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It has been discussed previously and by the admission of those who have been misled, that false Ulema have declared the practice of 20 rak'ahs of taraweeh prayer in the holy month of Ramadan to be a reprehensible innovation (bid'ah)! What concerns us here is not the actual number of rak'ahs, but the consideration that he has over reached himself by declaring a known practice of the Sahaba (may Allah be pleased with them) to be a bid'ah! To any sane, sincere and objective minded reader the implication of his claim is clear, namely, he has declared the unanimous practise of the Companions to be a bid'ah! Allah forbid. We will discuss, Insha'Allah, what he actually said
and prove to him and his blind followers that they are the ones who deliberately
overlook Sahih Hadiths on this issue, as well as avoiding the practice
and Consensus of the venerable Companions, and our beloved Messenger, Muhammad
(Sall Allahu alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim) who initiated this practice and number.
This issue is no doubt a critical test for those who claim to be on the
path of the venerable Companions and their Succesors. May Allah be pleased
with them all.
In the following synopsis we will provide the most authentic evidence to support the claims of the Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, Hanbali [1] schools of Jurisprudence, and most importantly that the Holy Nabi (Sall Allahu alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim) and in the unanimous view and practice of the Sahaba (may Allah be pleased with them all) the rak'ahs of taraweeh are twenty. The narration's that will be presented have the stamp of
authentication by at least ten distinguished scholars. Al-Imam al-Hafiz
Jamaluddin al-Zayla'i[2] has recorded in his book Nasb
ur-Rayah[3] that:
Abu Tahir al-Faqih - Abu Uthman al-Basri - Abu Ahmad Muhammad ibn
Abdal Wahhab - Khalid ibn Mukhallad - Muhammad ibn Ja'far - Yazid ibn Khaseefah
- Sa'eeb ibn Yazid,
who said:
'In the time of Umar ibn al-Khattab (radiallahu anhu) the people
used to observe 20 rak'ahs and the witr.'
Al-Nawawi said in al-Khulasa:
'Its Isnad is Sahih.'"
Hafiz al-Zayla'i has also mentioned after reporting the
authenticity of this Hadith, that al-Imam al-Bayhaqi has also reported
another version of the above narration through a different channel of transmission,
in his Sunan al-Kubra. The narration referred to has been mentioned
in the footnotes by the council of Islamic scholars (Majlis al-Ulama) who
edited Nasb ur-Rayah[5], in the following words:
Abu Abdullah al-Hussain ibn Muhammad ibn al-Hussain finjuwayh al-Dinawari
- Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Ishaq al-Sunni - Abdullah ibn Muhammad ibn Abdul
Aziz al-Baghawi - Ali ibn al-J'ad - Ibn Abi Dhib - Yazid ibn Khaseefah
- Sa'eeb ibn Yazid,
who said:
"In the time of Hazrat Umar ibn al-Khattab, radiallahu anhu, they
would perform 20 rak'ats in the month of Ramadan. He said (also): And they
would recite the Mi'in[7], and they would lean on their
sticks in the time of Uthman ibn Affan, radiallahu anhu, from the discomfort
of standing."
All the men in the (above) isnad are trustworthy, as mentioned
by the Indian research scholar, Shaykh al-Nimawi[8], in
Athar al-Sunan[9]." For the readers benefit one may refer to the following books of Hadith
for at least 25 further proofs:
(i) al-Imam Yahya al-Nawawi (d. 676 AH) He has authenticated
the narration recorded and mentioned above from al-Bayhaqi's Marifatus-Sunan,
in his book al-Khulasa - this was mentioned by Hafiz al-Zayla'i
in Nasb ur-Rayah (see above). Besides this narration, he has also
recorded the alternative narration recorded by Imam al-Bayhaqi in his Sunan
al-Kubra.
He has declared this variant narration to be a decisive argument and
proof for the Shafi'i Madhhab, as well as saying: "Its Isnad is Sahih",
in his voluminous work: al-Majmu' Sharh al-Muhadhhab[17].
(ii) al-Imam Jamaluddin Yusuf al-Zayla'i (d. 762 AH)
We have mentioned above that Hafiz al-Zayla'i in his analysis of the
narration's found in the Hanafi fiqh book: al-Hidaya, has recalled
the narration from al-Bayhaqi's Marifatus-Sunan, and quoted Imam
al-Nawawi as his authority to declare this narration to be Sahih.
(iii) Imam Badruddin al-Ayni (d. 855 AH)
He said in his famous commentary to Sahih al-Bukhari: Umdat ul-Qari[18]
:
He has noted in Sharhul-Nuqayah[19] :
Imam Ibn al-Humam asserts that it has been established from genuine
authority (sahih) that the Companions and their Successors used to say
20 rak'ahs of Taraweeh during the auspicious time of Umar (radiallahu
anhu); this authority of Yazid ibn Ruman (as in Imam Malik's narration)
has been reported from Sa'eeb ibn Yazid that, "During Umar's auspicious
time we used to say 20 rak'ahs." The genuineness of this authority
has been verified by Imam Nawawi in the synopsis[20].
(vi) - (viii) Imam's Taqi al-Din as-Subki (d. 756 AH), Zayn al-Din
al-Iraqi (d. 806 AH) & Jalaluddin as-Suyuti (d. 911 AH)
According to Imam Abdal Hayy Lucknawi[21] in his work
Tuhfatul Akhyar[22], Imam Nawawi, Iraqi and Suyuti[23]
have all considered Bayhaqi's narration as reported in his Sunan al-Kubra
to be Sahih.
Shaykh Habibur Rahman al-A'zami has also affirmed that Nawawi, Iraqi
and Suyuti have declared Imam al-Bayhaqi's narration to be Sahih. He has
also reported that Imam al-Subki[24] and Mullah Ali al-Qari
have both declared the alternative narration recorded by Bayhaqi in his
Marifatus Sunan to be Sahih[25].
(ix) Imam Muhammad Shauq Nimawi (d. 1322 AH)
We have mentioned previously that Shaykh Nimawi has declared Imam al-Bayhaqi's
narration to be Sahih in Athar al-Sunan[26].
(x) Imam Ibrahim al-Halabi (d. 956 AH)
He has noted in al-Kabiri[27] :
A writer once claimed that Imam al-Bukhari held the view that the rak'ahs
of Taraweeh were eight, excluding the witr. What is surprising to
note is that despite his bold ascription of this view to Imam al-Bukhari,
he did not furnish one shed of proof or reference to the works of Imam
al-Bukhari to verify his claim.
On the contrary, the commentators of Sahih al-Bukhari, like Hafiz Ibn
Hajar and Hafiz al-Ayni have not ascribed any view for 8 rak'ahs
to Imam al-Bukhari to our knowledge. What is unsurprising to note is that
the two aforementioned scholars of Hadith have mentioned the proofs in
favour of 20 rak'ahs. One may raise the catechism - if Imam al-Bukhari
had held the view ascribed to him, would there be no doubt that his great
student, Imam Abu Isa al-Tirmidhi[32], would not have
failed to mention this?
For we know that Imam al-Tirmidhi only knew of either 20 or 41 rak'ahs[33]
in his time.
He has recorded in al-Jami us-Sahih, that Hazrat Umar[34],
Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with them) and other Companions of the
Holy Nabi (Sall Allahu alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim) used to perform 20 rak'ahs
of Taraweeh, as well as saying that Sufyan al-Thauri (d. 161 AH), Abdullah
ibn al-Mubarak (d. 181 AH) and al-Imam al-Shafi'i (d. 204 AH) held the
same view. He has also quoted Imam al-Shafi'i as saying that he saw the
people of Makkah performing 20 rak'ahs of Taraweeh.
The only proof to suggest that the Holy Prophet (Sall Allahu alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim) performed 20 rak'ahs has been reported on the authority
of Abdullah ibn Abbas (radiallahu anhu):
One may wish to note that false Ulema have gone to the added length
of declaring Hazrat Ibn Abbas' narration to be Maudu (fabricated)[40],
whereas no previous scholars of Hadith have gone beyond declaring its isnad
to be da'eef (weak).
An interesting study prepared and published on this issue by a Shaykh
who is said to have memorized the six most authentic collections of Hadith,
is available to verify this assertion.
Let us now see what a number of Imams of sacred law have said about
the aforementioned narration from Ibn Abbas (radiallahu anhu).
(a) Imam Ahmad al-Tahtawi[41] has said in Sharh
Durr al-Mukhtar[42] :
(i) Imam Ali ul-Qari al-Hanafi (d. 1014 AH)
He said in Sharh ul-Nuqayah[50]:
Allamah Abdal Hayy Lucknawi has reported in Tuhfat ul-Akhyar[51]
and in his Majmu' Fatawa[52], the fact that Hafiz
Ibn Hajar al-Haytami has declared Ijma us-Sahabah on the rak'ahs
of Taraweeh being twenty.
(iii) Imam Muwaffaq al-Din Ibn Qudama al-Maqdisi (d. 620)
The leading Imam of the Hanbali's in his time has declared in his famous
fiqh book: al-Mughni[53] :
He said in Rasa'il ul-Arkan[54] :
He has declared in his Majmu' Fatawa Azizi[56]
:
He has stated in his commentary to the Hadith collection known as Mishkat
ul-Masabih: Madhahir ul-Haqq[57] :
He has said in Fathul-Qadir[58] :
It was written in the most authentic record of Imam Malik's most accurate
sayings[59], known as al-Mudawwanah al-Kubrah:
Shaykh Abdur Rahim said in his Fatawa[61] :
It has been recorded by him in his Awnu'l Bari[63]
:
O believers, have we not heard that Allah has said:
"Allah will never let my Ummah agree upon misguidance, and the hand
of Allah is over the group (Jama'ah), so follow the great mass of believers
(Sawad ul-'Azam), and whoever dissents from them departs to hell." [68]
2 He was a famous Hanafi Hafiz of Hadith, as
well as being one of the teachers of Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani. He died in
the year 762 AH, rahimahullah.
3 2/154, Majlis al-Ulama, India, 4 vols. 1357
AH.
4 The full title is al-Marifatus-Sunan wa'l
athar.
7 A group of medium sized chapters from the Qur'an.
8 His full name was Muhammad Shauq al-Nimawi;
(d. 1322 AH - rahimahullah).
10 He died in the year 975 AH, rahimahullah.
11 4/284, no. 5787 (8 vols. 1st edn; Hyderabad,
India, 1312-14 AH), reported by him on the authority of the Muhaddith,
Ibn Man'i.
12 This report is very similar to Bayhaqi's
narration (see Muwatta, 6.2, no. 5, p. 48, English edn.) .
14 4/260-3, no's. 7730-1 & 7733.
15 2/392-4. Printed in Hyderabad, India, 1387/1967.
17 4/32-3, printed with Imam al-Rafi'i's (d.
623 AH) Fath al-Aziz and Hafiz Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani's Talkhis
ul-habir in the footnotes; Idara al-Tibat al-Muniriyyah, Egypt.
18 7/178, Idara al-Tibat al-Muniriyyah, Egypt.
20 Quoted in Fatawa Rahimiyya (1/241)
of Mufti Abdur Rahim; on the authority of Ibn al-Humam's Fath al-Qadir
(1/407).
22 P. 192, quoted in Is Taraweeh 20 raka'ats?
p. 22, Madrasah Arabia Islamia, Azadville, South Africa.
23 According to the aforementioned booklet (Is
Taraweeh 20 raka'ats?), p. 5; Imam Nawawi has authenticated Bayhaqi's
narration (from his Sunan) in al-Khulasah, al-Iraqi has authenticated
it in Sharh Taqreeb, and Suyuti has authenticated it in his book
on Taraweeh: Masabeeh.
25 See Shaykh al-A'zami's Raka'at Taraweeh,
p. 63, Ma'arif press, Azamgarh, India.
32 He passed away in the year 279 AH. Rahimahullah.
33 The practice of 41 rak'ahs was that
of the people of Madinah in the time of the Hazrats Khalif Umar ibn 'Abdul
Aziz and al-Imam Malik ibn Anas (may Allah be pleased with them). It is
in reality 20 rak'ahs, for the people of Madinah used to perform
an extra 4 rak'ahs without congregation,(after the performance of
the standard 4 rak'ahs); hence this amounts to an extra 16 rak'ahs
on top of the standard 20 rak'ahs. After this they would perform
3 rak'ahs of witr, and sometimes another 2 rak'ahs
of nafl on top, making a total of 41 rak'ahs (20 rak'ahs
taraweeh + 16 nafl + 3 witr + 2 nafl = 41).
The reason why the people of Medinah introduced an additional 16 rak'ahs
was due to the fact that the people of Makkah would make tawaf around
the Ka'bah after every 4 rak'ahs of taraweeh, hence the Madinans
wanted to compensate for this. Allah knows best. See Shaykh Anwar Shah
Kashmiri's: Tirmidhi al-ma'ruf ba arfash shazzi (1/329) for details.
34 3/170, Ahmad Shakir edition, edited by Fu'ad
Abdal Baqi, Maktaba Faisalia, Makkah.
35 This narration has been collected by Bayhaqi
in al-Sunan al-Kubra (2/496), Ibn Abi Shaiba in al-Musannaf
(2/394), Ibn Adi in al-Kamil (1/2), Tabarani in al-Kabeer (3/148),
Ibn Manda in al-Muntakhab min al-fawaid (2/268), Baghawi in Majmu
as-Sahaba, Musnad Abd ibn Humaid and others.
36 See Ibn Hajar's Talkhis ul-habir fi takhreej
ahadith al-Rafi'i al-kabir (1/119) and Al-Matalib al-'Aliyya
(1/146, no. 534) or Zaylai's Nasb ur-Rayah (2/153).
37 He passed away in the year 235 AH. His Musannaf
has been printed in some 15 volumes.
40 See his "al-Da'eefah", (2/35, no.
560), 3rd edn; Maktaba al-Islamia, Amman, 1406 AH.
41 He was a leading Egyptian Hanafi scholar
who has written a number of well known and regularly used commentaries
to classical Hanafi fiqh texts. He passed away in the year 1231/1816 CE.
Rahimahullah.
44 Mufti Abdur Rahim Lajpuri, 1/280, Maktaba
Rahimiyyah, Rander, India.
46 He died in 1235/1820 CE, rahimahullah. Shaykh
Abdur Rahim has quoted this statement from his book Rasa'il ul-Arkan,
p. 138.
48 This report is also found in Imam al-Shurunbulali's
Maraqi ul-Falah, p. 81, and Imam Ibn Nujaim al-Misri's Bahr ur-Ra'iq,
2/66.
49 Ijma us-Sahabah is the third source
of Islamic law after the Qur'an and Sunnah.
55 He was the son of the famous Indian scholar:
Shah Waliullah.
58 1/470; quoted in Fatawa Rahimiyya
(1/245).
59 This book contains the direct questions asked
by Imam Malik's two famous disciples: Ibn al-Qasim and Ibn Wahb to their
teacher. It was compiled by Ibn al-Qasim's student: Qadi Sahnoon (see 1/193-4).
60 The reason for praying 39 rak'ahs
has been explained previously. The fact that Imam Malik preferred this
number has been verified by the Maliki Qadi: Ibn Rushd (d. 595 AH) in Bidayat
al-Mujtahid (1/239). He has also quoted a narration from Ibn Abi Shaibah
proving 39 rak'ahs was in vogue during the Khalifa of Hazrat Umar
ibn Abdul Aziz (Radhi Allahu Anhu).
62 Quoted from his Fathul-Mulhim Sharh Sahih
al-Muslim, (2/320).
63 4/307, quoted in Fatawa Rahimiyya,
(1/245).
66 Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali (may Allah
be pleased with them).
67 A Sahih Hadith recorded in 68 A narration authenticated and reported by
al-Hakim (1/116), and al-Dhahabi agreed with him. A very similar report
has been recorded by al-Tirmidhi (4/2167). Imam al-Munawi said in commentary
to Tirmidhi's Hadith: (Allah's hand is over the Jama'ah) meaning his protection
and preservation of them, signifying that the collectivity of the people
of Islam are in Allah's fold, so be also in Allah's shelter, in the midst
of them, and do not separate yourselves from them. (And whoever descents
from them departs to hell) meaning that whoever diverges from the overwhelming
majority concerning what is lawful or unlawful and on which the Community
does not differ has slipped off the path of guidance and this will lead
him to hell. (see Imam al-Azizi's: al-Siraj al-Munir Sharh al-Jami us-Saghir,
3/449, cf. Reliance of the Traveller, p. 25).
69 Printed by Maktaba Dar al-Turath, Madinah
al-Munawwarah, 1st edn. 1407/1987.
70 Printed by Maktaba Rashidia, Pakistan.
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