The connection between the revelation of the holy Qur`aan and the holy month of Ramadaan
Exegetical scholars have specified in their works that the revelation of the holy Qur`aan has a special connection with the month of Ramadaan. Allah (s.w.t.) has bestowed upon us a great decree. It is a gift, a great blessing which shall be the clear source of guidance for all humanity until the day of reckoning. It was the habit of the companions of the holy prophet, (May Allah be pleased with them all) that they attached the events, which led to their accepting Islam, to their lives. Such stories are found abundantly in the books of seerah. Therefore, we too must attach ourselves to this great bestowal (i.e. revelation of the Qur`aan) and to express the gratitude towards Allah (s.w.t.) for this great blessing, completion of one reading of the holy Qur`aan [khatma] in the taraawee'h prayer has been resolved to be a stressed sunnah [ Sunnat-e-Mu`akidah].
It is recorded in Baihaqi that
i.e. Qur`aan will plead "Oh lord! I kept him busy with my recitation. He abstained from sleeping. Therefore, please accept my intercession in his favor (Forgive his sins) ". In this report too, "abstaining from sleeping (in the night)" indicates "the recitation of the entire Qur`aan" in the holy month of Ramadaan.
Taraawee'h as a sunnah of the holy prophet (s.a.w.)
Some people think that Taraawee'h is not a sunnah of the holy prophet (s.a.w.). These are mere misconceptions because the prophet (s.a.w.) himself led the Taraawee'h prayer and he liked this deed profoundly but due to the fear that his people would take it as an obligatory act he (s.a.w.) did not lead the prayer with regularity. However, the companions kept offering it individually (Ease upon the ummah was always kept in mind). This continued during the caliphate of Abu Bakr (r.a.a.) but Hadrath Umar (r.a.a.) did not like the offering of Taraawee'h individually so he reinstated the congregational Taraawee'h.
Ghair Mukhallideen raise an objection to this act of Hadrath Umar (r.a.a.) while Raafidhites are in dispute with it.
However, we need not care about their notions because Hadrath Umar (r.a.a.) gathered all the companions and his decision was based on their unanimous opinion. Therefore, it makes no sense to raise objections or rebuke this action of Hadrath Umar (r.a.a.).
Moreover the holy prophet (s.a.w.) had said,
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i.e. after me there will be some innovations, and I like those innovated by Umar. You should necessarily adhere to them (dutifully).
The truth is that the notions of those who do not agree upon this are nothing but a product of enmity and bigotry.
Considering the company of the holy prophet (s.a.w.) and his blessings that had their effects on Hadrath Umar (r.a.a.) and the eminent ability of Hadrath Umar (r.a.a.) to perceive and comprehend the words of the holy prophet (s.a.w.) and his familiarity with the disposition of Shariah, he was undoubtedly justified in his decision.
This argument about the high rank of Hadrath Umar is further strengthened by the fact that his opinions concurred with the divine will of Allah (s.w.t), at numerous occasions to which the exegetical scholars call "Muwafiqaath-e-umar".
Number of rak'ah in Taraawee'h
Some people think that Taraawee'h comprises of eight raka'aah only. This is not correct . In the unanimous opinion of all the Imams , Taraawee'h consists of twenty raka'aah.Although no Imam agreed upon less than twenty raka'aah, Imam Malik holds an opinion of 32 raka'aah. This means that in the consensus of all the Imams no one agrees upon less than twenty raka'aah.
Moreover, we can know from Ibn Abbaas's narration that he led taraawee'h for two or three nights during which he offered twenty raka'aah . The companions of the holy prophet (s.a.w.) performed according to his saying
and presented themselves as excellent examples to be followed. They had not only recorded the actions of the holy prophet (s.a.w.) but also went on imitating his actions. They did us a great favor by providing us with valuable traditions that will be the source of guidance (for all of us) until the end of this world.
The variation in the number of raka'aah in the section of Taraawee'h is only due to misinterpretation of Qiyaam-al-lail as Tahajjud and not Taraawee'h and the premise that, " as the holy prophet (s.a.w.) has most probably offered tahajjud in 8 raka'aah, therefore, Taraawee'h should also be offered in 8 raka'aah ".
To eliminate the misconceptions held by some people, we shall present here the routines followed by the holy prophet (s.a.w.) himself, the rightly guided caliphs and other companions during the month of Ramadaan.
We shall provide some information regarding the reinstatement of the congregational Taraawee'h during the caliphate of Hadrath Umar (r.a.a.) so that people may know the fact that the only reason that stopped the holy prophet (s.a.w.) from leading the congregational Taraawee'h was that he was afraid that praying Taraawee'h in congregation might become obligatory upon his nation which might lead to hardship upon his ummah.
It is a sheer error in concluding that the congregational Taraawee'h is not at all proven by the practice of the holy prophet (s.a.w.) just because he did not lead it with regularity.
Below are some of the narrations with their corresponding references.
The Practice (of Muslims) during the period of the holy prophet (s.a.w.) and his companions (r.a.a.)
Hadrath Abdullah bin Abbaas reported, "The holy prophet (s.a.w.) led us in twenty raka'aah congregational prayer of Taraawee'h. There should be no doubt concerning the fact that after the death of the holy prophet (s.a.w.), Hadrath Abu Bakr (r.a.a.) was the first caliph and in the Taraawee'h section, none of his acts is recorded nor has he left anything for the ummah concerning this. This fact should also be considered that regarding his era and the era that follows him, the holy prophet (s.a.w.) had said i.e. the best era is mine, the next best after this one and the next one after that. Moreover the caliphate of Abu Bakr (r.a.a.) was of very short duration and he was busy curbing the revolt of the apostates [khaarijeen] . Therefore he did not consider it necessary for Taraawee'h to be offered in congregation. After him Hadrath Umar (r.a.a.) thought about protecting (Muslims) against the forthcoming circumstances and confusion and appointed Hadrath Ubai Ibn Ka'b as the Imam and reinstated this excellent form of congregation that accorded exactly with the will of the holy prophet (s.a.w.).
The prayer of Taraawee'h used to consist of twenty raka'aah during the caliphate of Hadrath Umar (r.a.a.) , Hadrath Uthmaan (r.a.a.) and Hadrath Ali (r.a.a.). Hadrath Ubai ibn Ka'b (r.a.a.) said that he used to lead twenty raka'aah of congregational prayer of Taraawee'h on the command of Hadrath Umar (r.a.a.). During the month of Ramadaan Hadrath Suwaid bin Ghaflah (r.a.a.) used to lead twenty raka'aah taraawee'h prayer in which he took five tarwee'hah (pauses) . <> Hadrath Ali (r.a.a.) commanded a companion to lead twenty raka'aah taraawee'h prayer with five tarwee'hah (pauses/intervals). <> There is a narration related to Hadrath Ali (r.a.a.) himself that he gathered all the reciters and commanded them to lead twenty raka'aah Taraawee'h prayer and after the congregational Taraawee'h, Hadrath Ali (r.a.a.) himself led them in witr. Hadrath Saa-ib bin yazeed (r.a.a.) said that during the caliphate of Hadrath Umar (r.a.a.), twenty raka'aah Taraawee'h prayer was offered . Hadrath Ubai Ibn Ka'b (r.a.a.) used to lead twenty raka'aah taraawee'h in the month of Ramadaan in the city of Madinah 'Sa'hibul Mi't-harah (nickname of Hadrath Abdullah b. Mas'ood (r.a.a.)) used to offer twenty raka'aah taraawee'h prayer <'Aini, qiyaamul-lail page 91 > Hadrath ubai ibn ka'b (r.a.a.) used to lead twenty raka'aah taraawee'h prayer in the month of Ramadaan Hadrath 'Ali ibn rabi`ah (r.a.a.) used to offer twenty raka'aah taraawee'h prayer which had five tarwee'hah (pauses/intervals)
The practice of the second and third generation Muslims
'Allaamah Nawawi (r.h.) of Shari'h Muslim (guide to Muslim Shareef) stated that only twenty raka'aah Taraawee'h is proven because there is a tawaatur (Having numerous chains of narrators) and tasalsul (Continuity) about "offering 20 raka'aah". Hadrath Haarith (r.h.) used to lead twenty raka'aah taraawee'h. Hadrath Shateer (r.h) used to lead twenty raka'aah taraawee'h prayer. 'Haafiz ibn 'hajar 'asqalaani (r.h.) of Shari'h Bukhari (Guide to Bukhari Shareef) said that twenty raka'aah in taraawee'h are proven by the actions of all the companions of the holy prophet (s.a.w.) 'Allaamah ibn 'Ikramah Hambali (r.h.) said that since the companions of the holy prophet (Both Muhajireen and Ansar) kept offering twenty raka'aah taraawee'h with regularity , this act is considered to be in Ijma' (consensus) 'Allaamah Ta'h`taawi wrote i.e. Twenty raka'aah are proven by regularity of the companions of the holy prophet (s.a.w.)
Taraawee'h should be offered by men as well as women
Raafidhites believe that taraawee'h is a sunnah, only for men and not for women. They have erred in it. Taraawee'h is a sunnah both for men and women.
Importance of the recitation of the entire Qur`aan
It is a stressed sunnah [sunnat-e-mu`akidah] to recite the entire Qur`aan [khatma] in the taraawee'h prayer extended throughout the month of Ramadaan. Islamic Jurists have specified in their works that if the Imam of a particular locality does not have the capacity to recite the entire Qur`aan then one must go to some other locality so that he can perform this sunnah of recitation of the entire Qur`aan. In such cases, it has been commanded to ignore the lethargy and laziness of people. However, ironically, most of the people do not realize the importance of the complete recitation of the Qur`aan.Some are those who make an excuse of being unable to free themselves from work and some offer just 8 raka'aah and leave the mosque due to which they miss the recitation in the remaining 12 raka'aah.
Taraawee'h and Recitation of the entire Qur`aan are two separate sunnah
Recitation of the entire Qur`aan (At least once) or listening to this recitation in the taraawee'h prayer during the holy month of Ramadaan is one sunnah while offering the taraawee'h prayer in twenty raka'aah daily throughout the month of Ramadaan is another sunnah. (Both for men and women).Those people who, without a valid excuse, recite only from
, are deprived of the great reward of the recitation of the entire Qur`aan while those who follow a memorizer to finish off by listening to the entire Qur`aan within 2 - 3 days and then offer no taraawee'h in the rest of the month are at loss too. Such people make an excuse that they would be busy in their businesses throughout the month so they offered prayer behind a memorizer who recited the complete Qur`aan in 3 -4 days and then carried on with their worldly matters. This is not proper. These people can at least do something like this. First they can offer taraawee'h with the entire Qur`aan in 3-4 days (with congregation) and then continue offering it individually for the rest of the month in which they can recite from itself. These people should realize the importance of the sunnah of offering the taraawee'h prayer daily after isha throughout the month of Ramadaan. Keep in mind that the struggle for Afterlife (Akhirah) is much better than the struggle for this world. 
The excellence of reciting more than one reading of Qur`aan
It is a stressed sunnah to recite one reading of Qur`aan in the blessed nights of Ramadaan, it is superior to recite another reading and it is excellent to recite the third reading. Those memorizers are highly fortunate who recite more than one reading of Qur`aan with composure, in a melodious and sweet voice. It is an excellent trait of obedience to Allah (s.w.t.).
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