The Status of Tarawih Prayers

 

Is congregational tarawih prayers compulsory sunnah having the kifiyah status as stated at …[site name] or tarawih prayers non-confirmed sunnah (and hence non-obligatory?) as you state on your forum?

Walaikum assalam,

There is difference of opinion within the Hanafi school about this matter.

1. The position Ibn Abidin transmits in his Radd al-Muhtar is that tarawih prayers (all 20 rakats) is a confirmed sunna for both men and women. [Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]

2. Praying it in congregation is recommended for men, but on a confirmed sunna in the sense that one who does not pray it in congregation is not subject to blame. However, they are normally missing out on great reward and a powerful means of strengthening one’s faith and the baraka of being with other believers.

3. Another position exists in the school, chosen by some, that praying tarawih in congregation is a confirmed sunna for men.

And Allah knows best.

Wassalam,

Faraz Rabbani