THE TARAWEEH PRAYER

The Ramadan nightly prayer has a special merit over other nights. The Messenger of Allah said: "Whoever observes night prayer in Ramadan as an expression of his faith and to seek reward from Allah, his previous sins will be blotted out." (Muslim)

In this hadith, faith means faith in what Allah has promised the observers of night prayers. To seek reward mean, the observer's intent is not for eye service or seeking special recognition from someone.

Taraweeh is derived from the Arabic root word, raaha, which means to rest, relax and use as recreation. It is so called because the believers used to prolong it. After every four raka'ats they would stop for rest and relaxation and resume until taraweeh was complete

As for the number of raka'ats in Taraweeh and Witr, the worthy ancestor, Salaf as-Saalih disagreed on the amount of Raka'ats. These numbers are mentioned for raka'ats: 39, 29, 23, 19, 13, and 11 raka'ats. Of all the numbers mentioned, none is sounder than 11 raka'ats. 'Aishah (raa) was asked how was the prayer of the Prophet (saas)? She replied: "He did not pray in Ramadan or some other times more than eleven raka'ats." (Muslim/Bukhari)

Establishing the night prayer during the nights of Ramadaan
It is established in the Shar'iah that this Salaah (Prayer) was offered in congregation by the Messenger of Allah  

The Messenger of Allah (saas) was the first to establish the Sunnah of congregational, jamaa`ah prayer of taraweeh in the Masjid. Then he did not continue with the Sunnah for fear that it might be made mandatory on the Ummah in Ramadan, and they might not be able to do it. In the books of Bukhari and Muslim, 'Aishah (raa) has been reported as saying: Aa'isha (raa) said: "The Messenger of Allah went out during the late part of the night and prayed in the Masjid and some men prayed with him. The following day the people began to talk about it and then more people prayed (on the following night). Again the following morning the people began to talk about it, and on the third night many more people came out. The Messenger Of Allah (T) came out, and they all prayed with him. On the fourth night the Masjid was unable to hold the amount of people that came out, however, the Messenger (did not come out). He came out for the Fajr Salaat instead. After finishing the prayer he turned to the people and declared the Shahadah and said: "Your position was not hidden from me, but I was fearful that it would be made obligatory upon you and then you would become unable to continue establishing it." [Bukhaaree]

The Messenger of Allah (T) died and the affair relative to the Taraa'weeh salaah remained thus (i.e. it is recommended and it can be prayed in congregation). This is because the fear for it to become compulsory was removed after his death. The rightly guided Caliph Umar Ibn al-Khattaab revived this Sunnah of having the prayer of Taraweeh in congregation.

Abd Ar-Rahman said: "I went out with 'Umar to the masjid during one night of Ramadaan and the people were divided. You could see one person praying by himself while another would be praying and others would pray with him. 'Umar then said: "I see that if I bring together these people and make them all one congregation led by one person that would be better. He then decided to do this: so he gathered them and made Ubay Ibn Ka'b as their Imaam. [Bukhaaree]

When Umar enlivened this practice of having the Taraa'weeh  prayer done in congregation under Ubay Ibn Ka'b, he had him pray Eleven raka'at. Umar commanded the people to Pray Eleven Raka’at as was the practice of the Messenger: As-saib Bin Yazid  said :“ Umar Bin al-Khattaab  Commanded Ubayy Bin Ka’b and Tamim ad-daari to Lead the People in Qiyam with “Eleven Raka’ah”. The reciter would read one Hundred Ayah (in each raka’ah), Until we had to Lean on Canes Because of Long Standing. We would Finish Except with the Arrival of Fajr [Recorded by Malik in al-Muwatta from Muhammad Bin Yusuf from as-Saib Bin Yazid. This Isnad is very Authentic because Muhammad Bin Yusuf is considered trustworthy by the scholars; and the two Shaykhs (Al-Bukhari and Muslim) have accepted his narrations. As-Saib Bin Yazid is a sahabi who performed Hajj in his youth with the Prophet . This is also recorded by: (A) Ibn Abi Shaybah (in Al-Musannaf) from Yahya Bin Said al-Qattan. (B) An-Naysaburi from Ismail Bin Umayyah, Usamah Bin Zayd, and Muhammad Bin Ishaq.  (C) Ibn Khyzaymah from Ismail Bin Ja’far al-Madani, All of those reported it from Muhammad Bin Yusuf as above.]

The Number of Raka'at for the Taraweeh Salaat
There is difference among the scholars about the number of raka'at to be established for the Night Prayer of Ramadaan. However, the correct amount is established by what the Messenger did i.e. Eight raka'at and Three raka'at for the Witr prayer.

Bukhari Volume 3, Book 32, Number 230:

Narrated Abu Salama bin 'Abdur Rahman: that he asked 'Aa'ishah "How was the prayer of Allah's Apostle in Ramadan?" She replied, "He did not pray more than eleven Rakat in Ramadan or in any other month. He used to pray four Rakat ---- let alone their beauty and length----and then he would pray four ----let alone their beauty and length ----and then he would pray three Rakat (Witr)." She added, "I asked, 'O Allah's Apostle! Do you sleep before praying the Witr?' He replied, 'O 'Aa'ishah! My eyes sleep but my heart does not sleep.

There is no evidence to suggest that the Messenger prayed both Tahajjud and the Taraaweeh prayer on those four nights (relying on the fact that the Tahajjud and Taraaweeh prayers are two different prayers). All the various names such as Tahajjud, Taraaweeh, Qiyaamul-Lail refer to the eight raka'ahs and three witr which the Messenger (S) used to prayer whether in Ramadaan or not as Aa'ishah has explained.

Jaabir Ibn 'Abdullah agreed with 'Aa'ishah, he said: " When the Prophet prayed with the people one night during Ramadaan he prayed eight raka'at and then made Witr." [Ibn Hibbaan].

The above is the most authentic narration relative to the number of raka'at that Umar (R) had established. Any other narration relative to the number of rakaah (most of them are related to Umar) for the night prayer is weak. Furthermore they contradict what is firmly established from the Messenger of Allaah .

"DO NOT MIX TRUTH WITH FALSEHOOD NOR CONCEAL THE TRUTH WHEN YOU KNOW" (Al-Quran surah Al-Baqrah: 2 Chapter:42)