Dr. Mufti Syed Ziauddin Naqshbandi Mujaddidi Qadri

Shaykh Ul Fiqh, Jamia Nizamia; Founder - Director

Abul Hasanaat Islamic Research Center

Mufti Maulana Syed Zia Uddin Naqshbandi Quadri

Shaik-ul-Fiqh - Jamia Nizamia

Abul Hasanaat Islamic Research Center

Scholarly Articles

Is Taraweeh 8 Rakat

<meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type" /> <meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId" /> <meta content="Microsoft Word 12" name="Generator" /> <meta content="Microsoft Word 12" name="Originator" /> <link href="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\mohi\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List" /> <link href="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\mohi\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_themedata.thmx" rel="themeData" /> <link href="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\mohi\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_colorschememapping.xml" rel="colorSchemeMapping" /><style type="text/css">  </style> <p class="MsoNormal">There is a narration from Hadhrat Aisha Siddiqua (May Allah be well pleased with her) which mentions 8 raka’at.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Translation:<span style="">  </span>It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abu Salma bin Abdur Rahman (May Allah be well pleased with him), he says that he asked Hadhrat Aisha Siddiqua (May Allah be well pleased with her) how was the Salaat of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) in Ramadhan?<span style="">  </span>Ummul Momineen Hadhrat Aisha (May Allah be well pleased with her) said:<span style="">  </span>The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would not offer more than 11 raka’at in Ramadhan and out of it.<span style="">  </span>He would 4 raka’at with such fervor that you should not even talk about it.<span style="">  </span>Then He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would 3 raka’at.<span style="">  </span>I (i.e. Hadhrat Aisha) asked Him: O Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)!<span style="">  </span>Do You rest before offering Witr?<span style="">  </span>The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: O Aisha (May Allah be well pleased with her)! Verily My eyes sleep, my heart does not.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">(Sahih Bukhari, Kitabul Tahajjud, Pg No: 154, Hadith No: 1147; Bab Fadhl min qiyami Ramadhan, Pg No: 269, Hadith No: 2013; Pg No: 504, Hadith No: 3569; Sahih Muslim Kitab Us Salaatil Musafireen, Hadith No: 738)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Saying that Taraweeh is only of 8 raka’at is a grave mistake, which is very much against the science of Hadith, the narration of Hadith and the understanding of Hadith.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">When looked closely, it becomes obvious that this Hadith is not at all about Taraweeh, but about Tahajjud as Hadhrat Aisha (May Allah be well pleased with her) is talking about 8 raka’at in Ramadhan and out of it.<span style="">  </span>Every sane person realizes that Taraweeh is offered only in Ramadhan and not out of it; otherwise, we should also say that Taraweeh is offered for the whole year.<span style="">  </span>Even those who insist that Taraweeh do not offer it throughout the year!<span style="">  </span>We can act upon this Hadith only when the 8 raka’at mentioned here are accepted in Tahajjud.<span style="">  </span>That these 8 raka’at mean Tahajjud is also supported by this Hadith of Hadhrat Aisha (May Allah be well pleased with her), which comes in Sahih Bukhari:<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Translation: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Aisha (May Allah be well pleased with her) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would offer 11 raka’at, then when the day dawned, He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would offer 2 light raka’at.<span style="">  </span>Then, He would rest on His right side to the point that the Muezzin would come and request Him.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">(Sahih Bukhari, Vol 2, Kitab Ud Da’awat, Hadith No: 6310)<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Also, the Hadith of Hadhrat Abdullah Bin Abbas (May Allah be well pleased with them) clearly shows that the Hadith of 8 raka’at is about Tahajjud.<span style="">  </span>The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would rest and offer 11 raka’at, then Hadhrat Bilal (May Allah be well pleased with him) would come and call out the Adhaan, as given in Sahih Bukhari, Vol 2, Kitab Ut Tafseer, Pg No: 657, Hadith No: 4569<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>