Is Taraweeh 8 or 20 Rakats — and Can It Be Prayed in Congregation? What the Qur’an Actually Says
Each year as Ramadan begins, a familiar and sometimes heated debate resurfaces within the Muslim community. This is usually centered on the correct way to perform the night salat known as 'taraweeh' - a term we will now use for the remainder of this article. The arguments usually revolve around the number of rakats and whether taraweeh can be performed in congregation. This article investigates how the Qur'an has addressed this issue and established the real requirements of offering the night salat.
The word taraweeh does not appear anywhere in the Qur'an. It is a term developed by later generations to describe a specific format of salat performed during the Ramadan nights. If Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) was with us today, he would not recognise the term taraweeh as it was something he never used himself. Instead, the Quran speaks of a salat "...from the night, as an addition..." (17:79).
The most intense part of the annual debate centres on the number of rakats. Some argue that it is fixed at 8 rakats based on certain narrations, and others argue for 20 rakats based on other narrations. However, becoming obsessed with the specific number of rakats create an immediate contradiction. Something which is "...from the night, as an addition..." (17:79) cannot by definition then become fixed, unlike the obligatory prayers.
The Quran does not prescribe a specific number of rakats for these voluntary night prayers. Instead, the focus is on the quality of the salat and the internal sincerity of the person. This flexibility is beautifully demonstrated when Allah says "stand the night except for a little. Half of it, or a little less than that. Or a little more..." (73:2, 73:3 and 73:4).
The second part of the debate concerns offering the taraweeh in congregation. While some groups deem congregational night salat as forbidden based on hadith literature, others treat it as nearly mandatory in taraweeh. However, the Qur'an offers the middle path of flexibility. The night salat is neither a requirement nor a prohibition as Allah instructs Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) to declare "...I advise you to do one thing: that you stand to Allah, in twos and individually, then reflect..." (34:46). This allows for both group and individual reflection.
This indicates that offering the night salat in a group is permissible. However, it is not a mandatory communal salat as the Qur'an highlights it was only "...a group of those who are with you..." (73:20), instead of the whole Muslim community offering it. Due to its optional nature, some believers did not offer any night salat as there were "...sick among you, and others that go forth in the land seeking from the bounty of Allah, and others who are fighting in the cause of Allah..." (73:20).
When the night salat becomes a race aimed at completing the Qur'an, the main objective of the night salat, which is to reflect on the Qur'an, is sacrificed. Standing for a few verses with deep understanding and reflection is more aligned with the Qur'an's purpose of the night salat than standing for long periods through a speedy recitation that cannot be processed.
The annual arguments over 8 or 20 rakats and the validity of congregation are largely human constructs developed over the course of history. The night salat, whether individually or in congregation should not be limited to just Ramadan but offered throughout the year where possible. For the believers, the focus should be on reflection of the Qur'an through unity rather than division through debating trivial matters like number of rakats.
Is taraweeh found in the Qur'an
The word taraweeh does not appear anywhere in the Qur'an. It is a term developed by later generations to describe a specific format of salat performed during the Ramadan nights. If Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) was with us today, he would not recognise the term taraweeh as it was something he never used himself. Instead, the Quran speaks of a salat "...from the night, as an addition..." (17:79).
While the specific label of taraweeh is a human invention, the act of standing in salat during the night is not, and is explicitly encouraged as a voluntary act of worship in the Qur'an.
Is it 8 or 20 rakats
The most intense part of the annual debate centres on the number of rakats. Some argue that it is fixed at 8 rakats based on certain narrations, and others argue for 20 rakats based on other narrations. However, becoming obsessed with the specific number of rakats create an immediate contradiction. Something which is "...from the night, as an addition..." (17:79) cannot by definition then become fixed, unlike the obligatory prayers.
The Quran does not prescribe a specific number of rakats for these voluntary night prayers. Instead, the focus is on the quality of the salat and the internal sincerity of the person. This flexibility is beautifully demonstrated when Allah says "stand the night except for a little. Half of it, or a little less than that. Or a little more..." (73:2, 73:3 and 73:4).
Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) never offered these optional night salat based on a fixed number because this is not what the Qur'an instructed him to do. As already mentioned, the Qur'an only instructed him to "stand the night except for a little. Half of it, or a little less than that. Or a little more..." (73:2, 73:3 and 73:4).
Allah acknowledges that Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) was following these instructions to the letter as well as "...a group of those who are with you..." (73:20), when Allah says "...your Lord knows that you rise a little less than two thirds of the night, and half of it, and one third of it..." (73:20). Allah then gives further flexibility to the believers offering the night salat by adding a minimum threshold which is "...read what you can of it..." (73:20).
The Qur'an grants believers the flexibility to offer "...what is made easy..." (73:20). This is a subjective matter based on individual needs. An elderly person may begin to struggle after offering just 2 rakats whereas a young, fit person may find it easy to offer 30 rakats.
The Qur'an describes the length of the night salat through periods of time rather than through numbers of rakats. Allah says "...from the night you shall prostrate to Him and praise Him throughout" (76:26), or "...from the night glorify Him..." (50:40 and 52:49). By becoming obsessed on a rigid number, the essence of the salat is lost in the numbers game that the Qur'an itself does not impose. Debating the rakats is like debating how many steps to take during a 30 minute walk. The goal is the walk and not the step count.
On the balance of probability, it is almost certain that Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) would have offered both 8 and 20 rakats at some point in his lifetime. But this is naturally expected because Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) would "stand the night except for a little. Half of it, or a little less than that. Or a little more..." (73:2, 73:3 and 73:4). The number of rakats would have varied depending on his individual situation each night. This was never meant to become a binding number of rakats for the generations that followed. The Qur'an leaves the number of rakats open, focusing on the duration and reflection on the Qur'an rather than fixed number of rakats.
Is congregational night salat allowed
The second part of the debate concerns offering the taraweeh in congregation. While some groups deem congregational night salat as forbidden based on hadith literature, others treat it as nearly mandatory in taraweeh. However, the Qur'an offers the middle path of flexibility. The night salat is neither a requirement nor a prohibition as Allah instructs Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) to declare "...I advise you to do one thing: that you stand to Allah, in twos and individually, then reflect..." (34:46). This allows for both group and individual reflection.
The Quran establishes only one salat as mandatory for congregation which is the Friday salat. Allah says "...if the salat is called to on the day of congregation, then you shall hasten towards the remembrance of Allah, and cease all selling..." (62:9). Other than this one weekly event, all other salat including daily obligatory salat can be offered individually or in congregation.
Regarding the night salat specifically, the Qur'an confirms that the believers offered these flexibly together with Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) when it says "...you rise a little less than two thirds of the night, and half of it, and one third of it; and a group of those who are with you..." (73:20).
This indicates that offering the night salat in a group is permissible. However, it is not a mandatory communal salat as the Qur'an highlights it was only "...a group of those who are with you..." (73:20), instead of the whole Muslim community offering it. Due to its optional nature, some believers did not offer any night salat as there were "...sick among you, and others that go forth in the land seeking from the bounty of Allah, and others who are fighting in the cause of Allah..." (73:20).
The issue arises when a voluntary, flexible night salat is treated almost as a formal, mandatory event. There is no harm in offering the night salat in congregation, particularly for those who are not knowledgeable in the Qur'an nor its recitation. The congregational salat allows them to listen to the Qur'an and reflect upon it based proper recitation. However, for those who are able to recite and study themselves, the best way to offer the night salat is to "...call on your Lord in humility and in secret..." (7:55).
In the modern taraweeh format practiced in mosques throughout the world, the purpose of the night salat has shifted in focus. Today, one of the primary goals of the night salat is to finish the entire recitation of the Quran during Ramadan, and this is to be highly commended. However, this approach can sometimes lead to falling foul of Allah's instructions on the night prayers.
The aim of the night salat
In the modern taraweeh format practiced in mosques throughout the world, the purpose of the night salat has shifted in focus. Today, one of the primary goals of the night salat is to finish the entire recitation of the Quran during Ramadan, and this is to be highly commended. However, this approach can sometimes lead to falling foul of Allah's instructions on the night prayers.
For the night salat, Allah tells Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) to "...recite the Qur'an distinctly..." (73:4) because "the time of the night is more effective and better for study" (73:6). Reciting the Qur'an this way during the day is not always possible because people "...have many duties during the day" (73:7).
Rather than completion of the Qur'an, the primary aim should be to "...reflect on the Qur'an..." (4:82 and 47:24), or "...reflect upon it for yourself..." (17:79), or "...stand to Allah, in twos and individually, then reflect..." (34:46), or "...reflect upon its revelations..." (38:29).
When the night salat becomes a race aimed at completing the Qur'an, the main objective of the night salat, which is to reflect on the Qur'an, is sacrificed. Standing for a few verses with deep understanding and reflection is more aligned with the Qur'an's purpose of the night salat than standing for long periods through a speedy recitation that cannot be processed.
Conclusion
The annual arguments over 8 or 20 rakats and the validity of congregation are largely human constructs developed over the course of history. The night salat, whether individually or in congregation should not be limited to just Ramadan but offered throughout the year where possible. For the believers, the focus should be on reflection of the Qur'an through unity rather than division through debating trivial matters like number of rakats.