TARAWEEH GUIDELINES DURING THIS PANDEMIC / LOCKDOWN
IMPORTANCE: It is Sunnah Mu’akkadah for males and females to perform 20 Rakats of Taraweeh Salah. Nabi (ﷺ) mentioned: “Whoever stands in Ramadhan (i.e. Taraweeh) with Iman and hoping for reward from Allah, all his past sins will be forgiven”. (Bukhari, 1/16)
NUMBER OF RAKATS: Ibn Abbas (Radhiyallahu Anhu) narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to pray twenty raka’at followed by Witr in the month of Ramadan. (Musannaf ibn Abi Shaibah, 2/164)
Imam Shaf‘i (Rahmatullahi ‘Alaih) said that I have always found people in Makkah offering twenty raka’at.(Sunan Al-Tirmidhi, 2/162)
Taraweeh in Ramadhan was established by Rasulullah (ﷺ) himself. Thereafter, Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radhiallahu anhu) unified the Ummah upon 20 rakaats of Taraweeh. His decision to unify the Taraweeh behind one Imam was met with approval and consensus of all the Sahaabah (radhiallahu anhum) and Tabi’een of that era, without record of any objection. For the centuries that followed thereafter, this remained the uninterrupted practice of the entire Ummah.
NB: The number of Rakaats of Taraweeh in the Haram (Makkah, Madinah) is reduced this Ramadhan to 10 Rakaats. This is only due to the pandemic, and to reduce the time of the congregation. Therefore one praying at home etc. should complete the full 20 Rakaats.
COMPLETING QUR’AN: Reading 20 Rakats of Taraweeh is a separate Sunnah and to complete an entire Qur’an in Taraweeh is a separate Sunnah. It is in fact Sunnah Mu’akkadah to complete an entire Qur’an either by reciting it or listening to it. If a Hafidh is not available, then one may recite any portion of the Qur’an he knows, for example Surah Yaseen, Surah Mulk, etc.
CONGREGATION: Where possible, a small group may perform the Taraweeh Salah and complete a Khatam in the Masjid, or at home provided it does not contravene any laws. In the current situation, it will suffice for the men to read their Taraweeh at home. It is sufficient for a minimum of two people to form a congregation.
WOMEN AND CHILDREN: -It is necessary for the Imam to make the intention of leading the women. The males shall stand in the first row followed by the children in the second and the women in the third row. Older girls should stand with the women and not with the children.
IMAMAT: – According to the preferred view of the Hanafi Madhhab, a person who is not baaligh (reached puberty) cannot lead the Taraweeh prayers.
– It is not permissible for women to lead men in any Salah. It is also Makruh Tahreemi to have a women only Jama’ah.
MISCELLANEOUS: – It is not permissible to follow Taraweeh through a live stream, radio or TV. Salah can be read wearing masks, gloves and a slight gap between the followers due to the situation.
– If one is able to read Taraweeh in congregation, he should also read the Witr Salah in congregation. Excerpt from guidelines by Mufti Ebrahim Desai (Hafidhahullah)
Darul Ifta Jaamia Madinatul Uloom
(Department of Islamic Jurisprudence for Guidance in Islamic law, Personal, Social, Business related matters)
Website: www.fatwa-tt.com Email: jmudarulifta@gmail.com Phone: 368-0010, 397-7667