In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Ever Merciful…

The following question was posed to Shaykh Arafat bin Hassan al-Muhammadi (may Allah preserve him):

There are some people who rebuke others sternly for praying more than 11 rak’ahs of Night Prayer, or Taraaweeh. What is your opinion about that?

He replied:

This is wrong. This is a mistake. If you were to refer back to the books of the Salaf, and the books of Fiqh (Jurisprudence) in general, the later ones and the earlier ones, you would find that the jurists in this issue differed about the number of rak’ahs, but only about what number was best. [1]

Some said that the Sunnah for Taraaweeh is that we pray 36 rak’ahs. This is widespread and well known to be from al-Imaam Maalik. Refer to al-Mudawwanah. [2]

If you were to read from the rest of the math-habs as well, you will find that they said specifically: 20 rak’ahs. They said that the Sunnah for Taraaweeh is that we pray 20 rak’ahs. This is the math-hab of the majority: the Hanafees, the Shaafi’ees, and the Hanbalees.

You do not find a single one of the early scholars saying that it is not allowed to pray more than 11 rak’ahs. Never. [3] So do not be hasty in these kinds of issues.

When there is a scholar who erred in that [issue], or attempted ijtihaad (forming his own opinion based on consideration of the evidence), it is to be said: He attempted ijtihaad, and he deserves reward for that.

It is well known that al-Imaam al-Albaanee (may Allah have Mercy on him, and may Allah forgive him) is one of those who attempted ijtihaad in this issue, yet he erred. And all of the scholars of his time considered him erroneous, like Shaykh Ibn Baaz, Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, [4] and our teacher, Shaykh Rabee’, and a number of other shaykhs. It is not to be said that this (i.e. praying more than 11) is bid’ah (innovation); it is not to be said this is not permissible. Rather, what can be said is: Pray 11 rak’ahs; that might be best. Or pray 20, or pray 36.

And what is their evidence for these increased numbers [larger than 11]? A number of hadeeth narrations. One of those narrations is the action of ‘Umar. It is authentically established that he prayed 20 rak’ahs, as found in a number of reports from different routes of transmission back to ‘Umar. These are collected by Ibn al-Ja’d in his Musnad and al-Bayhaqee in his Sunan. And a group of qualified scholars authenticated them.

They also used evidence from a number of marfoo’ hadeeth narrations (i.e. from the Prophet, may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace):

“Prayer in the night is mathnaa-mathnaa (two-by-two); when one of you fears the arrival of the morning (i.e. the entrance of Fajr time), then let him make one rak’ah of Witr.” [5]

“Mathnaa-mathnaa (two-by-two),” and then he said, “Let him make one rak’ah of Witr.”

And there is a third position in the issue as well, which is that the number of rak’ahs for Taraaweeh, including the Witr, is 11 rak’ahs, as a preference only, not that it is required. You will not find any scholar saying that is required, as I have already said to you.

So it is said (based on this third position), that 11 rak’ahs is what is best, since it was the action of the Prophet (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace).

Or: 20 rak’ahs is best, since it was the action of ‘Umar and a group [of scholars] considered that marfoo’ from the Messenger of Allah.

Or: al-Imam Maalik said that it is 36 rak’ahs.

Then, along came Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allah have Mercy on him), and he took a unique stance on this topic. And no doubt, it is a position that indicates his understanding and knowledge (may Allah have Mercy on him). What is it that Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah said about this issue?

Shaykh al-Islam said: If you are going to pray just like the Prophet (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace), praying a long prayer as he did, when he used to pray 11 rak’ahs, yet he would recite for a long time, and he would remain bowing and prostrating for a long time, then pray 11 rak’ahs [like this]. But if you are not able to pray this long, then pray more rak’ahs. Pray more rak’ahs, since you are shortening the length of your standing, bowing, and prostration. Shaykh al-Islam used to state specifically that Taraaweeh Prayer has no specific legislated number [of rak’ahs]. He would say that if you are going to pray a smaller number of rak’ahs, then what is legislated for you is to lengthen the standing. And if you are going to pray a larger number of rak’ahs, then, here in this case, shorten your time standing. This gathers all the texts [on the topic] together harmoniously. [6]

So we say to those brothers: In these kinds of issues, it is wrong for you to differ and accuse one another [of things], rebuking one another sternly. What is needed is that you learn, and that you calm down in these types of issues and not cause calamities.

Along with this, these people might be among our Salafi brothers. So we do not treat them as they treat us, going to them and rebuking them sternly, warning against them, causing calamities and disturbances. This is wrong. They are to be advised with gentleness. And no doubt, sitting together for mutual research in these issues yields good results and benefit.

FOOTNOTES: 

[1] See: How Many Rak’ahs Did the Salaf Pray for Taraaweeh?

[2] al-Mudawwanah (1/288)

[3] From the translator: Scholarly consensus (ijmaa’) has been cited by al-Haafith Ibn ‘Abdil-Barr in his Tamheed (13/214; 21/69-70), and there is no known predecessor for the position that that 11 or 13 is a legislated limit. The only differing that seems to exist was in preference, while no one claimed there was an actual specified number as a legislated limit, one impermissible to surpass.

If you feel this citation of ijmaa‘ is not actually valid historically, please cite your reference for a different position held among the early scholars (meaning: Someone who stated that there actually IS a legislated limit for the number of rak’ahs in Night Prayers) in the replies, and may Allah reward you. Such a contribution will be considered highly valuable and much appreciated.

UPDATE: Some relevant words of al-Imam Ibn Khuzaymah (d.311) were brought to my attention after the publication of this article, as found in his Saheeh (1/577-578):

فكل من أخبر من أصحاب النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، أو من أزواجه أو غيرهن من النساء أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم صلى من الليل عددا من الصلاة، أو صلى بصفة فقد صلى النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم تلك الصلاة في بعض الليالي بذلك العدد وبتلك الصفة، وهذا الاختلاف من جنس المباح، فجائز للمرء أن يصلي أي عدد أحب من الصلاة مما روي عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم أنه صلاهن، وعلى الصفة التي رويت عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم أنه صلاها، لا حظر على أحد في شيء منها.

Summarized: After compiling authentic reports about the Prophet’s night prayers (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace) being 13 rak’ahs, 11 rak’ahs, and nine, al-Imam Ibn Khuzaymah (may Allah have Mercy on him) stated that it is permissible to pray any of those varieties which have come from the Messenger of Allah (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace). Shaykh al-Albaanee infers from these words that he meant (but did not state) that it is then not permissible to pray more than these numbers. This conclusion is the actual position which the scholars did not accept from Shaykh al-Albaanee (may Allah have Mercy on him), of course after reading his detailed arguments on the topic. Quite simply, this is the unique understanding of Shaykh al-Albaanee about what could be understood form the words of al-Imam Ibn Khuzaymah, not actually the words of Ibn Khuzaymah himself, so please note the difference. In an issue of cited scholarly consensus, one can see why the conclusion of this scholar (Shaykh al-Albaanee), as highly ranking as he was, would be met with skepticism. And Allah knows best.

[4] See: Important Advice About the Number of Rak’ahs of Night Prayers

[5] ِAgreed upon; narrated by Ibn ‘Umar.

[6] See: Ibn Taymiyyah on Night Prayers in Ramadhan – 11 or 20 Rak’ahs?

SOURCE: The shaykh’s official channel on Telegram (1445.09.23) [Arabic audio]

Translated by: Moosaa Richardson (1445.09.23)

rev.ta.uq.gh