Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Performance of the Night Prayer

http://theislamonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/taraweeh.jpg

I spoke in detail about this subject in my book Salaat-ut-Taraaweeh (pg. 101-115), so I felt that I should abridge that discussion here in order to make it easy for the reader and to remind him:

The First Manner: consists of thirteen rakaat, which is commenced with two short rakaat. According to the most correct opinion, these are the two rakaat of Sunnah prayer offered after Ishaa, or they are two specific rakaat by which one begins the Night Prayer, as has been stated previously. Then one prays two very long rakaat (after that). Then two more rakaat are prayed, and then another two rakaat are prayed. Then two more rakaat are prayed and another set of two rakaat are prayed. Then witr is made with one rakaah.

The Second Manner: consists of thirteen rakaat. There are eight rakaat within them, in which one makes tasleem after every two rakaat. Then witr is made with five rakaat and one does not sit nor make the tasleem except in the fifth rakah.

The Third Manner: consists of eleven rakaat, in which one makes tasleem after every two rakaat and then prays witr at the end with one rakah.

The Fourth Manner: consists of eleven rakaat, in which one prays four rakaat and makes one tasleem after the four. Then he prays another four in a similar manner and ends it with three rakaat (for witr).
Would the Prophet (saws) remain in the sitting position after every two rakaat, when praying a unit of four rakaat or a unit of three rakaat? We do not find a clear answer for this, but remaining in the sitting position (for tashahhud) while doing a unit of three rakaat is not legislated (in the Religion)!

The Fifth Manner: consists of eleven rakaat, in which one prays eight rakaat and does not sit in any of them except for the eighth rakah. While sitting (in the eighth rakah), he makes the tashahhud and sends Salaat on the Prophet (saws) and then stands up again without making the tasleem. Then he makes witr with one rakah and when finished, he makes the tasleem. This consists of nine rakaat. Then he prays two rakaat after that while in the sitting position.

The Sixth Manner: One prays nine rakaat, in which he does not sit except after the sixth rakah. Then he makes the tashahhud and sends Salaat on the Prophet (saws) and then stands again without making the tasleem. Then he makes witr with three rakaat and when finished, he makes the tasleem, etc (the rest is the same as the previous manner).

These are the manners in which it is reported that the Prophet (saws) performed the Night Prayer. It is possible to add other types of manners to it, by subtracting what one wishes from each set of rakaat until he cuts it down to one rakah, acting on the previously mentioned Hadith of Allah's Messenger (saws): So whoever wishes, then let him pray witr with five rakaat, and whoever wishes, then let him pray witr with three rakaat, and whoever wishes, then let him pray witr with one rakah.
So if one wants, he can pray these five rakaat or three rakaat with one sitting and one tasleem, as is stated in the Second Manner. And if he wants, he can make tasleem after every two rakaat, as is stated in the Third Manner, and this is preferred.

As for praying the set of five rakaat or three rakaat by sitting after every two rakaat and not making the tasleem, then we did not find any authentic report that the Prophet (saws) used to do this. The asl (foundation) is that it is permissible, but since the Prophet (saws) forbade us from praying witr with three rakaat indicating the reason for that by saying: And do not liken it to the Maghrib prayer. [Reported by At-Tahawi, Ad-Daraqutni and others. See At-Taraaweeh (pg. 99 & 110)]  So then anyone that prays the witr in three rakaat must not liken it to the Maghrib prayer. This can be done in two ways:
1. Making the tasleem between the even and odd number rakah (i.e. between the second and the third rakah). This is what is more strong and preferred.
2. One does not sit between the even and odd number (i.e. he prays three rakaat straight with one tasleem), and Allah knows best.

[Source: Qiyaam Ramadaan (pgs. 28-30) - By Shaykh Muhammad Nasiruddin al-Albani]


INSHA'ALLAH ALSO READ PREVIOUS YEARS ARTICLES ON RAMADAAN:

Labels:

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)