Thus, two legitimate positions emerged, each grounded in authentic precedents. The first, favored by the Hanafi and Hanbali schools, as well as many Maliki scholars, holds that 20 rakats is the established sunnah of the rightly-guided caliphs, which the Prophet commanded Muslims to follow. They argue that the Prophet’s 11 rakats was his personal night prayer, not a formal, legislated upper limit for the congregational Taraweeh. The second position, championed by the Hanbali school’s later proponents (like Ibn Taymiyyah) and many Salafi-oriented followers, argues that the Prophet’s 11 rakats is the superior sunnah, and that while 20 rakats is permissible due to Umar’s ijtihad (independent reasoning), it is not the preferred or “Sunnah” practice.
🕌 The Breakdown: How Many Rakats in Taraweeh? 🤲 taraweeh rakats
Here are three different options for a post about Taraweeh rakats, tailored for different platforms (Instagram/TikTok, Facebook/WhatsApp, and a Blog/Article format). Thus, two legitimate positions emerged, each grounded in
#Ramadan #Taraweeh #Salah #Sunnah #IslamicKnowledge The second position, championed by the Hanbali school’s
) prayer, it is a highly emphasized Sunnah that carries immense spiritual reward, with the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) stating that whoever stands in prayer during Ramadan with faith and seeking reward will have their past sins forgiven. The Number of Rakats: A Diverse Tradition One of the most discussed aspects of Taraweeh is the total number of rakats. Historically and across different schools of thought, various practices have emerged: 8 Rakats: This is widely based on a narration from Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), who noted that the Prophet (pbuh) did not exceed eleven rakats (8 Taraweeh + 3 Witr) in Ramadan or any other month. 20 Rakats: This became the established practice during the caliphate of Umar ibn al-Khattab (ra) to accommodate larger congregations and ensure the community could listen to the entire Quran. It is the standard followed in the Two Holy Mosques in Mecca and Medina and by many Hanafi, Shafi’i, and Hanbali scholars. Other Variations: Some traditions, particularly within the Maliki school, historically practiced 36 rakats to match the spiritual "output" of those in Mecca who performed
💡 Don’t let the numbers stop you from praying. Whether you pray 8, 20, or start with just 2—what matters most is the quality of your prayer and standing before Allah.
However, the narrative of Taraweeh did not conclude with the Prophet’s lifetime. The pivotal moment occurred during the caliphate of Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him). Seeing people praying in scattered, small groups, Umar perceived a need for communal unity. He gathered the believers behind a single imam, Ubayy ibn Ka’b, to perform the prayer in congregation. It is recorded that under Umar’s directive, they prayed . This action is described by early historians and scholars as a “beautiful innovation” (bid'ah hasanah) in the technical, linguistic sense—meaning a practice not established as a congregational sunnah by the Prophet, but one that serves a higher maslahah (public interest) without contradicting any core principle. The great hadith scholar Imam al-Bayhaqi and others have noted that the companions during Umar’s time did not object to this number, implying a consensus (ijma') of the Sahaba on the permissibility of 20 rakats.