Number of Rak’ahs in Taraweeh, Adil Salahi

Number of Rak’ahs in Taraweeh

Adil Salahi

Arab News, 10/26/04

Q. In my home country, India, Taraweeh prayer is offered in 20 rak’ahs in most mosques. The same is the case in the two sacred mosques of Makkah and Madinah. However, in most mosques in Saudi Arabia it is offered in 8 rak’ahs only. This difference has become confusing for us. Can you please explain which is the proper way of offering this prayer?

B.M. Khaleel, Dammam

A. To start with, Taraweeh, which is the name given to night worship in Ramadan, is a Sunnah, which means that it is voluntary, not obligatory. This means that there is much leeway and flexibility with regard to offering this prayer. The difference you speak about is found all over the Muslim world. Yet it is a healthy difference, which should not confuse anyone. Night worship may be offered on any day, in any number of rak’ahs, because it is voluntary. Yet in Ramadan it is more emphasized because the Prophet (peace be upon him) gave it a special stress. Nevertheless, it may be offered in any number of rak’ahs, with a minimum of two and no maximum. However, the general practice is to offer it in either 8 or 20 rak’ahs.

Those who offer only 8 rak’ahs rely on the Hadith in which Aishah reports that the Prophet never prayed more than 11 or 13 rak’ahs of night worship on any day, in Ramadan or at any other time. These two figures add the three rak’ahs of witr offered after Taraweeh, and the higher figure adds two short rak’ahs of Sunnah before Taraweeh.

The other view relies on the practice of the Prophet’s companions when Umar saw different groups offering this night worship in the mosque at the same time. He did not like that there should be more than one congregation offering this prayer at the same time. He appointed Ubayy ibn Kaab to lead the prayer and asked all those in the mosque to join him in congregation. This was immediately adopted. Ubayy was chosen because he was one of the best reciters of the Qur’an among the Prophet’s companions. Ubayy led this prayer every night, offering 20 rak’ahs in Taraweeh. Since none of the Prophet’s companions objected, this was considered a unanimous decision which is a valid evidence.

The proper attitude is to join the imam in the mosque in whichever form he decides. If you wish to add more afterward, this is open to you. This is what happens in the two sacred mosques in the last ten days of the month.

Investment in Government Schemes

Q. When the government of a Muslim country wants to borrow money from the public, it issues investment certificates with certain conditions. It pays fixed rates of profits at regular intervals, and then when the certificates mature, normally after 3 or 5 years, it pays the principal and any profits, but it deducts zakah. Is this way of investment acceptable from the Islamic point of view?

S. Ali

A. The problem with such schemes is that it is often difficult to put them in a business format. Does the government issue these certificate as merely a documentation of borrowing? In other words, are they bonds certifying indebtedness? Or, are they a token of investment? If the government says the latter, it is well known that a government is not engaged in business which brings in profits. At the same time, the government undertakes projects which have an effect on trade and business, facilitating prosperity, and bringing in more government income. But this income does not come directly from such projects, it is an indirect effect. Thus, there can be no question of profit sharing in such an investment. Hence, the government must give a fixed rate. On the other hand, if the certificates are bonds, then those who buy them are at a difficult position, because they are lending their money to the government and receiving more than the capital they give. In a loan transaction, the lender cannot get more than the amount he lends. This is what God says in the Qur’an: “If you repent, however, you shall remain entitled to your principal. Thus, you shall commit no wrong, nor suffer any wrong yourselves.” (2: 279)

To explain, the repentance referred to here is repentance of having engaged in usury. The regret should be coupled with getting back only the principal.

To sum up, if the transaction is one of giving a loan, guaranteed by bonds, then the profit given is usurious, which means that it is forbidden. If it is an investment, the government may decide a fixed rate of profit to make it more convenient for people.

Cutting Hair After Umrah

Q.1. Most people cut some of their hair short when they have completed the other duties of Umrah in order to release themselves from consecration. However, some people maintain that this is not sufficient and it is necessary to shave all one’s head. Please explain.

Q.2. Is it permissible to use contraceptive methods in order to delay child birth?

A. Cader

A.1. Release from the state of consecration is marked by performing the duty of either shaving one’s head or cutting part of one’s hair. A woman cuts a small part of her hair by about an inch. A man has the choice. Certainly shaving one’s head is better, because the Prophet (peace be upon him) prayed for those who shave their heads three times before he included the ones who cut their hair short. The choice is mentioned in the Qur’an, Surah 48, Verse 27. Thus, no one can deny it. If anyone says that shaving is obligatory, then he is making a wrong claim.

A.2. The use of contraceptives is permissible, provided that the method used is safe. This is clearly stated in the Hadith reported by Jabir, saying: “We used to resort to contraception at the time when the Qur’an was being revealed.” This means that had contraception been forbidden, its prohibition would have been included in the Qur’an or in a definitive Hadith. Since we do not have such a statement, then it is permissible. As for the other practice the reader mentions in this regard, it is permissible.

Abolition of Slavery

Q. Did Islam abolish slavery? Does slavery compare with what happens to prisoners of war these days?

H. Manham

A. Islam put in place mechanisms which would have ensured the abolition of slavery in a short period of time. Things did not develop in that way for different reasons which history may clarify. However, Islam also made legislation to ensure that slaves receive kind treatment, whereby their humanity is respected, and they have the chance to buy their own freedom. Islam has nothing to be ashamed of with respect to its approach to slavery. In fact, it was the first system ever in human history to work for its abolition.

Today’s prisoners of war do not have the same status as slaves of former times, although the way some countries treat the prisoners they take in war is reminiscent of the worst type of slavery. This applies even to the most so-called civilized countries of our times. They deprive prisoners of war of even the most basic of their human rights, contravening not only international conventions, but also the laws they operate in their own countries.

Earth, a planet hungry for peace

Apartheid Wall


The Israeli Land-Grab Apartheid Wall built inside the Palestinian territories, here separating Abu Dis from occupied East Jerusalem. (IPC, 7/4/04).

The Israeli apartheid (security) wall around Palestinian population centers in the West Bank, like a Python. (Alquds,10/25/03).

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