Question: What is the number of rak’ahs in Tarawih prayer? Is there a specific number, and what is the best way to perform it?
Answer: In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family, his companions, and those who follow his guidance. To proceed…
It has been established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that there is flexibility in the night prayer and that there is no specific number of rak’ahs prescribed. The Sunnah is for the believer—both men and women—to pray two by two, offering the salutation (tasleem) after every two rak’ahs. This is evidenced by what is recorded in the two Sahih collections (Al-Bukhari and Muslim) from the hadith of Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), where the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The night prayer is two by two. If any of you fears the approach of dawn, let him pray one rak’ah to make what he has prayed odd (witr).”
His statement (peace and blessings be upon him), “The night prayer is two by two,” is a declarative statement that implies a command, meaning: “Pray the night prayer two by two.” The phrase “two by two” means that one should offer the salutation after every two rak’ahs and then conclude with one rak’ah, which is the witr. This is how the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to pray at night—he would pray two by two and then conclude with one rak’ah, as narrated by Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), Ibn Abbas, and others.
Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said: “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to pray ten rak’ahs at night, offering the salutation after every two rak’ahs, and then he would conclude with one rak’ah (witr).” [Sunan Abi Dawud 1334, Sahih (Al-Albani), Musnad Ahmad 24155]
She also said: “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) never prayed more than eleven rak’ahs, whether in Ramadan or at any other time. He would pray four rak’ahs—do not ask about their beauty and length—then another four rak’ahs—do not ask about their beauty and length—and then three rak’ahs.” This is agreed upon (in Al-Bukhari and Muslim). [Sahih Al-Bukhari 3569, Musnad Ahmad 23307]
Some people have assumed that these four rak’ahs are performed with a single salutation, but this is not the case. Rather, the intention is that the salutation is offered after every two rak’ahs, as mentioned in her previous narration and in accordance with the Prophet’s statement: “The night prayer is two by two.” This is also supported by what is recorded in the Sahih from the hadith of Ibn Abbas, where the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would offer the salutation after every two rak’ahs.
In her statement, “He never prayed more than eleven rak’ahs, whether in Ramadan or at any other time,” there is an indication that the preferred number of rak’ahs for the night prayer, whether in Ramadan or otherwise, is eleven, offering the salutation after every two rak’ahs and concluding with one rak’ah (witr). It has also been established from her and others that he (peace and blessings be upon him) sometimes prayed thirteen rak’ahs.
This is the best and most authentic practice reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): to perform witr with thirteen or eleven rak’ahs, with eleven being the preferred number. If one performs witr with thirteen, it is also a good and Sunnah practice. This number is easier for people and helps the imam to maintain humility and focus in his bowing, prostration, recitation, and reflection on the Quran, without rushing.
If one performs witr with twenty-three rak’ahs, as Umar and the companions (may Allah be pleased with them) did on some nights during Ramadan, there is no harm in that. The matter is flexible, and it has been established from Umar and the companions that they performed witr with eleven rak’ahs, as mentioned in the hadith of Aisha. [Sahih Al-Bukhari 1164]
It has been established from Umar both practices: he instructed some of the companions to pray eleven rak’ahs, and it has also been reported that they prayed twenty-three rak’ahs under his instruction. This indicates the flexibility in this matter and that the companions considered it a broad issue, as supported by the Prophet’s statement: “The night prayer is two by two.”
However, the best practice, based on the Prophet’s actions, is to perform eleven or thirteen rak’ahs. As previously mentioned, eleven is the preferred number, based on Aisha’s statement: “He never prayed more than eleven rak’ahs, whether in Ramadan or at any other time,” meaning this was his usual practice.
It has also been established from her and others that he sometimes prayed thirteen rak’ahs, indicating that her statement refers to the general practice, as she was aware of what he did in her presence and would inquire from others among the mothers of the believers and the companions. She was the most knowledgeable and understanding of the women regarding the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and she would report what she observed and ask others about what they had witnessed. She was diligent in seeking knowledge, and thus she preserved a great deal of knowledge and many hadiths from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) due to her exceptional memory and her inquiries from other companions. May Allah be pleased with them all.
If one varies the practice by praying eleven rak’ahs on some nights and thirteen on others, there is no harm in that, as both are Sunnah. However, it is not permissible to pray four rak’ahs all at once. Rather, the Sunnah and the obligation is to pray two by two, based on the Prophet’s statement: “The night prayer is two by two,” which is a declarative statement implying a command.
If one performs witr with five or three rak’ahs in a single sitting, there is no harm in that, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did so. However, one should not pray four, six, or eight rak’ahs all at once, as this has not been reported from him and contradicts the command in his statement: “The night prayer is two by two.”
If one prays seven or nine rak’ahs continuously, there is no harm in that, but it is better to sit for the first tashahhud after the sixth rak’ah and after the eighth rak’ah, then stand and complete the prayer. All of this has been reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and it has also been reported that he prayed seven rak’ahs continuously without sitting. The matter is flexible in this regard, but the best practice is to offer the salutation after every two rak’ahs and conclude with one rak’ah, as mentioned in the hadith of Ibn Umar: “The night prayer is two by two. If any of you fears the approach of dawn, let him pray one rak’ah to make what he has prayed odd (witr).” This is the best practice and is also easier for the people, as some may have needs and prefer to leave after two rak’ahs or after two salutations or three salutations. Therefore, it is better and more appropriate for the imam to pray two by two and not to pray five or seven rak’ahs continuously. If he does so occasionally to demonstrate the Sunnah, there is no harm in that.
However, it is not recommended to pray the even and odd rak’ahs continuously, like the Maghrib prayer, and at the very least, it is disliked. This is because it has been reported that it is prohibited to resemble it to the Maghrib prayer by praying three rak’ahs continuously with a single salutation and sitting. And Allah is the source of success.
(Majmua Al-Fataawa of Shaikh Abdul Azeez bin Abdullah bin Baaz (Rahimahullah))
(Translated by Mohammed bin Thajammul Hussain Manna)
Saheehus-Seerah 