Scholars' opinion about Hadith of 8 Raka'at

‘Allama Ibn Abdul Barr (May Allah shower His mercy on him) has objected to the Hadith of 11 Raka’at and has declared it to be the mistake of the narrator.  He writes:   Translation: There is a possibility that in the beginning Hadhrat ‘Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him) acted upon 11 Raka’at, then for the sake of people made the long Raka’at light and easy for people and ordered 21 Raka’at.  In these Raka’at, the recitation of the Holy Quran was brief and people started performing more Ruku’ and Sajdah.  However, in my opinion, most probable is that the Hadith of 11 Raka’at is the mistake and delusion of any narrator.  Allah knows best.   Some scholars are of the opinion that the narrator who mistakenly believed it to be 11 Raka’at is Muhammad Bin Yousuf from whom Imam Malik (May Allah shower His mercy on him) narrated.   The possibility of a mistake in the Hadith of Hadhrat Saib Bin Yazid (May Allah be well pleased with him) is further strengthened because the Hadith of 20 Raka’at of Taraweeh narrated again on the authority of Hadhrat Saib Bin Yazid (May Allah be well pleased with him) is present in Muwatta Al Malik and other Muhadditheen have also narrated this.  Thus, after mentioned the Hadith of Hadhrat Saib Bin Yazid (May Allah be well pleased with him), other Sahabah and Taba‘een, Hadhrat Ibn Abdul Barr (May Allah shower His mercy on him) writes:   Translation: All these Hadith and Traditions testify that the Hadith of 11 Raka’at is a delusion and a mistake and this is established that Taraweeh is 23 Raka’at (including 3 Witr) or 21 Raka’at (including 1 Witr) and Allah knows best.   (3)  Hadith of 11 Raka’at is about Tahajjud   If the Hadith of 11 Raka’at is considered to be correct, then this Hadith and the Hadith of 20 Raka’at of Taraweeh can be reconciled by considering that the Hadith of 11 Raka’at is about Tahajjud and 20 Raka’at is about Taraweeh because in the era of Hadhrat ‘Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him) Taraweeh and Tahajjud were both offered with congregation as given in the following Hadith of Sahih Bukhari:   Translation:  The Salaat which people sleep over (and miss) is better than the Salaat, which people offer.  By this Hadhrat ‘Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him) meant offering Tahajjud in the last portion of the night whereas people offer Taraweeh in the earlier portion of the night.  (Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 1, Pg. No. 269, Hadith No. 1906; Sunan Kubra Lil Baihaqui, Hadith No. 4603)   Even today in Makkah and Madina, Tahajjud is customarily offered with congregation.   As proof of 20 Raka’at of Taraweeh, we have mentioned Marfu’ Hadith and have shown in great detail how the practice of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) was 20 Raka’at.  The Traditions of the Sahabah also support this.  Also common sense, Fiqh support this.  Language and philology also support this.  This was the custom of the Muslims and this is what is followed in Makkah and Madina.  There are so many proofs for 20 Raka’at Taraweeh.

Dr. Mufti Syed Ziauddin Naqshbandi Mujaddidi Qadri

Shaykh Ul Fiqh, Jamia Nizamia; Founder - Director

Mufti Maulana Syed Zia Uddin Naqshbandi Quadri

Shaik-ul-Fiqh - Jamia Nizamia

Scholarly Articles

Scholars' opinion about Hadith of 8 Raka'at