20 Rakaat Taraweeh

20 Raka’at Taraweeh – Practice of the majority of the Hanafi, Shafa‘ee and Hambali scholars

First proof

The Sahabah were all in agreement about 20 Raka’at Taraweeh.  The Taba‘een, majority of the scholars, from Kufa, Shafa‘ee scholars and the majority of the jurists all practiced this.  Allama Badruddin ‘Aini (May Allah shower His mercy on him) writes in ‘Umdatul Qari:

Translation: Allama Ibn Abdul Barr (May Allah shower His mercy on him) said:  20 Raka’at is the opinion of all scholars.  All the people of Kufa hold this opinion.  Hadhrat Imam Shafa’ee (May Allah shower His mercy on him) and majority of Fuqaha did this only and this is correct.  (‘Umdatul Qari, Kitab Ut Taraweeh)

Second proof

Allama Badruddin ‘Aini (May Allah shower His mercy on him) who authored Umdatul Qari, a commentary and explanation on Sahih Bukhari writes:

واحتج أصحابنا والشافعية والحنابلة بما رواه البيهقي بإسناد صحيح عن السائب بن يزيد الصحابي قال كانوا يقومون على عهد عمر رضي الله تعالى عنه بعشرين ركعة وعلى عهد عثمان وعلي رضي الله تعالى عنهما مثله-

Translation: The Hanafi, Shafa‘ee and the Hambali Imams have accepted (for 20 Raka’at of Taraweeh) that Hadith as evidence which was recorded and narrated by Imam Baihaqui with his own rigorously authenticated (Sahih) chain of narration, which he narrates on the authority of Hadhrat Saib bin Yazid (May Allah be well pleased with him).

The Sahabi narrates that the Sahabah and the Tabie’en offered 20 Raka’at of Taraweeh in the time of Hadhrat Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him), Hadhrat Uthman (May Allah be well pleased with him), Hadhrat Ali (May Allah be well pleased with him).

(Umdatul Qari Sharh Sahih Bukhari, Vol 5, Kitab Ul Adhaan, Pg No: 459)

Imam Abu Hanifa, Imam Shafa‘ee, Imam Ahmed bin Hambal and according to 1 report Imam Malik (May Allah be well pleased with al of them) agree that Taraweeh is of 20 Raka’at only.

 

Third proof

Allama Ibn Nujaim (May Allah shower His mercy on him) writes in Bahr Ur Raiq and:

Taraweeh is of 20 Raka’at.  The majority of the scholars agree on this and in east and west (i.e. everywhere), the Muslims practice this.  (Al Bahr Ur Raiq, Vol 2, Pg No: 117)

 

وَعَلَيْهِ عَمِلَ النَّاسُ شَرْقًا وَغَرْبًا-

 

Fourth proof

Allama Ibn Rushd Maliki (May Allah shower His mercy on him) writes in Bidayatul Mujtahid:

(فاختار مالك في احدي قوليه وابو حنيفةوالشافعي واحمد وداؤد القيام بعشرين ركعة سوي الوتر . 

Translation:  According to a report Imam Malik, Imam Abu Hanifa, Imam Shafa’ee and Imam Ahmed bin Hambal (May Allah be well pleased with him) have agreed that Taraweeh is of 20 Raka’at apart from Witr.

(Bidayatul Mujtahid, Vol 1, Pg No: 210)

 

Fifth proof

The opinion of Hadhrat Ghouse Azam (May Allah be well pleased with him) 

The pole of the world, the leader of men, Hadhrat Syed Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani Hasani Husaini, Ghouse Azam Dastagir (May Allah be well pleased with him) writes in Al Ghunya Li Talibi tariqil haqqi:

وهي عِشْرُونَ رَكْعَة-

Translation: Salaat Ut Taraweeh is of 20 Raka’at

(Al Ghunya Li Talibi Tariqil Haqq, Vol 2, Pg No: 16)