Fatwa #145903 October 2006India
i am an Indian. I have a doubt regarding the number of tarawih prayer(rakaats) to be prayed
Question
Answer
Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullah
Brother/Sister in Islam
It is compulsory to recite 20 Rakats Taraweeh. This is also the consensus (Ijma) of the Sahaba. Surely the Sahaba will not unite on wrong. There is a misconception about Rasulullah (SAW) performing 8 Rakats Taraweeh. That was Salatul Layl which is Tahajjud Salah and not Taraweeh. You may conduct a search on the below site for a detailed explanation on 20 Rakats.
And Allah Knows Best
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Please Note: Listen to live discourses and advices given by Mufti Ebrahim Desai throughout this Ramadhan streaming on WWW.RADIORAMADHANCROYDON.COM Every alternate day after Fajr. 5:30am and after Taraweeh at 10:15pm. Also 10:00am everyday, Q/A 2:00pm and after Asr Majlis 5:15pm. All times are according to British standard times.