs, and all this is incorrect; it even
contradicts textual evidence.
The
Sahih Hadiths point out that Night Prayer is optional and has no
certain limit of Rak‘ahs that is not permissible to exceed. It is
authentically reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to
offer eleven Rak‘ahs in the Night Prayer and sometimes offered thirteen
Rak‘ahs. Other times he (peace be upon him) offered less than that
during Ramadan and at other times.
When the Prophet (peace be upon him) was asked about
Night Prayer, he said:
Night
Prayer is two Rak‘ahs followed by two Rak‘ahs (and so on), and when one
of you fears the break of dawn (Fajr Prayer), let them offer a single
Rak‘ah to make the Salah they have offered Witr (Prayer with an odd
number of units).
|
| (Part No. 15; Page No. 19) |
|
(Agreed upon by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
The
Prophet (peace be upon him) did not specify a certain number of Rak‘ahs
in Ramadan or at other times. For that reason, the Sahabah (may Allah
be pleased with them) sometimes offered during the time of
`Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) thirty-three Rak‘ahs and at other times eleven Rak‘ahs. All that was authentically reported from
`Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) and by the Sahabah during his time.
Some
Salaf (righteous predecessors) used to offer during Ramadan thirty-six
Rak‘ahs and then offer three Rak‘ahs as Witr. Others used to offer
forty-one Rak‘ahs. This was reported about them by the Shaykh of Islam,
Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him), and by
other scholars. He also mentioned that this is an optional matter and
indicated that it is better for those who lengthen the recitation,
bowing and prostration to lessen the number of Rak‘ahs, while those who
lighten (shorten) the recitation, bowing and prostration to increase the
number of Rak‘ahs. This is the meaning of his statement (may Allah have
mercy on him).
If
we contemplate the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him), we will
know that the
best practice is to offer eleven Rak‘ahs or thirteen
Rak‘ahs in Ramadan or at other times because this is what conforms to
the practice of the Prophet (peace be upon him) at most times. This is
more considerate of the people who are being led in prayer and more
helpful in achieving tranquility and Khushu‘.
If any one wishes to offer
more, there is no blame or Karahah (reprehensibility).
|
| (Part No. 15; Page No. 20) |
|
It is
preferable for those who offer supererogatory night
Prayer in Ramadan not to leave the Masjid before the Imam leaves. The
Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
Anyone
who prays Qiyam (optional Night Prayer) with the Imam until he
finishes, it will be recorded for him as spending the whole night in
prayer.
Muslims
are enjoined by Shari‘ah (Islamic law) to do their best to worship
Allah in this Holy Month by offering supererogatory prayer, reciting the
Qur’an and contemplating it; glorify Allah as much as possible through
Tasbih (saying: "Subhan Allah [Glory be to Allah]"), Tahlil (saying: "La
ilaha illa Allah [There is no god except Allah]"), Tahmid (saying:
"Al-hamdu lillah [All praise is due to Allah]"), Takbir (saying: "Allahu
Akbar [Allah is the Greatest]"), Istighfar (seeking forgiveness from
Allah), prescribed supplications, enjoying good and forbidding evil,
calling people to Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He), consoling the
poor and striving to please parents, maintaining ties of kinship,
treating neighbors kindly, visiting the sick or other kinds deeds. As
mentioned previously, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
Allah
looks at your competition in doing good therein, and boasts of you
before His angels. So show Allah goodness from yourselves, for truly the
wretched person is the one who is deprived of the Mercy of Allah during
this month.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
Whoever
seeks to draw closer to Allah during it (the month of Ramadan) by doing
some good deed will be like one who does a Faridah (obligatory act of
worship) at any other time, and one who does a Faridah (during Ramadan)
will be like one who does seventy Faridahs at any other time.
No comments:
Post a Comment