How Many Rakats Are There In The Tarawih Prayer?
How many rakats are there in the tarawih prayer?
There is no agreed narrative regarding the number of rakats in tarawih prayer that was established by Prophet Muhammad (saw). Although there are some narratives saying that Prophet Muhammad (saw) established twenty three rakats including witr (Ibn Abi Shaybah, al-Musannaf, III, 395; Bayhaqi, al-Sunan al-Kubra, II, 698), they were interpreted differently by Muslim jurists. Therefore, scholars tried to reach a conclusion about it with reference to Aisha’s (ra) narrative about Prophet Muhammad’s (saw) night prayer in the month of Ramadan, and from Umar on Prophet Muhammad’s (saw) starting to establish tarawih prayers in congregation. The narratives on this subject may be explained as follows:
When night prayers of the Messenger of Allah (saw) in the month of Ramadan were asked, Aisha (ra) replied, “Allah’s Messenger never exceeded eleven rakats (of prayer) in Ramadan or in other months.” (Bukhari, Tahajjud, 16). In another narrative, this number is mentioned as thirteen (Muslim, Salat al-Musafirin, 123-124). First of all, it is not clear whether this hadith is about tarawih or not. On the other hand, the fact that Aisha said that Prophet Muhammad (saw) used to pray eleven or thirteen rakats in Ramadan and in other months shows that there was a night prayer other than tarawih he established continuously. It is stated in the Holy Qur’an, “And from [part of] the night, pray with it [i.e., recitation of the Qur’an] as additional [worship] for you; it is expected that your Lord will resurrect you to a praised station.” (Isra, 17/79).
It is understood as mentioned above that the question was asked to know whether Prophet Muhammad (saw) established more rakats in night prayers in the month of Ramadan as he increased other acts of worship in that month, and that it is not related to tarawih prayer. The following hadith narrated by Aisha supports this view: “With the start of the last ten days of Ramadan, the Prophet (saw) used to tighten his waist belt (i.e. work hard) and used to pray all the night, and used to keep his family awake for the prayers.” (Bukhari, Fadhl Lailat al-Qadr, 5; Muslim, Itikaf, 7, 8) On the other hand, it is not clear if this hadith was said before or after establishment of tarawih.
There are two narratives regarding the number of rakats in the tarawih prayers established in congregation in the period of Umar as twenty and eleven (Ibn Abi Shaybah, al-Musannaf, III, 392, 394). Although there are different narratives about the period of Umar in our sources, it is stated that the number of rakats in tarawih was settled as twenty afterwards and it is established in this form today as well (See. Ibn al-Humam, Fath, I, 485; Ayni, Umdah, XI, 126-127; Mawardi, al-Hawi, II, 291; Shawkani, Nayl al-awtar, III, 516, 521).
Tarawih prayer has been established in congregation in twenty rakats since the periods of Umar, Uthman, and Ali (ra). Any of the companions did not object to this practice, and scholars accepted it the same way. Today, tarawih prayer is established in 20 rakats in several Islamic countries including Türkiye.
Besides, we need to express that as tarawih is a nafl prayer, it is not permissible to be considered as fardh. For this reason, the sunnah will have been fulfilled if tarawih prayer is established in 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 or 18 rakats at home due to tiredness, business, or similar reasons. But it is more virtuous to try to attend congregation.
Source: Presidency Of Religious Affairs The Turkey, High Board of Religious Affairs FATWA
