This talk is about whether to perform 8 or 20 rakats of tarawih in Ramadhan.
This talk is food for thought for Salafi brothers who are adamant about reading 8 rakats, no matter what.
Now this is actually a non-issue, but the Salafis have used this issue to create division in the ummah of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
During taraweeh prayers, some people (especially the young and lazy) walk out after the imam has completed only eight rakats, either because they believe the sunnah is limited to eight rakats or for other reasons, i.e., laziness, can’t be bothered, boredom, or just want to roam the streets with their mates.
But there are many ways to show that 20 tarawih is correct and far superior to reading 8 tarawih.
Firstly, there are Sahih Hadith that discourage leaving Taraweeh before the imam finishes.
Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Verily, whoever stands for prayer with the imam until he is finished (IE 20 RAKATS & 3 WITR), it will be recorded as if he prayed the entire night.”
Source: Sunan at-Tirmidhi and Sunan Abi Dawud.
In addition, Sheikh Bin Baaz, the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia and a dominant figure in the Salafi (Ahle Hadees) movement worldwide, states on his official website that;
Question:
Is it consistent with the Sunnah for someone to pray with someone who prays twenty-three rak’ahs (20 Tarawih and 2 Witr) during Ramadan, but he only prays eleven and does not finish the prayer with the imam?
Answer:
*He replied (Shaykh Ibn Baaz), ‘The Sunnah is to complete the prayer with the imam, even if he prays twenty-three rak ‘ahs, because the Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said, “Whoever stands (in prayer) with the imam until he finishes, Allah will record for him (the reward of) spending a night in prayer.” According to another report: “… The rest of that night.”
REMEMBER TARAWIH IS SUNNAH, AND IF YOU DON’T COMPLETE THE 20 RAKATS WITH THE IMAM, THEN YOU ARE NOT GETTING THE REWARD OF THIS SUNNAH.
IN OTHER WORDS, YOU MIGHT AS WELL STAY HOME, AS YOU ARE NOT GETTING THE BENEFIT OF THE SUNNAH.
More Sayings from the Books of Hadith.
The Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) is credited with encouraging congregational Taraweeh prayers, saying:
“The reward of qiyaam al-layl will be written for whoever remains with the imam until he leaves (ie 20 Rakats).”
Narrated and classed as saheeh by al-Tirmidhi (806); also narrated by Abu Dawood (1375), al-Nasaa’i (1605), and Ibn Maajah (1327). Al-Albaani also classified it as saheeh in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi.
More Detailed post: Proof of 20 tarawih from-a 20th-century salafi scholar or this post Why you will Always read 20 Tarawih, and Never 8 Tarawih