Until recently, I did not know that the matter of Taraweeh whether it is a bidat (innovation) or a valid form of worship is an ongoing intellectual war between different sects and scholars of Islam around the world. I sort of stumbled into the matter when I was trying to decide if I should offer Tahajjud prayer during the month of Ramadan as an extra effort to earn more rewards and closeness to Allah.

I have read almost a dozen of articles online to see if I find a solution to this problem. But with my amazement what I have found is that most of the authors of the articles on the subject were unclear and left some vague answers making the matter even worse and confusing. Therefore, I have dared to dig into this problem with an intention to find an acceptable and logical answer entirely based on sound authentic hadiths only.

For simplicity sake, I will use question and answer (Q&A) method addressing each issues as logically as possible so that the reader clearly understand the arguments and references presented here. To allow a quick check or lookup of the hadiths, I have used an online resource which is only a click away.

Q-1. Why we do not find the word “Taraweeh” anywhere in the original Islamic documents (i.e, the Qur’an and Sunnah)?

A-1. The prayer is referred to as the “Night Prayer” (Qiam-ul-layl) in the Qur’an and Sunnah, which basically is the Tahajjud prayer. A prayer was once publicly offered by our Prophet (s) in one Ramadan which was actually the Tahajjud prayer that he normally offered at home. One hadith indicates that he offered the prayer in a separate small room while another hadith says that room was a masjid. The name Taraweeh was invented by the followers when the Prophet (s) offered the prayer in public for few nights. He did not intend to make it a formal prayer and did not invite people to join him. It was the curious group of followers who stood behind him and followed him in that Tahajjud prayer without knowing what prayer he was offering and him knowing about it. When the Prophet (s) realized the matter he stopped offering the prayer publicly.

Narrated Zaid bin Thabit: Allah's Apostle made a small room in the month of Ramadan (Sa'id said, "I think that Zaid bin Thabit said that it was made of a mat" and he prayed there for a few nights, and so some of his companions prayed behind him. When he came to know about it, he kept on sitting. In the morning, he went out to them and said, "I have seen and understood what you did. You should pray in your houses, for the best prayer of a person is that which he prays in his house except the compulsory prayers." (Bukhari, Book #11, Hadith #698)

The following hadiths does not mention that this incident happened in the month of Ramadan, but considering the similarity of it with the above hadith we are assuming it happened in Ramadan -

Narrated 'Aisha, the mother of the faithful believers: 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. (Bukhari, Book #21, Hadith #229)

Narrated Aisha: Once in the middle of the night Allah's Apostle (p.b.u.h) went out and prayed in the mosque and some men prayed with him. The next morning the people spoke about it and so more people gathered and prayed with him (in the second night). They circulated the news in the morning, and so, on the third night the number of people increased greatly. Allah's Apostle (p.b.u.h) came out and they prayed behind him. On the fourth night the mosque was overwhelmed by the people till it could not accommodate them. Allah's Apostle came out only for the Fajr prayer and when he finished the prayer, he faced the people and recited "Tashah-hud" (I testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that Muhammad is His Apostle), and then said, "Amma ba'du. Verily your presence (in the mosque at night) was not hidden from me, but I was afraid that this prayer (Prayer of tahajjud) might be made compulsory and you might not be able to carry it out." (Bukhari, Book #13, Hadith #46)

Q-2. Then is Taraweeh actually a Tahajjud prayer?
A-2. Yes, it is. In the month of Ramadan, Tahajjud is called Taraweeh. We can be certain about this from the following hadith that confirms the unchanged nature of the prayer of the Prophet (s) throughout the year –

Narrated Abu Salma bin 'Abdur Rahman: 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'!" (Bukhari, Book #21, Hadith #248)

Narrated Abu Salama bin 'Abdur Rahman: that he asked 'Aisha "How was the prayer of Allah's Apostle in Ramadan?" She replied, "He did not pray more than eleven Rakat in Ramadan or in any other month. He used to pray four Rakat ---- let alone their beauty and length----and then he would pray four ----let alone their beauty and length ----and then he would pray three Rakat (Witr)." She added, "I asked, 'O Allah's Apostle! Do you sleep before praying the Witr?' He replied, 'O 'Aisha! My eyes sleep but my heart does not sleep." (Bukhari, Book #32, Hadith #230)

Q-3. Is Witr (or Beter) part of Tahajjud?
A-3. The witr prayer that we offer at the end of Isha prayer is actually a part of the Tahajjud prayer. Witr prayer was mandated on ummah by the Prophet (s) himself during his time. Practice then was to offer one rakat of witr after Isha. Later many adopted three rakat, which was also an occasional practice of the Prophet (s). The following hadith confirms it –

Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Umar : The Prophet said, "Night prayer is offered as two Rakat followed by two Rakat and so on, and if you want to finish it, pray only one Raka which will be witr for all the previous Rakat." Al-Qasim said, "Since we attained the age of puberty we have seen some people offering a three-Rakat prayer as witr and all that is permissible. I hope there will be no harm in it." (Bukhari, Book #16, Hadith #107)

Although the Prophet (s) advocated for mostly one rakat of witr, but he himself used to offer three rakats most of the time making the total rakat eleven (meaning, eight rakat of Tahajjud and three rakats of witr), not nine; as we have seen in the hadiths quoted in answer two above. In some other hadith we find that our Prophet (s) even occasionally offered odd numbers of 5, 7 and even 9 rakats of witr.

Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah has ninety-nine Names, i.e., one hundred minus one, and whoever believes in their meanings and acts accordingly, will enter Paradise; and Allah is witr (one) and loves 'the witr' (i.e., odd numbers). (Bukhari, Book #75, Hadith #419)

Narrated 'Aisha, The Prophet (p.b.u.h) used to offer thirteen Rakat of the night prayer and that included the witr and two Rakat (Sunna) of the Fajr prayer. (Bukhari, Book #21, Hadith #241)

The difference between a Maghrib prayer and a three rakat witr prayer is that there is no tashahhud after the 2nd rakat and the prayer continues to the 3rd rakat with recitation of dua Qunut before ruku. He always offered the Sunnah or nafl prayers at home and only the fard prayers were offered at the masjid in congregation. There are plenty of hadiths reflecting this matter.

Q-4. What is a Tahajjud prayer?
A-4. We can call this the sixth compulsory prayer as mentioned in the Qur’an as an “additional” prayer, but made this prayer compulsory for the Prophet (s) only –
And pray in the small watches of the morning: (it would be) an additional prayer (or spiritual profit) for thee: soon will thy Lord raise thee to a Station of Praise and Glory! (Al-Isra, Chapter #17, Verse #79)

Yet, he missed it few times –
Narrated Jundab: The Prophet became sick and did not get up (for tahajjud prayer) for a night or two. (Bukhari, Book #21, Hadith #224)

Tahajjud time?
Narrated Masruq: I asked 'Aisha "What deed was the most beloved to the Prophet?" She said, "The regular constant one." I said, "At what time did he use to get up at night (for the tahajjud night prayer)?' She said, "He used to get up on hearing (the crowing of) the cock (the last third of the night)." (Bukhari, Book #76, Hadith #468)

Many among the followers of the Prophet (s) also used to offer this prayer after midnight and before fajr time ending it with the witr prayer of one or three rakats. Those who did not offer this prayer regularly were allowed to offer the witr prayer after the isha prayer, which is basically a part of thahjjud prayer; thus making it indirectly compulsory on the ummah. Technically, we offer six compulsory or fard prayers, sixth one being the witr prayer that we offer at the end of isha prayer as a concluding prayer for the day.

Narrated Ibn Abu Mulaika: Muawiya offered one Rak'a witr prayer after the 'Isha prayer, and at that time a freed slave of Ibn 'Abbas was present. He (i.e. the slave) went to Ibn 'Abbas (and told him that Muawiya offered one Rak'a witr prayer). Ibn Abbas said, "Leave him, for he was in the company of Allah's Apostle." (Bukhari, Book #57, Hadith #108)

Q-5. Then how did the Taraweeh prayer get started?

A-5. Taraweeh prayer got started accidentally when our Prophet (s) offered the Tahajjud prayer publicly. Then he stopped it fearing that the prayer may become an obligation for the ummah. The hadith that relates to this is matter are quoted in answer one above.

Another hadith that refers to this prayer is -
Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle said: "Whoever establishes prayers during the nights of Ramadan faithfully out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah's rewards (not for showing off), all his past sins will be forgiven." (Bukhari, Book #2, Hadith #36)

By “establishes prayers during the nights of Ramadan” the Prophet (s) is indicating to the Tahajjud prayer, which is later known as Taraweeh prayer. During Ramadan, Tahajjud prayer is substituted as Tawareeh prayer, which is essentially the same prayer offered in the same manner without any change as we have seen in the hadith quoted in answer two.

It was during the time of Umar bin Al-Khattab’s (ra) caliphate this prayer was allowed to offer in an organized manner as we find today. The following hadith reveals some crucial information -

Narrated Abu Huraira: 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. Nawafil 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, but 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." (Bukhari, Book #32, Hadith #227)

Points to note here is –

Taraweeh – in the manner and time frame of Tahajjud was offered during the time of the Prophet (s), but it was a nafal (optional) prayer; and not considered a “sunnah” as some scholar claims.
The prayer was offered in private and not in congregation.
During Umar’s (ra) caliphate a situation arose when a decision on formalizing the prayer became necessary. He basically had two choices: a. Disallow the prayer in congregation calling it a bidat; b. Allow it in an organizing manner. He did the latter.
By allowing the prayer in an organized manner, he did realize and acknowledge that he has initiated an innovation (bidat), which he called “an excellent Bid'a”.
There is no record of Umar (ra) or any of the other four rightly guided caliphs participated in this prayer after the re-organization.

In my readings of many different articles on this subject I have found some authors defending Umar (ra) for this innovation by trying to change the platform from bidat to revival of a Sunnah.

Let’s face the facts again; the additional prayer during Ramadan (i.e., Tahajud) was in practice at the individual level; therefore, Umar (ra) did not revive any lost Sunnah. What he basically did is formalized the prayer in an organized manner to avoid possible chaos that could have arisen.

As a “rightly guided caliph” and as a close companion of the Prophet (s) what he did is an act of a true and able leadership to keep the peace and unity of ummah after the problems and turmoil faced by the earlier caliph Abu Bakar (ra). Besides, Islam permits such acts as we find in the following hadith -

Narrated Ibn Abi Mulaika: Somebody said to Ibn 'Abbas, "Can you speak to the chief of the believers Muwaiya, as he does not pray except one Rak'a as witr?" Ibn 'Abbas replied, "He is a Faqih (i.e. a learned man who can give religious verdicts)." (Bukahri, Book #57, Hadith #109)

On the other hand, Umar (ra) was one of those companions who have been declared by the Prophet (s) who are guaranteed paradise –

Narrated Jabir: The Prophet, said, "I entered paradise and saw a palace and asked whose palace is this? They (the Angels) said, "This palace belongs to 'umar bin Al-Khattab.' I intended to enter it, and nothing stopped me except my knowledge about your sense of Ghira (self-respect (O umar)." 'umar said, "O Allah's Apostle! Let my father and mother be sacrificed for you! O Allah's Prophet! How dare I think of my Ghira (self-respect) being offended by you?" (Bukhari, Book #62, Hadith #153)

Then how can such a person allow bidat which is prohibited in Islam and still be in paradise? Well, technically he did not innovate anything rather allowed expansion of a short demonstration shown by the Prophet (s) in those days of publicly offering of Tahajjud in a masjid. Taraweeh / Tahajjud is still an optional (i.e., nafl, not Sunnah) prayer in Ramadan but of high importance.

Please read the concluding part here:http://javedahmad.tripod.com/islam/taraweeh.htm