I have heard from some people that it is recommended to pray taraweeh
indivually as the prophet preyed it individually except 3 times, is
this true? I also heard that it is a bid'ah to recite the whole Quran
during taraweeh in ramadan as the prophet never did this, is this
true.
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
It is prescribed to offer the night prayers in Ramadaan in
congregation or individually, but it is better to do it in
congregation than to do itindividually. The Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) led his companions in offering these
prayers in congregation on several nights.
It is proven in al-Saheehayn that the Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) led his companions in prayer (Taraweeh) for
several nights, then on the third or fourth night he did not come out
to them. When morning came he said: "Nothing prevented me from coming
out to you except the fact that I feared that it would be made
obligatory for you."
Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1129. According to the version narrated by
Muslim (761): "But I feared that night prayers would be made
obligatory for you and you would not be able to do them."
Offering Taraweeh prayer in congregation is something that is
established by the Sunnahof the Prophet (peace andblessings of Allaah
be upon him). The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
stated the reason why he did not persist in offering this prayer in
congregation, which is that he feared that it might be made
obligatory. This reason cased to be applicable after the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) died, because when he
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) died, the wahy
(revelation) ceased and there was no longer any worry that it might be
made obligatory. Once thereason, which was the fear of it being made
obligatory, disappeared with the cessation of the wahy, then the fact
that itis Sunnah to offer this prayer in congregation resumed.
See al-Sharh al-Mumti' by Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen, 4/78.
Imam Ibn 'Abd al-Barr (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
This indicates that prayingqiyaam in Ramadaan is one of the Sunnahs of
the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and is
recommended and encouraged. It was not introduced by 'Umar ibn
al-Khattaab, rather he revived something that the Messenger of Allaah
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) lovedand approved of.
Nothing stopped him from doing itregularly except the fear that it
might be made obligatory upon his ummah. He (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) was kind and compassionate towards his ummah.
'Umar knew from the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him) that the obligatory duties would not be increased or
decreased after his death (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him),
so he revived this practice and enjoined it upon the people. That
happened in 14 AH, and 'Umar has the honour of being the one who
revived this Sunnah.
Al-Tamheed, 8/108, 109
After the death of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him), the Sahaabah (may Allaah be pleased with them) prayed Taraweeh
in small groups and individually, until 'Umar (may Allaah be pleased
with him) united them behind a single imam.
It was narrated that 'Abd al-Rahmaan ibn 'Abd al-Qaari' said: I went
out with 'Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allaah be pleased with him) one
night in Ramadaan to the mosque, and the people were scattered, with
one man praying by himself and another with a group of men following
his prayer. 'Umar said: "I think that if I gather thembehind one
reader, it will be better." Then he decided to unite them behind Ubayy
ibn Ka'b. Then I went out with him on another night, and the people
were praying behind their reader. 'Umarsaid: "What a good innovation
this is. But the prayer that they forget about and sleep is better
than the one they are offering." Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1906.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah said, when refuting the view of thosewho
quoted 'Umar's words "What a good innovation this is" as meaning that
innovation (bid'ah) is permissible:
With regard to qiyaam in Ramadaan, the Messengerof Allaah (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) introduced thisto his ummah, and he
led them in prayer for a number of nights, becauseat his time they
used to pray in congregation and individually. But he did not persist
in leading them in one congregation, lest that be made obligatory for
them.When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
died, sharee'ahwas established (and would not change after that). When
'Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) became caliph, he united them
behind one imam,:->
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