Throughout the month of Ramadan, Muslims worldwide have interaction in a particular night time prayer often known as Taraweeh. On this article, I’ll delve into the historical past of this observe.
As Muslims, we carry out the compulsory 5 every day prayers, with the final one being the Isha prayer. Nonetheless, we’re additionally inspired to have interaction in further night time prayers. Whereas these night time prayers are thought-about voluntary, they’re extremely really helpful.
Allah praises religious believers, describing them as those that pray at night time, in search of forgiveness within the hours simply earlier than daybreak, often known as the sahr hours. Within the Quran, Allah stated:
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“They come up from [their] beds; they supplicate their Lord in concern and aspiration, and from what We now have supplied them, they spend.” [Surah As-Sajdah: 32;16]
And additional Allah stated:
“They used to sleep however little of the night time. And within the hours earlier than daybreak they’d ask forgiveness.” [Surah Adh-Dhariyat: 51;17-18]
The Messenger’s Night time Prayers
The Messenger of Allah , peace be upon him, persistently engaged in night time prayers. He sometimes prayed alone reasonably than in congregation (Jama’ah). Often, he would come out to the mosque, and on such events, folks may be a part of him. There’s a hadith that reviews Ibn Abbas sleeping over on the home of the Messenger of Allah and becoming a member of him in an evening prayer. A few of the Sahaba additionally used to affix Prophet Muhammad in night time prayers each time they witnessed him praying within the mosque.
عَنْ أَبي عبدِ الله حُذيفةَ بنِ اليمان، رضي اللهُ عنهما قال: صَلَّيتُ مع النَّبيِّ صلَّى اللهُ عليه وسلَّم ذاتَ ليلةٍ، فافتتح البقرةَ، فقلتُ يركعُ عند المائة، ثم مضَى فقلتُ يصلِّي بها في ركعةٍ، فمَضَى، فقلتُ يركعُ بها، ثم افتتح النساءَ: فقرأها، ثمَّ افتتحَ آل عمرانَ فقرأها، يقرأُ مترسلًا، إذا مرَّ بآيةٍ فيها تسبيحٌ سبَّحَ، وإذا مرَّ بسؤالٍ سألَ، وإذا مرَّ بتعوذٍ تعوَّذَ، ثم ركع فجعلَ يقولُ: « سبحانَ ربي العظيم» فكان ركوعه نحوًا من قيامه، ثم قال: «سمع اللهُ لمن حمِدَه، ربنا ولك الحمد» ثم قام قيامًا قريبًا مما ركع، ثم سجد فقال: «سبحان ربي الأعلى» فكان سجوده قريبًا من قيامه. رواه مسلم.
Hudaifa ibn Alyaman stated I prayed one night time with the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. The Prophet began reciting al-Baqarah and I assumed he would cease after 100 verses. However when he went past it I assumed that he could wish to recite the entire chapter in a single Rakah. When he completed al-Baqarah I assumed he would do Ruku however then he instantly began reciting al-Imran and when he completed he began reciting an-Nisa.
The Prophet was reciting very slowly with sufficient pauses and would do Tasbeeh (praising God) and Dua (supplication) in keeping with the topic being mentioned within the related Ayah.
After that the Prophet did Ruku. In Ruku he stayed so long as he did when he was in Qiyam (standing in prayer). After Ruku he stood up for nearly the identical time after which he carried out Sajdah (prostration) and stayed there so long as he recited Quran whereas doing Qiyam.”
[Hudaifa , narrated this hadith as in Sahih al Muslim]
Night time Prayers in Ramadan on the Time of the Prophet
Throughout the period of the Prophet , in Ramadan and after the Isha prayer, there was no unified congregation prayer. Muslims had the flexibleness to both pray night time prayer at house or within the masjid. It was reported in a Hadith, that the Prophet , used to encourage them to face in prayers in Ramadan with out strongly ordering them to take action, he stated: “Whoever performs Ramadan out of religion and in search of reward from Allah, his earlier sins can be forgiven.” [Sahih al-Bukhari 1901]
Abu Salamah ibn ‘Abd ar-Rahmaan, stated he requested ‘Aa’ishah : “‘How did the Messenger of Allah pray throughout Ramadan?’ She stated: ‘He didn’t pray in Ramadan or at another time, greater than eleven Rakat. He would pray 4, and don’t ask how lovely and lengthy they had been. Then he would pray 4, and don’t ask how lovely and lengthy they had been. Then he would pray three Rakat.’” [Sahih; Sunan an-Nasa’i 1697]
So Muslims used to hope Isha and after that there was nobody unified congregation prayer. Some used to go house and pray there, some would sleep and get up once more to hope at both their house or within the masjid.
This observe remained till one night time throughout Ramadan earlier than the demise of the Prophet , he got here out and prayed the night time prayer on the Masjid. Some Companions joined him in that night time prayer. Nonetheless, after a couple of nights, he didn’t come out to them as narrated by A’isha . As soon as in the course of the night time the Messenger of Allah , went out and prayed within the mosque and a few males prayed with him. The subsequent morning the folks spoke about it and so extra folks gathered and prayed with him. They circulated the information within the morning, and so, on the third night time the variety of folks elevated drastically. The Messenger of Allah , got here out they usually prayed behind him. On the fourth night time, the mosque was overwhelmed by the folks till it couldn’t accommodate them. The Messenger of Allah got here out just for the Fajr prayer and when he completed the prayer, he confronted the folks and stated, “I knew about your presence, however I used to be afraid that this prayer could be made obligatory and also you won’t be capable to carry it out.” The Messenger of Allah died and the matter remained the identical. [Sahih al-Bukhari 2012]
This cautious strategy was according to the Prophet’s behavior of typically leaving sure good deeds, despite the fact that he liked them, fearing they could develop into obligatory for the folks. Because it was narrated by A’isha, that “Allah’s Messenger used to surrender deed, though he liked to do it, for concern that folks may act on it and it could be made obligatory for them.” [Sahih al-Bukhari 1128]
So what he did in Ramadan was a continuation of that behavior. He didn’t proceed praying so it wouldn’t be obligatory upon the folks.
How Many Rakat Did the Prophet Pray at Night time?
As talked about in a earlier hadith by A’isha , the Prophet used to hope eight Rakats each in Ramadan and out of doors of it. This observe is additional affirmed by a narration from Jabir bin Abdullah , who particularly talked about the variety of Rakat that the Prophet prayed in Ramadan. Jabir Bin Abdullah stated that “the Prophet ﷺ led us in prayer in Ramadan eight Rakat then on the next night time we gathered however he didn’t come out to us until morning. When he was requested he stated ‘I used to be afraid it will be written upon you,’ that means it will develop into obligatory upon you.”
Night time Prayers After the Prophet’s Loss of life
After the passing of the Prophet , folks continued to hope night time prayers both individually or in separate teams.
This sample continued in the course of the time of Abu Bakr , and the early time of Omar, could Allah be happy with him.
First Taraweeh on the Time of Omar Ibn Al-Khattab
The choice of the Prophet to not collect folks below one Imam for night time prayers, fearing its potential obligation on the Ummah, not utilized after his demise. With the institution of the Sharia, this concern ceased to exist. Omar ibn Al-Khattab acknowledged this modification in circumstances and, consequently, initiated the congregational Taraweeh prayer below one imam.
This choice marked a big shift from the earlier observe. The rationale behind the Prophet’s warning was not relevant, paving the best way for the group to come back collectively below a single Imam for the Taraweeh prayers in the course of the time of Omar ibn Al-Khattab .
Al-Bukhaari narrated from ‘Abd ar-Rahmaan ibn ‘Abd al-Qaari’ that he stated: ‘I went out with ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab (could Allah be happy with him) one night time in Ramadan to the mosque, the place we noticed the folks in scattered teams, one man praying by himself, and one other man praying with a bunch of individuals following his prayer. ‘Umar stated: “I believe that if I unite these folks behind one reciter, will probably be higher.” Then he determined to try this, so he united them behind Ubayy ibn Ka‘b.’ [Sahih al-Bukhari 2010]
Imam Attabary, talked about in his historical past guide, that this occurred within the 12 months 14H round 636 A.D. Then Omar despatched a letter to different cities asking them to hope night time prayers below one Imam within the mosques.
Was Taraweeh Invented by Omar?
There could be a false impression amongst some that Taraweeh prayer was established by Omar ibn Al-Khattab . Nonetheless, it’s essential to make clear that Taraweeh was initiated by the Prophet .
After the passing of the Prophet , the preliminary concern of Taraweeh changing into compulsory not existed.
Omar ibn Al-Khattab , recognizing this modification, gathered the folks below one Imam for Taraweeh prayers. This motion didn’t invent the prayer itself however reasonably organized the group in congregational worship.
The time period Taraweeh, derived from the Arabic phrase “Tarweeh,” that means ‘relaxation’, probably got here into use throughout or after the period of Omar . Sadly, I used to be not capable of finding stable proof of when the utilization of the time period Taraweeh started.
The names for voluntary night time prayers as used within the Quran and hadith are known as night time prayer (Salat al-Layl), Tahajjud, Qiyam, or Qiyam Ramadan. Taraweeh is the plural of the Arabic phrase Tarweeh, that means relaxation. Worshippers used to have interaction in prolonged Rakat and take breaks in between, giving rise to the identify Taraweeh.
How Many Rakat Did Muslims Pray on the Time of Omar ?
It was narrated by Imam Malik in his Guide al-Moata, that Sayeb ibn Yazeed stated that Omar Ibn Al-Khattab ordered Obai Ibn Kaab and Tamim Advert-Dary to guide folks with 11 Rakat. He stated the Qari (Imam) used to learn 100’s of Ayat and we used to lean on sticks as a result of the standing can be too lengthy and we used to go away at Fajr time
جاء في موطأ مالك: عن محمد بن يوسف عن السائب بن يزيد أنه قال:” أمر عمر بن الخطاب أبي بن كعب وتميماً الداري أن يقوما للناس بإحدى عشرة ركعة ” قال:” وقد كان القارئ يقرأ بالمئين حتى كنا نعتمد على العصيّ من طول القيام وما كنا ننصرف إلا في بزوغ الفجر “.
But in one other narration by Abdlrazaq it was stated that that Omar Ibn Al-Khattab unified the prayer below Obai Ibn Kaab and Tamim Advert-Dary on 21 Rakat and used to learn 100’s of Ayat and used to go away at Fajr time
أخرج عبد الرزاق في مصنفه عن داود بن قيس وغيره، عن محمد بن يوسف عن السائب بن يزيد أن عمر جمع الناس في رمضان على أبي بن كعب، وعلى تميم الداري على إحدى وعشرين ركعة يقرأون بالمئين وينصرفون عند بزوغ الفجر
ولمالك في الموطأ عن يزيد بن رومان قال: “كان الناس في زمن عمر يقومون في رمضان بثلاث وعشرين ركعة”
In his guide Taraweeh Prayer, Mohamed Diyurahman al-Aazami, stated: “The extra genuine narration is that Omar ordered Obai Ibn Kaat to lease folks with prayer eight Rakat, that is confirmed with the motion of the Prophet, peace be upon him.”
It seems from varied narrations that originally, Ubayy ibn Ka’b started main the congregation with eight Rakat. Nonetheless, over time, they elevated the quantity to twenty Rakat.
Whereas the Prophet himself prayed eight Rakat, there isn’t any file of him prohibiting folks from praying extra. This flexibility within the variety of Rakat is clear within the practices of the Sahaba and the primary three generations of Muslims, as indicated by the under hadith.
Ibn Umar narrated that when an individual requested the Messenger of Allah in regards to the night time prayer. He replied, “The night time prayer is obtainable as two Rakat adopted by two Rakat and so forth and if anybody is afraid of the approaching daybreak (Fajr prayer) he ought to pray one Raka and this can be a Witr for all of the Rakat which he has prayed earlier than. [Sahih al-Bukhari 990]
As of this hadith, the night time prayer must be supplied on two Rakat adopted by two Rakat with out specification for a restricted quantity.
From Eight to Twenty
The Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad initially concerned praying eight Rakat in the course of the Night time Prayer, and these had been notably lengthy prayers. Nonetheless, because the size of the eight Rakat grew to become difficult for some folks, a shift occurred in the direction of praying extra Rakat with shorter recitations.
Opposite to a typical fashionable false impression that eight Rakat is shorter and simpler than twenty, historic proof means that the preliminary understanding was totally different. Dawood Ibn Al-Husain heard the Aaraj saying: The Imam used to hope Surah al-Baqarah in eight Rakat. If the Imam unfold the recitation over twelve Rakat, folks perceived it as a lightening of the prayers.
عن داود بن الحصين أنه سمع الأعرج يقول: وكان القارئ يقرأ سورة البقرة في ثمان ركعات، فإذا قام بها في اثنتي عشرة ركعة رأى الناس أنه قد خفف
The essence of following the Sunnah just isn’t merely in adhering to a particular quantity, however, extra importantly, in replicating the profound size and devotion exemplified by the Prophet . It’s essential to grasp that the Sunnah is about providing eight Rakat with substantial size reasonably than merely finishing eight quick Rakat.
Throughout the time of Umar ibn al-Khattab , the variety of Rakat elevated from eight to twenty, not as an try and supersede the Sunnah however to accommodate the folks’s wants. This adjustment aimed to make the prayers extra manageable by introducing shorter Rakat and intervals between them. The identify “Taraweeh” itself is derived from the remainder or break between these prayers, emphasizing the considerate consideration given to the worshipers’ consolation and comfort.
Taraweeh in Makkah and Madina
Within the early days, the folks of Madina and Makkah each noticed Taraweeh prayers with twenty Rakat, taking a break after each 4 Rakat. Nonetheless, a novel custom emerged in Makkah, the place in the course of the breaks, worshippers would carry out Tawaf across the Ka’abah. Looking for to match this particular observe, the folks of Madina elevated the variety of Rakat to thirty-six, changing the 4 occasions of Tawaf with an extra 4 Rakat for every Tawaf. Imam Nawawi and different students have documented this historic improvement.
Imam Shafi stated “I’ve seen the folks of Madina praying thirty-nine Rakat and folks of Makkah twenty-three Rakat. All these are high-quality.” He additionally stated, “In the event that they made the standing longer and Rakat much less, that is high-quality. In the event that they made the Rakat extra and the recitation lighter that can also be good however the first possibility is extra beloved to me.”
By this time, the widespread observe throughout main Islamic cities was to hope twenty Rakat, except Madinah, the place they noticed thirty-six Rakat throughout Taraweeh, and different exceptions the place folks prayed roughly than twenty Rakat.
Lovely Voices
Muslims have traditionally proven a choice for praying behind Imams endowed with lovely voices and deep focus of their prayers.
The imams of Taraweeh prayers weren’t solely Hafiz (those that memorized the Quran) however usually distinguished students and judges. Famend figures equivalent to Imam Attabary, a terrific scholar of Tafsir, Imam al-Qurtubi, Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, and different eminent students had been recognized for main Taraweeh prayers.
In his guide “The Historical past of Baghdad,” Alkhateeb al-Baghdadi narrates an incident the place Ibn Mujahid, upon listening to Imam Attabari lead Taraweeh in his mosque in Baghdad, remarked to his pupil, “I didn’t even know that Allah would create somebody who reads so completely.”
Historian Ibn al-Wardi stated: “I prayed Taraweeh behind Ibn Taymmiyya and have seen in his recitation such khushu (devotion) and heartfelt emotion that encompasses the hearts.”
Quite a few historians and Muslim vacationers who journeyed the world over documented the voices of Taraweeh Imams. As an illustration, al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar, in his guide “The Hidden Pearls of the Noble Folks of the eighth Century,” talked about Shamsu Deen Azzary Ibn al-Basal al-Muqri, and stated about him “He was with a really good voice and lots of Folks would come to him to hope behind him throughout Taraweeh prayers, and they might crowd in his mosque.
Current Period
In current occasions, a noticeable shift has occurred in Taraweeh prayers, with many Muslims worldwide nonetheless observing twenty Rakat. Nonetheless, there was a notable development the place the size of particular person Rakat has develop into extremely quick, usually consisting of only one verse of the Quran. Makkah maintained the custom of twenty Rakat, however with a number of teams praying concurrently. Some historians even point out 4 separate congregations in Makkah, every going through the Ka’bah from a distinct path.
In Madina, the observe continued with thirty-six Rakat, often led by a number of Imams and teams concurrently. This continued till the Saudi authorities assumed management of Makkah and Madina, unifying the prayers below one Imam. The Taraweeh prayers had been additionally standardized to twenty Rakat in each holy Mosques.
Throughout the Muslim world, many mosques adhere to the custom of twenty Rakat, whereas others proceed with eight Rakat. The variations mirror the variety of practices amongst totally different communities.
Ibn Taymiyyah stated “The most effective strategy varies in keeping with the situations of the worshippers. If they’ve the endurance for extended standing, then performing ten Rakat with three further ones, simply because the Prophet, could God bless him and grant him peace, used to hope for himself in Ramadan and at different occasions, is taken into account optimum. Nonetheless, in the event that they discover it difficult, then praying twenty Rakat is best, and this aligns with the observe adopted by nearly all of Muslims.”
The historical past of Taraweeh prayer displays the devotion of Muslim communities and their dedication to do further night time prayers. As we have interaction in Taraweeh in the course of the blessed month of Ramadan, allow us to cherish the wealthy historical past and traditions which have formed this particular act of worship. Might our prayers be a supply of reflection, forgiveness, and non secular development, embodying the spirit of unity and devotion that has characterised Taraweeh all through the centuries.
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