| Tarawih in the era of Muhammad ﷺ مُحَمَّد |
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In the following Hadiths, it clearly and unambiguously states that the Messenger of Allah, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ مُحَمَّد used to read 20 Rakat Tarawih, in the month of Ramadan.
| Science of Hadith (Ilm al-Hadith) |
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Hanafi Deobandi scholars classify this Hadith as Sahih.
20th-century Salafi scholars classify this Hadith as weak (Di’af). (because it contradicts their beliefs)
Remember, a Hadith has two elements.
- The Isnad (the Narrators (who said what) of the Hadith) and the
- Matan (the Text of the Hadith, i.e. the Meaning of the Hadith).
If the meaning (Matn) of a weak (Di’af) hadith, is supported by a Sahih Hadith, then the weak (di’af) hadith, gets upgraded 1 level to hasan/sahih.
why
Because the likelihood of 20 Rakat tarawih is quite high if several hadiths, both authentic and weak, all refer to the tradition of 20 Rakat tarawih.
Now, if a Hadith is classified as Weak (Di’af), it’s nearly always the case that the scholars of hadith have been unable to verify one of the narrators.
It does NOT necessarily mean the statement (Matn) is false, but rather that its authenticity cannot be verified to the required high standard.
| Actual Salaf | Noble Sahaba Radi Allahu Anhu (رضي الله عنهم) |
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Now let’s look at the actions, the Amaal (the tradition of the Noble Sahaba Radi Allahu Anhu (رضي الله عنهم) and the 1st and 2nd generations of Muslims who came after the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ مُحَمَّد ).
Trustworthy Narrator: Sayyiduna Sa’ib ibn Yazid reports that “the people would perform twenty rak’ahs in Ramadan during the era of Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhu).
The hadith of Sayyiduna Sa’ib ibn Yazid has been accepted by the Muhaddithin (Hadith scholars) as verified and authentic. The Muhaddithin (Hadith scholars) who have accepted this hadith are Hafiz Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr, Imam Al-Nawawiy, Hafiz Al-’Iraqiy, Imam Al-Subkiy, Imam Al-Suyutiy, Mulla ‘Aliy al-Qari, and many more.
‘Allamah Ibn Qudamah said, “The Noble Sahaba Radi Allahu Anhu (رضي الله عنهم) made ijma’ (“consensus” or “agreement”) upon 20 tarawih in the era of Sayyiduna ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him)”
| Objections to 20 Tarawih |
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Furthermore, Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhu) formalised 20 rakat tarawih in the Holy Mosques.
Had this been an innovation, a bidah, then surely Sahabah Radi Allahu Anhu (رضي الله عنهم) and the Ahle Bayt would have objected.
‘Allamah Al-Mawsiliy, after quoting from Imam Abu Hanifah, stated: “He (Sayyiduna ‘Umar) did so in the presence of a large group of Companions (radiyallahu ‘anhum), among them were the likes of Sayyiduna ‘Uthman, Sayyiduna ‘Aliy, Sayyiduna Ibn Mas’ud, Sayyiduna ‘Abbas, Sayyiduna Ibn ‘Abbas, Sayyiduna Talhah, Sayyiduna Zubayr, Sayyiduna Mu’adh, Sayyiduna Ubayy and others among the muhajirun (emigrants) and ansar (helpers). None of them objected to him, rather they assisted him and concurred with him.”
Since no one objected, that meant 20 tarawih was the standard, ie the sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ مُحَمَّد.
| The Hadith of rightly-guided Khalifah i Rashideen |
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The Messenger of Allah, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ مُحَمَّد said,
Verily he among you who lives [long] will see great controversy, so you must keep to my Sunnah and to the Sunnah of the rightly-guided Khalifahs – cling to them stubbornly.
If we break this hadith down, then
The controversy is whether Tarawih is 8 or 20.
Rightly-guided Khalifah is Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhu);
From the Hadith, it’s clear that following the commands of Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhu) is also sunnah, so if Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhu) read 20 Rakat tarawih and instructed other Sahabah to read 20 rakat Tarawih as well, then you should do as well. Who are we to disagree with the above hadith and disagree with Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhu).
So when you read 20 Rakat tarawih, you are following the traditions of the Messenger of Allah, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ مُحَمَّد , as well as the companions (the Sahaba Radi Allahu Anhu (رضي الله عنهم)).
Its significance can be demonstrated by the fact that Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhu) approved of twenty rak’ahs and that the subsequent caliphs (Usman e Ghani, Hazrat Ali) continued this practice after him.
Remember;. It was the character of the Khulafa-e-Rashideen (“Rightly Guided Caliphs”) and Sahabah Radi Allahu Anhu (رضي الله عنهم) that they would not engage in any religious activity without the Prophet’s command and approval.
The Khulafa-e-Rashideen (“Rightly Guided Caliphs”) and Companions, Sahaba Radi Allahu Anhu (رضي الله عنهم) didn’t develop innovative techniques within the Deen, but rather they would follow the actions and commands of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ مُحَمَّد
| Tabi’un (successors) and Taba’ al-Tabi’in, and the following generation of muslims |
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Imam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah) said the following when asked concerning the tarawih and its introduction by Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhu): “Tarawih is an emphasized sunnah. Sayyiduna ‘Umar did not introduce it from his own intellect, neither was it an innovation from his side. He surely did so because of having some knowledge about it from Nabiy (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam).” [34]
This is established from the Khulafa Rashideen and Sahabah , Scholars of Hadith, Jurists and Mujtahideen of this Ummah, as well as the very practice of the Ummah itself.
Moulana Habib al-Rahman Al-A’zimiy said in this regard, “From after the era of Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhu) up to the end of the 13th century, you will not find any mention of people performing only eight rak’ahs [in tarawih].”
