Twenty Rakʿahs of Tarawih — Historical Proof from the Time of the Prophet ﷺ

 

Twenty Rakʿahs of Tarawih — Historical Proof from the Time of the Prophet ﷺ

The twenty rakʿahs of Tarawih prayer performed in congregation were not started in the era of ʿUmar (RA). Rather, their foundation already existed during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

According to narrations recorded in Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Muʿjam al-Tabarani and Bayhaqi, ʿAbdullah ibn ʿAbbas (RA) reported that the Prophet ﷺ used to pray twenty rakʿahs in Ramadan apart from Witr.

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The Prophet ﷺ Led Congregational Night Prayer

ʿAishah (RA) narrates:

The Prophet ﷺ prayed in the mosque at night and people began praying behind him. The next night more people gathered, and on the third night the mosque became full. However, the Prophet ﷺ did not come out.

In the morning he said:

“I saw what you did, but nothing prevented me from coming out except the fear that this prayer might become obligatory upon you.”

This incident occurred in Ramadan.

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Evidence from Another Companion

In Sahih Bukhari, Zayd ibn Thabit (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ made a small enclosure from a mat in Ramadan and prayed there for several nights. The Companions prayed behind him.

These narrations clearly show:

• Congregational Tarawih was performed in the time of the Prophet ﷺ
• The Companions participated in it
• The Prophet ﷺ stopped regular congregation only out of mercy, fearing obligation

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Organization During the Caliphate of ʿUmar (RA)

After the death of the Prophet ﷺ, the fear of obligation no longer remained. Therefore, ʿUmar ibn al-Khattab (RA) gathered people behind one Imam and organized Tarawih in congregation.

In Muwatta Imam Malik, ʿAbd al-Rahman ibn ʿAbd al-Qari narrates:

He went to the mosque with ʿUmar (RA) in Ramadan and saw people praying in scattered groups — some alone and some in small congregations. ʿUmar (RA) said:

“If I gather them behind one reciter, it would be better.”

He then appointed Ubayy ibn Kaʿb (RA) as the Imam. On another night, seeing everyone united, ʿUmar (RA) said:

“This is a good practice.”

He also remarked that the prayer performed in the last part of the night is better than the one performed earlier, though people were praying in the early part of the night.

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Practice of the Companions

This shows the Companions considered Tarawih and Tahajjud as two separate prayers.

It is also narrated in Muwatta Imam Malik that during the time of ʿUmar (RA), people used to pray twenty-three rakʿahs including Witr.

Sa’ib ibn Yazid (RA) reported that during the caliphate of ʿUmar (RA) people prayed twenty rakʿahs, and during the time of ʿUthman (RA) they leaned on their staffs due to the long standing.

Ibn Masʿud (RA), who passed away in the late period of ʿUthman (RA), also prayed twenty rakʿahs.

Abu ʿAbd al-Rahman al-Sulami narrates that ʿAli (RA) called the reciters in Ramadan and instructed one of them to lead twenty rakʿahs, while he himself led the Witr.

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Conclusion

Calling twenty rakʿahs of Tarawih a “bidʿah” (innovation) attributed to ʿUmar (RA) is incorrect.

• The basis already existed in the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ
• ʿUmar (RA) only organized and revived the practice
• All Companions agreed — making it a form of consensus
• No Companion objected to him

Therefore, the congregational twenty rakʿahs of Tarawih are a continuous and established practice from the era of the Prophet ﷺ, strengthened and organized by the rightly guided Caliphs.