Ramadan Articles - Sunnahs of Taraweeh Prayer

Ramadaan is an event in which the whole Muslim Ummah participates and
during this month many of us observeQiyaam al-Layl, also known
asTaraaweeh(literally, the break between individual prayers), which is
a Sunnah for both men and women. It is performed after the Isha prayer
up until the end of the night i.e. before the Fajr prayer and prayed
in sets of tworak'aat each.
Taraaweeh has an important place in Ramadaan. To find out why read on:
Its Excellence and Merit from the Qur'aan:
During Ramadaan, we are not only pre-occupied with our daily
activities but are also subjected to hunger and thirst, and so
naturally at the end of the day we become tired and cherish the
prospect of a good nights rest! However, in the Qur'aan Allah commends
those who observe the night prayer and He exhorts the believers
towards it,"Verily the rising by night(for Tahajjud prayer) is very
hard and most potent and good for governing (the soul) and most
suitable for (understanding) the Word (of Allaah)"[Soorahal-Muzzammil
(73):6]
From the Sunnah
"And whoever stands (in prayer) in Ramadan out of sincere faith and
hoping for a reward (from Allah) then all his previous sins will be
forgiven."[1]
In this Hadeeth the Prophet salla allahu alaihe wa-sallam wanted us to
earn this great reward, encouraging us towards taraaweeh. His
statement,"out of sincerefaith hoping for a reward.."suggests that
inorder to get reward one must purify his niyyah (intention) to
perform this act of worship.
Praying Taraaweeh in Congregation
"It is allowed to pray taraaweeh of the month of Ramadan in a
congregation just as it is allowed to pray them on an individual
basis. The majority of scholars, however prefer to pray them in
congregation." [2]
Aa'ishah reported that: "Allah's Messenger salla allahu alaihe
wa-sallam went out in the middle ofthe night and prayed in the mosque,
and the people prayed behind him, then in the morning people spoke
about it. Then a large number gathered (the second night), and he
prayed and they prayed behind him, then the people spoke about it in
the morning. On the third night the mosque was crowded, so Allah's
Messenger salla allahu alaihe wa-sallam came out and could not
accommodate the number of people, but heonly came out for the morning.
Then when he finished the morning prayer he turned to the people
repeated the Shahaadah and said:'Indeed your presence was not hidden
from me, but I feared that it wouldbe made obligatory uponyou and that
you would not be able to mange it.'[3] So Allaah's Messenger salla
allahu alaihe wa-sallam passed away and the situation remained like
that."
When Prophet salla allahu alaihe wa-sallam was taken by Allaah, the
Sharee'ah had been completed and this fear had ceased (i.e. that
Taraaweeh would be made obligatory) and so it remained prescribed
incongregation - since the reason preventing it had ceased.
Tarteel - recitation in slow, rhythmic tones
It was the practice of the Prophet salla allahu alaihe wa-sallam to
reciteone verse at a time, pausing after every verse. He used to
recite the Qur'aan in slow, measured, rhythmic tones as Allaah had
instructed him, not raising or hurrying, rather; his was "a recitation
clearly distinguishing each letter," [4] so much so that he would
recite a soorah in such slow rhythmic tones that it would be longer
than it would seem possible." [5]
The Length and Beauty ofthe Prayer
There are a number of Ahadeeth which mentionhow the Prophet would
sometimes exceedingly lengthen his recitation ina single rak'ah, so it
is not surprising when 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ood said: "I prayed with the
Prophet salla allahu alaihe wa-sallam one night and he carried on
standing for so long that I was struck by a wrong idea." He was asked,
"What was this idea?" He said, "I thought I would sit down and leave
the Prophet salla allahu alaihe wa-sallam" [6]
And in another narration we learn that the Messenger salla allahu
alaihe wa-sallam recited Soorat al-Baqarah (286 verses), an-Nisaa'
(176 verses) and Aal-lmraan (200 verses) all in one standing. [7] Just
imaginethat! How long does it take to recite just half of Soorat
al-Baqarah: then all of it, then Soorat an-Nisaa' etc!! And remember
the Prophet salla allahu alaihe wa-sallam recited in a 'slow, rhythmic
style' and then he would go into Rukoo' and Sujood. He salla allahu
alaihe wa-sallam used to make his Qiyaam (standing), hisRuku, his
standing after rukoo', his sujood, and his sitting between the two
sajdahs, nearly equalin length. [8] When 'Aa'isha asked why he salla
allahu alaihe wa-sallam offered such an unbearable prayer; which
caused his feet to swell due to the prolonged standing, he humbly
replied:"Should I not be a thankful servant?"[9]
It is not being said that the Taraaweeh prayer offered in congregation
must be as long as this, but on mere reflection does it not leave much
to be questioned and sought when we compare our sad state of affairs
today? What has befallen Muslims these days? In their Salaah and
Qiyaam is fast recitation of the verses of the Qur'aan and hurried
movements which hardly resemble the Ruku, Sujood and other positions
in Salaah - what benefits can we possibly hope to secure by neglecting
the Sunnah?
Best Time for Taraweeh:
The majority of mosques hold taraweeh prayer after salaat al-Ishaa,
and by doing so they are ableto accommodate the varying needs and
conditions of those who attend, (i.e. amongst them there may be the
weak, sick, old etc.) attract more people due to the convenient
earlier timing which in turn encourages families to bring along their
younger children and those being only a few ofthe benefits. Therefore
it is good thing and we know lslaam does not impose any hardships.
However if you are praying taraaweeh at home, then it is worth knowing
that it is best to delay the taraaweeh prayer to the last third
portion of the night. Allah's Messenger salla allahu alaihe wa-sallam
said:"The nearest that a slave comes to his Lord is during the middle
of the later portion of the night.If you can be among those who
remember Allaah, the Exalted One, atthat time then do so."[10]
Also, once when 'Umar ibn al-Kattaab went out during Ramadaan and saw
the people praying taraaweeh, he commented, "prayer at the time when
they sleepis better than at the time when they are praying it." Since
the people usedto pray in the early part of the night. [11]
Know also dear reader; that it is the time when Allaah descends to the
lowest Heaven during thelast third of the night, inquiring (though He
knows everything).
"[Is there anyone] who invokes Me, so that I may respond to his
invitation?[ls there anyone] who asks Me, so that I may grant him his
request? [Isthere anyone] who seeks My forgiveness, so that I may
forgive him?" [12]
Laylatul-Qadr:
We are encouraged to exert our efforts even further; towards the end
of Ramadaan while seeking out Laylatul-Qadr. 'Aa'isha reported that
Allah's Messenger salla allahu alaihe wa-sallam used to exert himself
in devotion during the last ten nightsto a greater extent than at any
other time. [13]
Allah's Messenger salla allahu alaihe wa-sallam said:"Whoever stands
[in prayer] in Lailatut Qadr out of Eemaan and seeking reward, then
his previous sins are forgiven."[Bukhari and Muslim]
Moderation:
As with all aspects in lslaam, moderation and consistency are the
cardinal words - avoidingthe two extremes i.e. negligence and
excessiveness, and this is the correct position. He salla allahu
alaihe wa-sallam said:"The deeds of anyone of you will not save you
(from the hell fire)."They said, 'Even you (will not be saved by your
deeds) O Messenger of Allaah?" He said,"No, even I (will not be saved)
unless and until Allaah bestows His Mercy on me. Therefore, do good
deeds properly. Sincerely and moderately, and worship Allaah in the
forenoon and during a part of the night and always adopt amiddle
moderate, regularcourse whereby you will reach your target (i.e.
paradise)."[14]
Allah has ordained the compulsory prayer, after which the most
excellent prayer is the night prayer[15] and that which I have
mentioned regarding its characteristics is applicable in every prayer-
whether compulsory or voluntary (i.e. such as Taraaweeh). It is not
possible for us to perform prayer as it should be performed, or even
approach it, unless we know the detailed description of the Prophet's
(sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) prayer. [16] I hope that the
significance of the Taraaweeh prayer has been correctly established
and I pray that it's a benefit to all those rushing to fulfill
hiscommand."Pray as you have seen me praying."[l7]
FOOTNOTES:
1. Saheeh AL- Bukhari (eng. Tran. Vol.2, p. 126,no.227)
2. Fiqh us-Sunnah (v.2, p.28). It is preferred for women to pray at home.
3. Saheeh - Related by al-Bukhari from Urwah (eng, trans. Vol.3,
p.127, no.229) and Muslim from Aaisha' (eng. Trans.
Vol.1, p.367, no.1667). Note that this Hadeeth is a proof that
performing the Taraweeh prayer in congregation was a
Sunnah of the Prophet which Umar later revived and it was not a new
practice which he inventedas many claim.
4. Related by Ibn al-Mubaarak in Az-Zuhar [162/2 from al Kawaakib575]
Aboo Dawood and Ahmed with a saheeh isnad.
5. Related by Muslim and Malik.
6. Saheeh related by al-Bukhari (eng. Trans. v.2, no.236) and Muslim.
7. Saheeh related by Muslim (eng. Trans. V.1, no. 1697) and Nasaa'ee.
8. Related by al-Bukhari (eng. Trans. vol. 1, Pg. 424 no.766) and
Muslim (eng. Trans. vol.1 Pg.250 no.953).
9. Related by Bukhari (eng. Trans. vol.2 Pg. 129 no.230)
10. Related by at-Tirmidhee, an Nisa'ee & al-Haakim: al Mishkat 1229.
11. Related by al-Bukhari (eng. Trans. vol.3 Pg.126 no.227).
12. Bukhari (eng. Trans. v.2 #.246), Muslim (eng. Trans. V1 # 165/7).
13. Releted by Muslim (eng. Trans.vol.2 Pg.576, no.2644)
14. Related by al-Bukhari (eng. Trans. v.8, #..470) from Aboo Hurayrah.
15. Related by Muslim from Aboo Hurayrah.