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In
Exploring
Ramadan Part-I yesterday, we had seen the concept of moon
in Islamic Calendar and some of the important virtues of
Ramadan. Today, Maulana Izhar Bashir Madani, a graduate from the Islamic
University of Madinah and Incharge of Student Section at Jamia
Mohammadia Mansoora in Malegaon would briefly describe the virtues of
Tarawih, the Special Night Prayer that is normally offered in
congregation during Ramadan. The Excerpts:
Tarawih,
the Special Night Prayer is the first prayer that Muslims offer immediately after the new
moon pronounces the beginning of the Holy month Ramadan. Tarawih is
sunnah for both men and women, and they are to be performed after
the obligatory Isha prayer and before the performance of the witr.
They should be prayed in sets of two rakat each. It is allowed to
pray them after witr, though, this is not the best thing to do. They
may be performed until the end of the night.
The prayer that lasts for more than an hour is offered in
congregation. Men, women and children throng the mosques in their
vicinity to catch this important prayer.
Prophet Mohammad (peace and
blessings be upon him) during his lifetime had led this prayer in
congregation on three consecutive nights. On fourth, a large number
of companions were waiting for Prophet Mohammad (peace and blessings
be upon him) to lead the night prayer as he had done in last three
nights. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) however did
not come out. The next morning he said that the prayer that they
offered in congregation was enjoyed by the Almighty Allah so much so
that he feared the prayer would be made obligatory. This was why he
did not lead the prayer on fourth night. The incident is reported by Aisha, the respectable wife of the Prophet (peace and blessings be
upon him) and the mother of believers in Sahih Al Bukhari:
“One night
Allah's Apostle offered the prayer in the Mosque and the people
followed him. The next night he also offered the prayer and too many
people gathered. On the third and the fourth nights more people
gathered, but Allah's Apostle did not come out to them. In the
morning he said, 'I saw what you were doing and nothing but the fear
that it (i.e. the prayer) might be enjoined on you, stopped me from
coming to you.' And that happened in the month of Ramadan.”
(Sahih Al Bukhari,
Narrated by Aisha Siddiqua)
Before and
after this incident the companions of the Prophet (peace and
blessings be upon him) were used to offer this prayer individually
or in smaller groups. It continued even after his death and also
during the tenure of Abu Bakra, the first caliph. Second Caliph Omar
when he came in power however advised the people to offer Tarawih
in congregation. Since then the Muslim Ummah is offering this prayer
in congregation everywhere in the world. Imam Bukhari has reported
this in his Sahih:
Allah's
Apostle said, "Whoever prayed at night the whole month of Ramadan
out of sincere Faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all
his previous sins will be forgiven."
Ibn Shihab
(a sub-narrator) said, "Allah's Apostle died and the people
continued observing that (i.e. Tarawih offered individually, not in
congregation), and it remained as it was during the Caliphate of Abu
Bakr and in the early days of 'Umar's Caliphate."
'Abdur
Rahman bin 'Abdul Qari said, "I went out in the company of 'Umar bin
Al Khattab one night in Ramadan to the mosque and found the people
praying in different groups. A man praying alone or a man praying
with a little group behind him. So, 'Umar said, “In my opinion I
would better collect these (people) under the leadership of one qari
(reciter) (i.e. let them pray in congregation!).”
So, he made
up his mind to congregate them behind Ubai bin Ka'b. Then on another
night I went again in his company and the people were praying behind
their reciter. On that, 'Umar remarked, “What an excellent Bid'a
(i.e. innovation in religion) this is! But the prayer which they do
not perform, and sleep at its time is better than the one they are
offering.” He meant the prayer in the last part of the night. (In
those days) people used to pray in the early part of the night."
(Sahih Al Bukhari, Narrated by Abu
Huraira)
Tarawih, Qayamul Lail or Tahajjud
Tarawih is not
any new prayer that is offered in Ramadan. In fact this is same as
Tahajjud or Qayamul Lail or the Night Prayer that is
normally offered every night during the entire year. The companions
of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) were used to offer
this prayer in congregation, and for hours. So much so that some of
them were used to get exhausted. Hence what they would do. They
would offer four Rakah and then take rest for a while before
offering the remaining four Rakah. Due to this people started
referring this Tahajjud or Qayamul Lail in Ramadan as Tarawih, the
Arabic world that means taking rest.
Tarawih is
Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and
is not obligatory. It can be offered individually or in
congregation. If a person has memorized enough parts of the Holy
Quran, he can offer Tarawih alone if he wishes so. Those who cannot
recite from Quran, can join for Tarawaih so that they can at least
listen to the Holy Book.
It is believed
that Holy Quran had been descended on Prophet Mohammad (peace and
blessings be upon him) in Ramadan. It doesn't mean the entire Quran
was descended on the prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in
Ramadan. The Quran in fact has been descended on the prophet (peace
and blessings upon him) in parts. It was Ramadan when Mohammad
(peace and blessings be upon him) was made prophet and the first
five Ayah of Surah Alaq were recited to him. Recitation of the Holy Quran in
Ramadan hence becomes more significant, and part or whole of the Holy Quran is recited by Huffaz – the people who memorise the
Quran while offering Tarawih prayer.
Number of Rakat in
Tarawih
Prophet
Mohammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was used to offer the
night prayers for hours and during Ramadan or in other months he
used to offer eleven rakat as Tahajjud and Tarawih. Aisha the
respected wife of the prophet and the mother of the believers
confirmed this, as reported in Sahih Bukhari, in a very clear term:
I asked 'Aisha, "How is the prayer of Allah's
Apostle during the month of Ramadan." She said, "Allah's Apostle
never exceeded eleven Rakat in Ramadan or in other months; he used
to offer four Rakat – do not ask me about their beauty and length,
then four Rakat, do not ask me about their beauty and length, and
then three Rakat." Aisha further said, "I said, 'O Allah's Apostle!
Do you sleep before offering the Witr prayer?' He replied, 'O 'Aisha!
My eyes sleep but my heart remains awake!'
(Sahih Al Bukhari,
Narrated by Abu Salma bin Abdur Rahman)
So it is better
for us if we offer Tarawih lengthy and eleven rakat.
Some people think if they finish the
entire Quran in seven or ten or fifteen days, then they don't need
to pray Tarawih. This is wrong. Tarawih is nothing to do with the
complete recitation of Quran. It has to be offered during entire
Ramadan.
Moreover, those who have already offered
Tarawih prayer, they don't need to offer Qayamul Lail again as we
have already noted that Tarawih and Qayamul Lail are same and in
Ramadan as well as other months, the Prophet (peace and blessings be
upon him) never exceeded eleven rakat.
Let us pray that Allah Almighty grants
us the power to utilize these precious moments to seek forgiveness
from Him.
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