Taraaweeh prayer is not bid’ah and there is no specific number of rak’ahs

On the occasion of the blessed month of Ramadaan, the people turn to
Taraaweeh prayer.My question is: there are some who pray eleven
rak'ahs immediately after 'Isha' prayer, following the example of the
Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him); and
there are those who pray twenty-one rak'ahs, ten after 'Isha' and ten
before Fajr, then they pray Witr. What is the shar'i ruling on this
way of praying Taraaweeh? Please note that there are those who say
that praying qiyaam before Fajr is bid'ah. May Allaah reward you with
good.
Praise be to Allaah.
Taraaweeh prayer is Sunnah according to the consensus of the Muslims,
as al-Nawawi (may Allaahhave mercy on him) said in al-Majmoo'.
Taraaweeh prayer was encouraged by the Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him), for example when he said: "Whoever spends the
nights of Ramadaan in prayer out of faith and in the hope ofreward,
his previous sins will be forgiven." Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 37;
Muslim, 760
So how can it be a bid'ah when the Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) encouraged us to do it and the Muslims are
unanimously agreed that it is mustahabb!
Perhaps the one who saidthat it is bid'ah meant that gathering to
offer Taraaweeh prayer in the mosques is bid'ah.
This too is incorrect, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) prayed Taraaweeh in congregation with his
companions for many nights, then he stopped doing that lest it be
madeobligatory upon the Muslims. Then when the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) died and the revelation came to an
end, this concern was no longer an issue, because itcould not be made
obligatory after the deathof the Prophet (peace andblessings of Allaah
be upon him). So 'Umar (mayAllaah be pleased with him) gathered the
Muslims to pray Taraaweeh in congregation. See Question no. 21740 .
The time for Taraaweeh prayer is from after 'Isha' prayer until dawn
comes. See Question no. 37768 .
There is no specific number of rak'ahs for Taraaweeh prayer, rather it
is permissible to do a little or a lot. The two ways mentioned in the
question are both permissible.
That should be based on whatever the people in each mosque think is
suitable for them.
The best is that which was proven from the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him), which is that he never did more then
eleven rak'ahs when praying qiyaam al-layl, in Ramadaan or at other
times.
Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen said, after mentioning thenumber of rak'ahs in
Taraaweeh prayer:
The matter is broad in scope. No one should be denounced for praying
eleven or twenty-three, because the matter is broader in scope than
that, praise be to Allaah.
Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen,
And Allaah knows best.