Ramadan Tips, Plans, & Challenge.

Day Eleven - Taraaweeh and its Issues

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Praying Taraaweeh in the masjid is much better than Taraaweeh at home.

It is much better for the brothers to pray Taraaweeh in the masjid.

That's because the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam) led the people in the masjid to pray Taraaweeh for three consecutive nights, as was narrated in Saheeh Bukhaari by Aaishah Radhi Allaahu anha.

Also that was the practice of Umar Radhi Allaahu anhu and the other Sahaabah because the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam) said:

"Whoever prays qiyaam with the imam until he leaves, it will be as if he spent the whole night in prayer."

(Tirmidhi-- saheeh by al-Albaani)

It was said to Ahmad ibn Hanbal:

"Do you prefer a man to pray with the people in Ramadhaan or on his own?

He said:

He should pray with the people." (Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi)

But Taraaweeh can also be prayed at home.

If some people cannot go to the masjid for some reason, they miss the Taraaweeh prayers all together thinking that it can only be prayed in the masjid.

Although it is better for them to pray it in the masjid, it is also allowed to pray Taraaweeh at home.

So don't miss out on this wonderful opportunity, thinking that you cannot pray this virtuous prayer at home.

What we should do if we missed Ishaa and they're praying Taraaweeh?

Sometimes you may get to the masjid late for whatever reason, and the Ishaa prayer has already finished. The Imaam is praying Taraaweeh, but you have not yet prayed 'Ishaa.

What can you do?

Don't be the like the ones who go to the back, quickly read four fast Rakaat Ishaa', separate from the rest of the congregation while they are praying Taraaweeh and then quickly join the congregation.

That is against the etiquette of prayer, and there's no khushoo' in your fardh prayer.

Solution:

Since the Taraaweeh prayer is read ONLY after you're done with Ishaa' so what you can do is to join the congregation and pray with them.

However, you make the intention for your Ishaa prayer while they are praying with the intention of Taraaweeh.

Then, when the Imaam finishes and says salaam after two rakaat, you don't say salaam; rather you stand up and complete the rest of your Ishaa prayer. It is perfectly OKAY for you to have a different intention and the Imaam has a different intention.

Shaikh Ibn Baaz said:

"There is nothing wrong with his praying with them with the intention of praying 'Isha', according to the more correct of the two scholarly views. When the imam says the tasleem he should stand up and complete his prayer.

It was proven in Saheeh al-Bukhaari and Muslimfrom Mu'aadh ibn Jabal that he used to pray 'Isha', then he would go back to his people and lead them in 'Isha' prayer, and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not denounce that. This indicates that it is permissible to offer a fard prayer behind someone who is praying a naafil prayer."

(Majmoo' Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn Baaz)

Stay till the end of the prayer.

Some people leave the congregation before the Imaam is finished because of various reasons. It could be that they want to pray more Nawaafil once they go home or they think that one shouldn't be praying more than eight rakaat (if the Imaam is reading more than that) or because they want to pray witr just before suhoor, etc.

But in doing so, they miss out on the reward of praying the whole night.

That's because the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam) said:

"Whoever prays with the imam until he finishes, Allaah will record for him as if he spent the whole night in prayer"

(al-Tirmidhi--saheeh by al-Albaani)

So whoever finishes with the Imaam will have the reward of spending the whole night in prayer, even if you go home and sleep! Subhaan Allaah!
And whoever left early, will only get the reward of whatever he prayed.

Someone asked Shaykh Ibn Baaz:

If a person prays in Ramadhaan with someone who prays twenty-three rak'ahs, but he only prays eleven and does not complete the prayer with the imam, is this action of his in accordance with the Sunnah?

He replied: "The Sunnah is to complete the prayer with the imam, even if he prays twenty-three rak 'ahs, because the Messenger Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam
said:

"Whoever stands (in prayer) with the imam until he finishes, Allah will record for him (the reward of) spending a night in prayer."

According to another report: " The rest of that night."

It is better for one who is praying behind an imam to stay with him until he finishes, whether he prays eleven rak'ahs or thirteen or twenty three or whatever.
That is preferable, to follow the imam until he finishes."
(Majmoo' Fataawa Ibn Baaz)

And Imam Ahmad used to pray with the Imaam and not leave until he finished, acting in accordance with the hadeeth.

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~maryambintisa