As soon as Ramadan sets in, this question is frequently discussed: How many rakahs are there in Taraweeh which is one of the most important forms of worship during Ramadan? Is it 8 rakahs or 20 rakahs?
If we were to first understand the definition of Sunnah, then the question asked is did the Prophet ﷺ perform 20 rakahs of taraweeh? Is this true? To answer this question, I will quote the Sahih Hadith:
Narrated Abu Salama bin `Abdur Rahman, that he asked `Aisha “How was the prayer of Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) in Ramadan?” She replied,
مَا كَانَ يَزِيدُ فِي رَمَضَانَ، وَلاَ فِي غَيْرِهَا
“He did not pray more than eleven rak`at in Ramadan or in any other month.
(Shaih al-Bukhari: 2013)
This is also quoted in the hadith of Sahih Muslim 736.
Taraweeh is actually qiyam-ul-layl (the night prayer). The two are actually one and the same thing. In Ramadan, this is called ‘taraweeh’ and outside of Ramadan it is called qiyam-ul-layl or tahajjud.
Hence, we learn that the Prophet ﷺ in all occasions did not pray more than 11 rakahs of night prayer. It is not proven by any sound hadith that he ﷺ prayed 20 rakahs of night prayer ever. Any narrations that does quote this is of weak narrations and chain. They fall under the category of ‘daeef’ or weak hadith. Those scholars that do advocate the praying of 20 rakahs state that this is not a Sunnah. This means that it is clear that the Prophet ﷺ has not prayed these 20 rakahs at any time. What is proven is the fact that he ﷺ did pray 8 rakahs of taraweeh and 3 rakahs of witr.
Jabir bin Abdullah and Obay bin Kaab (Radiallahu Unhuma) narrates that the Prophet ﷺ did qiyam (stood in the night prayer) with the Companions. Prayer was conducted as a congregation and in that the Prophet ﷺ read 11 rakahs. This act is proven.
The Sahabas prayed taraweeh in congregation in their homes. In one of the narrations that is mentioned in Tabrani, Ubayy bin Kaab (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) came to the Prophet ﷺ and said that something has been done that has never happened before this. Upon inquiring, the Companion replied that few women of my house came to me and declared that they did not know enough Qur’an to perform qiyam-ul-layl and requested me to lead them in congregational prayer. He states that he led them in the prayer with 8 rakahs and 3 witr. The Prophet ﷺ remained quiet after this. We know that when a Sahabi came to the Prophet ﷺ and stated one of his acts while the Prophet ﷺ remained quiet afterwards is taken as an approval of the act by the Prophet ﷺ. His silence is his acceptance. This is known as Sunnah Taqreeri.
We learn that the Sunnah is 8 rakahs of taraweeh and 3 rakahs of witr whether a person is praying individually or in congregation.
It is also said that a few scholars have mentioned that Companions have prayed more than 8 rakahs. One narration that is frequently mentioned is of a narration by Sai’b bin Yazid mentions that Umar ib al-Khattab (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) order Ubayy ibn KaabHe to pray 20 rakahs of taraweeh.” However, the authentic narration is the following is of the grandson of Sai’b bin Yazid who says:
Umar ibn al-Khattab (May Allah be pleased with him) ordered Ubayy ibn Kaab (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) and Sai’b bin Yazid to lead people in eleven rak’aah taraweeh (with witr).”[1] So Umar bin Khattab ordered these Companions to do so.
So the command of taraweeh that was initiated at the time of the Prophet ﷺ was later taken up at the time of the of Umar (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) and began with 11 rakahs.
Should you read more than 11 Rakahs of taraweeh?
If you are questioning whether you should read more than the 11 rakahs, then there is a narration that states:
Narrated Ibn ‘Umar : Once a person asked Allah’s Apostle about the night prayer. Allah’s Apostle replied,
صَلاَةُ اللَّيْلِ مَثْنَى مَثْنَ
“Night prayer is offered as two Rakat followed by two Rakat and so on.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari 991)
The question still remains which is afdhal (preferred)? The answer to this is that whatever the Prophet ﷺ carried out is what is preferred.
People can justify and say, “Our prayers are not like his,” or “He used to stand much longer in prayer than we can so we should increase our number of rakahs.” If this was the case, then the Prophet ﷺ himself would have guided us to it with respect to the number of rakahs.
Whether our qiyam (standing in prayer) is long or short, what is preferred is what the Prophet ﷺ used to follow and that was 8 rakahs of taraweeh followed by 3 witr, making it 11 in total. This fact cannot be challenged till qiyamet (Day of Judgement) that the Prophet ﷺ prayed more than 8 rakahs as night prayer.
Please be clear that those scholars who advocate the 20 rakahs claim that the Prophet ﷺ only prayed the 8 rakahs. As per these scholars, one can exceed these 8 rakahs, yet as a true follower of the Prophet ﷺ, what is preferred is the act that was done by our beloved Prophet ﷺ. If I were to question myself as a Muslim, what I should do, then my answer should be that I should follow my Prophet ﷺ. This way I am rewarded for taraweeh as well as following the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ.
May Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) give us the tawfique to follow the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ.
[1] [Al-Muwatta by Imam Maalik: Book 6, Hadith 4, Sharh Ma’ani ul-Athaar by Al-Tahawi 1/293, Al-Sunan al-Kubra by al-Baihaqi: 2/492, Mishkaat al-Masaabih 1/407, its chain is Saheeh]
