Q&A with Ash Shaykh Al Imaam Muqbil Regarding Salaat-ut-Taraaweeh (the Night Prayer)
Author: Imaam Muqbil bin Haadee al-Waadi’ee (rahimahullah)
Source: Irshaad-ul-Afaadhil-Kiraam Ilaa Masaaili Tata’alluqi bi-Siyaam wal-Qiyaam
Question: We have many mosques where some of the congregants pray eight raka’aat while others pray twenty, some may prolong the recitation of the prayer while others shorten the recitation, so which mosque is upon the truth that was preformed by the Prophet (may the peace & blessings of Allah be upon him)?
Answer: If you can then pray in the mosque and establish the prayer at midnight or the last third of the night and pray eleven or thirteen raka’ah as it has been related in the narration of ‘Aaishah that,
Answer: If you can then pray in the mosque and establish the prayer at midnight or the last third of the night and pray eleven or thirteen raka’ah as it has been related in the narration of ‘Aaishah that,
“The Prophet (may the peace & blessings of Allah be upon him) would not perform more than eleven raka’ah in prayer whether in or out of Ramadhaan.”
And in another narration:
And in another narration:
“…thirteen raka’ah.”
I advise that the Salaat-ut-Taraaweeh (the Night Prayer) be delayed until midnight or until the last third of the night because the Prophet (may the peace & blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
“Whoever fears falling asleep in the latter part of the night then let him pray the Witr at the beginning of night and whoever endeavors to stand and pray in the last portion of the night then let him pray the Witr at the end of the night, Indeed the prayer prayed at the end portion of nighttime is witnessed.” Related by Muslim.
And when ‘Umar went out of his home and found Ubay bin Ka’b praying with the people he said:
“What a blessed adaptation and that which they sleep from is good.”
Therefore if they are able to go to the mosque, establishing the Sunnah and standing for prayer at midnight or after it, praying eleven raka’ah with the people while prolonging within what is capable (then do so), because the night prayer is optional not mandatory, the Prophet (may the peace & blessings of Allah be upon him) would say:
Therefore if they are able to go to the mosque, establishing the Sunnah and standing for prayer at midnight or after it, praying eleven raka’ah with the people while prolonging within what is capable (then do so), because the night prayer is optional not mandatory, the Prophet (may the peace & blessings of Allah be upon him) would say:
“Verily I enter the prayer wanting to prolong the standing then I take to carry it out when I hear the crying of the child for the affection of his mother.”
And the Prophet (may the peace & blessings of Allah be upon him) said to Mu’aadh:
“Are you a hardship on the people O Mu’aadh?”
In reference to his prolonged standing in the prayer, and he also said:
“When anyone of you prays by himself then let him prolong his prayer as long as he wants but when he prays with the people then let him shorten the prayer because amongst those who pray are the weak, the sick, and those who have needs to fulfill.”
And this is in regards to the obligatory prayer as for the optional prayer then it is not mandatory; rather, the person prays what he is able to pray and rests after a number of raka’aat, or he goes home, and if he is able to pray in his house then it is better, and that is because the Prophet (may the peace & blessings of Allah
be upon him), after praying with the people two or three nights in Ramadhaan, said:
“The best prayer is the one prayed in the home except for the five daily prayers.”
And if some say: The Sunnah has become defined for the sake of opposing the Shee’ah, because they hold the opinion that Salaat-ut-Taraaweeh (the Night Prayer) is an innovation, but we do not agree with Shee’ah, rather we desire to agree with the narration of the Messenger of Allah (may the peace & blessings of Allah be upon him).
“The best prayer is the one prayed in the home except for the five daily prayers.”
And if some say: The Sunnah has become defined for the sake of opposing the Shee’ah, because they hold the opinion that Salaat-ut-Taraaweeh (the Night Prayer) is an innovation, but we do not agree with Shee’ah, rather we desire to agree with the narration of the Messenger of Allah (may the peace & blessings of Allah be upon him).
And if anyone should fear falling asleep or becoming occupied in his home with his children or others then we advise him to go out to the mosque.
Question: If I pray in the mosque while the Imam observes twenty raka’ah should I also complete twenty with him in accordance with following the Imam or should I only pray eight raka’aat and then observe Witr by myself and then go home?
Question: If I pray in the mosque while the Imam observes twenty raka’ah should I also complete twenty with him in accordance with following the Imam or should I only pray eight raka’aat and then observe Witr by myself and then go home?
Answer: I advise you to pray eight raka’aat and then pray Witr alone, adherence to the Sunnah is what is foremost because the Prophet (may the peace & blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
“Pray as you see me praying.”
Question: Is it permissible for the man to pray Salaat-ut-Taraaweeh (the Night Prayer) with his family in the home?
Answer: There is no harm in that, and it is what is best according to what has preceded.
