A selection of the scholars of Hadith who authenticated and used al-Bayhaqi's narrations as a proof for 20 rak'ats of Taraweeh

(i) Imaam Yahya al-Nawawi (d. 676 AH) He has authenticated the narration recorded and mentioned above from al-Bayhaqi's Marifatus-Sunan, in his book al-Khulasa - this was mentioned by Hafiz al-Zayla'i in Nasb ur-Rayah (see above). Besides this narration, he has also recorded the alternative narration recorded by Imaam al-Bayhaqi in his Sunan al-Kubra.

He has declared this variant narration to be a decisive argument and proof for the Shafi'i Madhhab, as well as saying: "Its Isnad is Sahih", in his voluminous work: al-Majmu' Sharh al-Muhadhhab[17].

(ii) Imaam Jamaluddin Yusuf al-Zayla'i (d. 762 AH)

We have mentioned above that Hafiz al-Zayla'i in his analysis of the narration's found in the Hanafi fiqh book: al-Hidaya, has recalled the narration from al-Bayhaqi's Marifatus-Sunan, and quoted Imaam al-Nawawi as his authority to declare this narration to be Sahih.

(iii) Imaam Badruddin al-Ayni (d. 855 AH)

He said in his famous commentary to Sahih al-Bukhari: Umdat ul-Qari[18] :

"The argument of our companions (the Hanafi scholars) as well as the Shafi'is and Hanbali's is what al-Bayhaqi has related with an authentic chain of transmission (Sahih Isnad)..."

(iv) Imaam Ali al-Qari (d. 1014 AH)

He has noted in Sharhul-Nuqayah[19] :

"Imaam al-Bayhaqi has reported on genuine authority (Sahih) the performing of 20 rak'ahs of Taraweeh during the periods of Umar, Uthman and Ali (may Allah be pleased with them), and hence there has been consensus on it."

(v) Imaam Kamaluddin ibn al-Humam (d. 861 AH)

Imaam Ibn al-Humam asserts that it has been established from genuine authority (sahih) that the Companions and their Successors used to say 20 rak'ahs of Taraweeh during the auspicious time of Umar (radiallahu anhu); this authority of Yazid ibn Ruman (as in Imaam Malik's narration) has been reported from Sa'eeb ibn Yazid that, "During Umar's auspicious time we used to say 20 rak'ahs." The genuineness of this authority has been verified by Imaam Nawawi in the synopsis[20].

(vi) - (viii) Imam's Taqi al-Din as-Subki (d. 756 AH), Zayn al-Din al-Iraqi (d. 806 AH) & Jalaluddin as-Suyuti (d. 911 AH)

According to Imaam Abdal Hayy Lucknawi [21] in his work Tuhfatul Akhyar [22], Imaam Nawawi, Iraqi and Suyuti [23] have all considered Bayhaqi's narration as reported in his Sunan al-Kubra to be Sahih.

Shaykh Habibur Rahman al-A'zami has also affirmed that Nawawi, Iraqi and Suyuti have declared Imaam al-Bayhaqi's narration to be Sahih. He has also reported that Imaam al-Subki [24] and Mullah Ali al-Qari have both declared the alternative narration recorded by Bayhaqi in his Marifatus Sunan to be Sahih [25].

(ix) Imaam Muhammad Shauq Nimawi (d. 1322 AH)

We have mentioned previously that Shaykh Nimawi has declared Imaam al-Bayhaqi's narration to be Sahih in Athar al-Sunan[26].

(x) Imaam Ibrahim al-Halabi (d. 956 AH)

He has noted in al-Kabiri[27] :

"The argument of the majority of people is the report which Imaam al-Bayhaqi has reported with sound authority (Sahih), that during Umar as well as Uthman and Ali's (may Allah be pleased with them), 20 rak'ahs was performed."

Other contemporary scholars