بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله وبعد

Twenty-Three:

“It has been narrated that Ali, Shteer ibn Shukl, Ibn Abi Mulaykah, Al-Harith Al-Hamdani, and Abu Al-Bukhtari all reported twenty Rak’ahs of Taraweeh, which is the majority opinion among scholars, as well as the opinion of the people of Kufa and Imam Shafi’i, and most jurists. This is also the correct narration from Ibn Ka’b without any disagreement among the Companions.” [Al-Istidhkar (2/69)]

Abu Al-Husayn reported from Ali that he instructed a man to lead the Taraweeh prayers in Ramadan for twenty Rak’ahs. [Al-Istidhkar (2/70)]

Abdullah ibn Mas’ud used to lead us in Ramadan prayers, completing twenty Rak’ahs and then Witr with three Rak’ahs. [Mukhtasar Qiyam Al-Layl wa Qiyam Ramadan wa Kitab Al-Witr (p. 221)]

Yazid ibn Ruman said, “People used to pray twenty-three Rak’ahs during the time of Umar ibn Al-Khattab in Ramadan.” [Muwatta Malik – Yahya’s narration (1/115)]

Muhammad ibn Ka’b Al-Qurazi reported, “People used to pray twenty Rak’ahs during the time of Umar ibn Al-Khattab in Ramadan, lengthening the recitation, and then they would pray Witr with three Rak’ahs.” [Mukhtasar Qiyam Al-Layl wa Qiyam Ramadan wa Kitab Al-Witr (p. 220)]

Ata reported, “I witnessed people praying twenty-three Rak’ahs with Witr during Taraweeh.” [Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah (5/156)]

Yunus reported, “People prayed twenty Rak’ahs before the incident of Ibn Al-Ash’ath during Ramadan. Abdul Rahman ibn Abi Bakr, Sa’id ibn Abi Al-Hasan, and Marwan Al-Abdi led them, and they prayed twenty Rak’ahs.” [Fada’il Ramadan by Ibn Abi Al-Dunya (p. 80)]

Mansur reported from Al-Hassan, “They prayed twenty Rak’ahs, and in the last ten nights, they added two Rak’ahs.” [Fada’il Ramadan by Ibn Abi Al-Dunya (p. 83)]

Abdullah ibn Qays reported from Shteer ibn Shukl that he used to pray twenty Rak’ahs with Witr during Ramadan. [Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah (5/155)]

Ibn Umar reported, “Ibn Abi Mulaykah used to lead us in twenty Rak’ahs during Ramadan, and in one Rak’ah, he would recite Surah Al-Fatiha and praise the angels.” [Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah (5/155)]

Al-Harith used to lead the people in twenty Rak’ahs during Ramadan at night, and then he would pray Witr with three Rak’ahs, bowing down before the Rak’ahs. [Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah (5/156)]

Abu Al-Bukhtari used to pray five sets of Taraweeh prayers during Ramadan and then Witr with three Rak’ahs. [Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah (5/156)]

Saeed ibn Ubayd reported that Ali ibn Rabee’ah used to pray five sets of Taraweeh prayers during Ramadan and then Witr with three Rak’ahs. [Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah (5/156)]

Al-Tirmidhi reported, “The majority of scholars, including Umar, Ali, and other companions of the Prophet, prayed twenty Rak’ahs, according to Al-Thawri, Ibn Al-Mubarak, and Al-Shafi’i.” [Sunan Al-Tirmidhi (3/161)]

Thirty-Three:

Nafi’ reported, “I only found people praying thirty-nine Rak’ahs, including Witr with three Rak’ahs.” [Al-Mudawwanah (1/288)]

Dawud ibn Qays reported, “I found people in Medina during the time of Umar ibn Abdul Aziz and Aban ibn Uthman praying thirty-six Rak’ahs, including Witr with three Rak’ahs.” [Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah (5/156)]

Al-Tirmidhi reported, “Scholars differed in the Taraweeh prayers. Some believed in praying forty-one Rak’ahs, including Witr, following the tradition of the people of Medina.” [Sunan Al-Tirmidhi (3/161)]

Wahb ibn Kaysan said, “People have been praying thirty-six Rak’ahs, including Witr with three Rak’ahs, up until today in Ramadan.” [Mukhtasar Qiyam Al-Layl wa Qiyam Ramadan wa Kitab Al-Witr (p. 220)]

Forty:

Saleh, a servant of Al-Taw’amah, reported, “I found people before Al-Hirah praying forty-one Rak’ahs, including Witr with five Rak’ahs.” [Mukhtasar Qiyam Al-Layl wa Qiyam Ramadan wa Kitab Al-Witr (p. 221)]

Opinions of the Imams of the Schools of Thought:

Imam Malik:

Malik said, “The prince sent a message to me intending to reduce the number of Taraweeh prayers performed by the people of Medina. Ibn Al-Qasim reported: It was thirty-nine Rak’ahs, including Witr with three Rak’ahs. Malik said: I advised against reducing that number, saying, ‘This is what people have been accustomed to, and this is the ancient practice that people have followed.’” [Al-Mudawwanah (1/287)]

Imam Shafi’i:

Shafi’i said, “This is how I found the people of Mecca praying twenty Rak’ahs.” [Sunan Al-Tirmidhi (3/161)]

Imam Ahmad:

Al-Kawsaj reported: I asked Imam Ahmad, “How many Rak’ahs should one pray in the night prayers during Ramadan?” He said, “There are various opinions about it, some narrate up to forty Rak’ahs. It is all voluntary.” [Masail Imam Ahmad wa Ishaq ibn Rahawayh (2/755)]

Abu Dawud reported: I heard Ahmad being asked about a group of people who prayed five Taraweeh prayers in Ramadan without resting in between them. He said, “There is no harm in it.” [Masail Abu Dawud (338)] A set of Taraweeh prayers consists of four Rak’ahs.

Al-Kharaqi reported: “The night prayers in Ramadan are twenty Rak’ahs, and Allah knows best.” [Mukhtasar Al-Kharaqi (p. 29)]

Imam Ishaq:

Ishaq said, “As for the people of Iraq, they have been following the tradition of Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, until our time, which is five sets of Taraweeh prayers.” [Masail Imam Ahmad wa Ishaq ibn Rahawayh (2/840)] Five sets means twenty Rak’ah

Ishaq said, “We choose forty Rak’ahs, with lighter recitation.” [Masail Imam Ahmad wa Ishaq ibn Rahawayh (2/755)]

Hanafi School of Thought:

At-Tahawi reported, “Our scholars and Al-Shafi’i pray twenty Rak’ahs, excluding Witr.” [Ikhtilaf Al-Ulama li Al-Tahawi – Aikhtisar Al-Jassas (1/312)]

Translated from: https://mshmsdin.com/archives/5113