Why don't we pray Taraweeh?

by Mohsin Asharia

During Shahr Ramadhan many Muslims congregate after Isha prayers for Salatul Taraweeh.

The closest we get to praying it is watching Islam Channel from our living room. So why don’t we pray it? Is it
just laziness or is there something else behind it?

DID THE PROPHET (SAW) PRAY IT?


The Prophet is narrated to have prayed Tahajjud
(Namaze Shab) in Shahr Ramadhan, but not Taraweeh
as we know it today:

Sahih Bukhari Volume 2, Book 21, Number 248:
Narrated Abu Salma bin 'Abdur Rahman:
I asked 'Aisha, "How is the prayer of Allah's Apostle
during the month of Ramadan." She said, "Allah's
Apostle never exceeded eleven Rakat in Ramadan
or in other months; he used to offer four Rakat-
- do not ask me about their beauty and length, then
four Rakat, do not ask me about their beauty and
length, and then three Rakat." Aisha further said, "I
said, 'O Allah's Apostle! Do you sleep before offering the
Witr prayer?' He replied, 'O 'Aisha! My eyes sleep but
my heart remains awake'!"

In addition, he always prayed himself, making it
clear not to pray nafilah prayers in congregation:

Sahih Bukhari Volume 8, Book 73, Number 134:
Narrated Zaid bin Thabit:
Allah's Apostle made a small room (with a palm leaf
mat). Allah's Apostle came out (of his house) and
prayed in it. Some men came and joined him in his
prayer. Then again the next night they came for the
prayer, but Allah's Apostle delayed and did not come
out to them. So they raised their voices and knocked
the door with small stones (to draw his attention). He
came out to them in a state of anger, saying, "You are
still insisting (on your deed, i.e. Taraweeh prayer in the
mosque) that I thought that this prayer (Taraweeh)
might become obligatory on you. So you people,
offer this prayer at your homes, for the best
prayer of a person is the one which he offers at
home, except the compulsory (congregational)
prayer."


TARAWEEH CONGREGATION PRAYERS
The Taraweeh prayers were established in the time
of the Second Caliph, Umar bin Khattab:

Sahih Bukhari Volume 3, Book 32, Number 227:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah's Apostle said, "Whoever prayed at night the
whole month of Ramadan out of sincere Faith and
hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous
sins will be forgiven." Ibn Shihab (a sub-narrator) said,
"Allah's Apostle died and the people continued observing
that (i.e. Nawafil offered individually, not in congregation),
and it remained as it was during the Caliphate
of Abu Bakr and in the early days of 'Umar's Caliphate."
'Abdur Rahman bin 'Abdul Qari said, "I went out
in the company of 'Umar bin Al-Khattab one night in
Ramadan to the mosque and found the people praying
in different groups. A man praying alone or a man
praying with a little group behind him. So, 'Umar
said, 'In my opinion I would better collect these
(people) under the leadership of one Qari
(Reciter) (i.e. let them pray in congregation!)'.
So, he made up his mind to congregate them behind
Ubai bin Ka'b. Then on another night I went again in
his company and the people were praying behind their
reciter. On that, 'Umar remarked, 'What an excellent
Bid'a (i.e. innovation in religion) this is;
but the prayer which they do not perform, but sleep at
its time is better than the one they are offering.' He
meant the prayer in the last part of the night. (In those
days) people used to pray in the early part of the
night."


This hadith clearly shows that not only is Taraweeh
a “Bid’a”, in the Second Caliph’s own words, but it
was also established using his own “opinion”.

WHAT DO OUR IMAMS SAY ABOUT TARAWEEH?


Imams Baqir and Sadiq (as) narrate that the Prophet
(saw) said:

“Verily, the offering of nafila in congregation
during the nights of Ramadan is an innovation…
O people! do not say nafila prayers of Ramadan
in congregation….Without doubt, performing a minor
act of worship which is according to the sunna is better
than performing a major act of worship which is an
innovation.”
[al-Hurr al-`Amili, Wasa’il al-Shi`ah, volume 8, pg 45]