The blessed month of Ramadan is adorned with a unique nocturnal worship known as Salat at-Tarawih. Performed nightly following the obligatory Isha prayer, Tarawih provides a profound spiritual atmosphere where believers listen to the complete recitation of the Holy Quran. In the Hanafi school of Islamic jurisprudence, performing twenty Rak’ahs of Tarawih every night is classified as an emphasized Sunnah (Sunnah Mu’akkadah) for both men and women, established by the unbroken practice of the Rightly-Guided Caliphs and the consensus (Ijma) of the Sahabah.
The Legal Status of Tarawih and Congregation
Hanafi jurists draw a critical legal distinction regarding the prayer itself and its congregational performance:
- The Prayer Itself: Performing the twenty Rak’ahs of Tarawih individually is an emphasized personal Sunnah (Sunnah Mu’akkadah ‘Ayniyyah). Abandoning it without a valid medical or physical excuse is sinful and blameworthy.
- Performing in Congregation (Jama’ah): Performing Tarawih in congregation at the mosque is an emphasized communal Sunnah (Sunnah Mu’akkadah ‘alal-Kifayah). If some community members establish the congregation in the local mosque, the Sunnah is fulfilled on behalf of the entire neighborhood. However, an individual who prays at home misses the immense virtue of the communal gathering.
The Definitive Proof for Twenty Rak’ahs
While the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) led the night prayers in congregation for three consecutive nights before abstaining out of fear that it might be made obligatory upon his Ummah, it was the second Caliph, Sayyiduna Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), who formally institutionalized the continuous congregation under a single Qari, Sayyiduna Ubayy ibn Ka’b. The Sahabah unanimously gathered upon twenty Rak’ahs, a practice preserved through the caliphates of Sayyiduna Uthman and Sayyiduna Ali, and upheld by the four major schools of Sunni jurisprudence.
Imam Abu Hanifah stated that Sayyiduna Umar did not innovate this practice out of personal preference; rather, he possessed authentic prophetic precedent. Prominent classical Hanafi references, including Al-Mabsut by Imam al-Sarakhsi, Bada’i’ al-Sana’i’ by Imam al-Kasani, and Radd al-Muhtar by Allamah Ibn Abidin, record total consensus that Tarawih consists strictly of twenty Rak’ahs, divided into ten sets of two Rak’ahs each.
The Structure and Sunnah Method of Tarawih
To ensure the prayer adheres to valid Hanafi jurisprudence, the following legal rules must be observed:
- Timing: The time for Tarawih enters immediately after completing the obligatory four Rak’ahs of Isha and continues until the onset of True Dawn (Subh Sadiq). It must be performed prior to Salat al-Witr, although if Witr is offered beforehand, Tarawih remains valid.
- Sets of Two Rak’ahs (Taslimat): The twenty Rak’ahs must be offered in separate units of two Rak’ahs, concluding with Salam after every second Rak’ah. Praying four Rak’ahs with a single Salam without sitting after the second Rak’ah is severely disliked and defective.
- Formulating the Intention: Intend specifically to perform Salat at-Tarawih or the Sunnah of Ramadan before each two-Rak’ah unit.
- The Tarwihah (Rest Period): The Arabic word Tarawih is the plural of Tarwihah, which means “to rest.” It is an emphasized Sunnah to pause for a brief resting period after every four Rak’ahs (the conclusion of two sets). During this interval, worshipers may remain silent, recite Tasbeeh, praise Allah, send blessings upon the Prophet (PBUH), or supplicate quietly.
Completing the Quran (Khatm al-Quran)
In Hanafi Fiqh, completing the entire Holy Quran at least once during the course of Salat at-Tarawih across Ramadan is an emphasized Sunnah (Sunnah Mu’akkadah) for the community. The Imam should pace the recitation so that worshipers can reflect upon the divine verses without feeling excessive physical distress. Hurrying through the recitation so rapidly that letters or Tajweed rules are distorted is strictly blameworthy (Makruh) and diminishes the spiritual sanctity of the prayer.
Common Misconceptions Addressed
- Conflating Tarawih with Tahajjud: Some modern commentators confuse Salat at-Tarawih with the general night vigil (Tahajjud), claiming it consists of only eight Rak’ahs. Classical Hanafi scholars affirm that Tahajjud is an individual year-round prayer, whereas Tarawih is a distinct Ramadan institution comprising twenty Rak’ahs established by unanimous Sahabah consensus.
- Women Praying Tarawih: Tarawih is equally Sunnah Mu’akkadah for women. They should perform the twenty Rak’ahs individually at home in sets of two, taking rests after every four Rak’ahs.
Conclusion
Salat at-Tarawih is a sublime manifestation of devotion during the most sacred month of the year. By preserving the prophetic and companion precedent of twenty Rak’ahs with Khushu’ and proper Tajweed, Muslims nourish their souls and draw nearer to divine grace.
