Doing all 20 rakats of tarawih is difficult

Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Question:

I had a question about the 20 rakah of tarawih prayer. Doing the whole 20 rakah is very difficult for me, I used to enjoy praying when I prayed a leisurely 8-20 rakah but now praying has become a chore which I do quickly so I can finish the whole 20 before the baby wakes up. And I have to recite short surahs which I don't benefit from the way I used to from reciting slightly longer surah (such as juz 'amm, instead of just ahad and kauthar) as it is repetitive and the meaning no longer sinks into my heart. Should I just follow the shafi fiqh in this regard? but then I would have to fulfill all their wajibaat? what are the wajibaat of prayer in shafi fiqh?

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Walaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,

What is the Shafii way? The Shafiis agree with the Hanafis, Hanbalis, and Malikis that tarawih is 20 rakats. Many great scholars consider there to be scholarly consensus (ijma`) of the Companions regarding this. (Listen to the audio answer in the Files section at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hanafi)

You don't have to pray all 20 at once, however: you can split it over your night, as long as you get it done.

See answer below.

Wassalam,

Faraz Rabbani
faraz@sunnipath.com
hanafi@sunnipath.com

Imam Abu Hanifa (Allah have mercy on him) said, "Fiqh is to know one's self: what is for it and against it."

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Doing all 20 rakats of tarawih is difficult

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