The Authenticity Of The Twenty Raka'ats Of Taraaweeh In Light Of Authentic Ahadith

Taraaweeh Salaah is Sunnat-e-Mu’akkadah (an emphasised Sunnah). The number of Rak‘aat in Taraaweeh is twenty, and these twenty Rak‘aat are established from the practice of the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلمand the Noble Companions RadiAllahu Anhum Ajma'een. For this reason, the Taabi‘een, the Taba‘ Taabi‘een, and the great Mujtahid Imams, namely Imam A‘zam Abu Hanifa, Imam Shaafi‘i, and Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal RadiAllahu Anhum all held the view that Taraaweeh consists of twenty Rak‘aat. According to one narration, even Imam Malik RadiAllahu Anhu also maintained that Taraaweeh is twenty Rak‘aat. None of these four rightly guided Imams ever adopted a position of less than twenty rak‘aat for Taraaweeh. This is the position of the overwhelming majority of scholars, and from the East to the West, the entire Muslim Ummah has continued to practice upon this view up to the present day. Now, kindly consider a few authentic Ahadith which establish that Taraaweeh consists of twenty Rak‘aat.

It is established from the Noble Ahadith that Taraaweeh Salaah consists of twenty Raka'ats, as reported by Imam Bayhaqi in AlMa‘rifah with an authentic chain of narration from Hazrat Sa'ib bin Yazeed RadiAllahu Anhu:

Translation: Hazrat Sa'ib bin Yazeed RadiAllahu Anhu said: During the time of Hazrat Umar bin Khattaab RadiAllahu Anhu, we used to perform twenty Raka'ats (of Taraaweeh Salaah) and Witr. The chain of this narration has been declared authentic by Imam Nawawi and Imam Suyuti, among others. (As-SunanulBayhaqi, Volume 2, Page 496/Saheehul Bihari, Page 598) It is also narrated from Hazrat Yazeed bin Rumaan RadiAllahu Anhu:

Translation: During the time of Hazrat Umar RadiAllahu Anhu, people used to perform twenty-three Raka'ats in Ramadaan, that is, twenty Raka'ats of Taraaweeh and three Raka'ats of Witr. (Mu'atta Imam Malik, Page 40, As-Sunanul-Bayhaqi, Volume 2, Page 699/Saheehul Bihari, Page 598) It is reported from Hazrat Abdul Azeez bin Rafee:

Translation: Hazrat Ubay bin Kaab RadiAllahu Anhu would lead the people of Madinah Shareef in twenty Raka'ats during Ramadaan, followed by three Raka'ats of Witr. (Musannaf Ibn e Abi Shaibah, Volume 2, Page 163) The narrators in both of the above reports are all reliable. Hence, the Muhadditheen have stated that these Mursal narrations are strong (i.e. sound). It is narrated from Hazrat Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbaas RadiAllahu Anhuma:

Translation: The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلمused to perform twenty Raka'ats in Ramadaan apart from Witr. (Musannaf Ibn e Abi Shaibah, Volume 2, Page 163, As-Sunanul-Bayhaqi, Volume 2, Page 698/Saheehul Bihari, Page 598) It is narrated from Hazrat Abul Hasna RadiAllahu Anhu:

Translation: Hazrat Ali RadiAllahu Anhu instructed a man to lead the people in Ramadaan in five Tarweehahs (sets of four Raka'ats), totalling twenty Raka'ats. (Musannaf Ibn e Abi Shaibah, Volume 2, Page 163, As-Sunanul-Bayhaqi, Volume 2, Page 699/Saheehul Bihari 598)

It is reported from Hazrat Abul Khusaib RadiAllahu Anhu that he said:

Translation: Hazrat Suwaid bin Ghaflah RadiAllahu Anhu used to lead us in Ramadaan, performing five Tarweehahs, that is twenty Raka'ats. (As-Sunanul-Bayhaqi, Volume 2, Page 699) The Muhadditheen have graded this narration as Hasan. Hazrat Nafi bin Umar RadiAllahu Anhu said:

Translation: Hazrat Ibn Abi Mulaikah RadiAllahu Anhu used to lead us in twenty Raka'ats during Ramadaan. (Musannaf Ibn e Abi Shaibah, Volume 2, Page 163) This narration is authentic. The eminent and well-known Taabi‘i Hazrat Ata bin Abi Rabaah RadiAllahu Anhu said:

Translation: I found the people performing twenty-three Raka'ats, including Witr. (Musannaf Ibn e Abi Shaibah, Volume 2, Page 163) These authentic narrations collectively demonstrate that the practice of performing twenty Raka'ats of Taraweeh Salaah

was firmly established during the era of the Noble Companions RadiAllahu Anhum, particularly in the time of Hazrat Umar RadiAllahu Anhu, and this practice was kept well established by the leading Companions and Taabi‘een thereafter.

In Summary: There is a consensus (Ijmaa) of the Noble Companions RadiAllahu Anhum upon the performance of twenty Raka'ats of Taraaweeh. As Allamah Alaa'uddeen Kasaani Alaihir Rahmah writes:

Translation: Hazrat Umar bin Khattaab RadiAllahu Anhu gathered the Companions of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلمin the month of Ramadaan behind Hazrat Ubay bin Kaab RadiAllahu Anhu. He would lead them in twenty Raka'ats every night, and no one objected to this. Thus, this became a consensus from them upon twenty Raka'ats of Taraaweeh. (Badaai us Sanaai, Volume 1, Page 288) Likewise, Ibn e Qudaamah writes in Mughni (Volume 1, Page 803):

“This is like (equivalent to) an Ijmaa (consensus).” For this reason, the Four Imams, Imam-e-A'zam Abu Hanifah, Imam Malik bin Anas, Imam Muhammad bin Idris Shaafi’i, and Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal RadiAllahu Anhum are united upon the ruling of twenty Raka'ats of Taraaweeh, as is clearly evident from their respective works of fiqh.

The agreement of the Four Imams itself serves as a decisive proof that the ruling of twenty Raka'ats has been transmitted continuously (Tawaatur) from the era of the righteous predecessors. Matters that are conveyed with uninterrupted transmission from the Rightly Guided Caliphs, and which have been upheld as the consistent practice (Ta‘aamul) of the Ummah of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلمfrom that time until today, are not in need of further evidentiary support. Their continuous and mass transmission itself is sufficient and compelling proof. “The sun itself is proof of the sun.” Conclusion: From the Noble Ahadith, the reports of the Noble Companions, and their consensus, it becomes as clear as the brightness of day that the performance of twenty Raka'ats of Taraaweeh is a confirmed Sunnah (Sunnat-e-Mu’akkadah).