Ijmaa us-Sahabah on the rak'ats of
Taraweeh being twenty
A number of Imaams of sacred law have inferred from the evidences available, that there is a definite consensus of the Companions (Ijma us-Sahabah) [49] on this issue. For the readers benefit we will provide some quotes below (including one from a "Salafi" writer).
(i) Imaam Ali al-Qaari al-Hanafi (d. 1014 AH)
He said in Sharh ul-Nuqayah [50]:
"Imaam Bayhaqi has reported on genuine authority (sahih) about the performance of 20 rak'ats of Taraweeh during the periods of Umar, Uthman and Ali (radhiyallahu anhum), and hence there has been consensus (Ijma) on it."
(ii) Shaykh ul-Islam Ibne Hajar al-Haytami (d. 974 AH)
Allamah Abdal Hayyi Lucknawi has reported in Tuhfat ul-Akhya[51] and in his Majmu' Fatawa[52], the fact that Hafiz Ibne Hajar al-Haytami has declared Ijma us-Sahabah on the rak'ats of Taraweeh being twenty.
(iii) Imaam Muwaffaq al-Din Ibne Qudama al-Maqdisi (d. 620)
The leading Imaam of the Hanbali's in his time has declared in his famous fiqh book: al-Mughni [53] :
"There has been the Companion's consensus (Ijma us-Sahabah) on 20 rak'ats of Taraweeh."
(iv) Shaykh Bahrul-Uloom Abdul Ali ibn Nizamuddin (d. 1235)
He said in Rasa'il ul-Arkan [54] :
"Then there was unanimity regarding the 20 rak'ahs."
(v) Shah Abdul Aziz Dehlawi [55] (d. 1824 CE)
He has declared in his Majmu' Fatawa Azizi [56] :
"Thereafter, they (the Companions) adopted twenty (rak'ats of Taraweeh) and three rak'ats (of witr), on which number consensus had been formed."
(vi) Shaykh Qutubuddin Khan (d. 1289 AH)
He has stated in his commentary to the Hadith collection known as Mishkat ul-Masabih: Madhahir ul-Haqq [57] :
"But the Companions consensus was formed on this that the Taraweeh consists of 20 Rak'ahs."
(vii) Imaam Kamaluddin ibn al-Humam (d. 861 AH)
He has said in Fathul-Qadeer [58] :
"At last unanimity was formed on 20 rak'ats of prayer and this alone is in succession."
(viii) Imaam Malik ibn Anas (d. 179 AH)
It was written in the most authentic record of Imaam Malik's most accurate sayings [59], known as al-Mudawwanah al-Kubrah:
"Ibn al-Qasim said, 'The rak'ats (of taraweeh) with witr are thirty nine.' Imaam Malik said, 'This is what the people have agreed upon from amongst the predecessors, and the people have not stopped doing it.'"[60]
(ix) Shaykh Shabbir Ahmad al-Uthmani (d. 1369 AH)
Shaykh Abdur Rahim said in his Fatawa[61] :
"Allamah Shabbir Ahmad Uthmani says that none of the Companions ever took exception to 20 rak'ahs, and hence all of them were unanimous on twenty rak'ahs."[62]
(x) Nawab Siddiq Hasan Khan Bhopali (d. 1307 AH)
He was one of the leading personalities of the "Salafi" movement in India. It has been recorded by him in his Awnu'l Bari [63] :
"The practice of 20 rak'ats established during Hadrat Umar's time has been considered by the Ulama as consensus."
All praise be to Allah, the synopsis of the proofs, their authenticity and the resulting of Ijma us-Sahabah, has been demonstrated by way of recoursing to some of the most reputable scholars of the various Madhhabs of this blessed Ummah.
I (Ahmed ibne Muhammad) asked my teacher, the faqih, Shaykh Muhammad Asaddar Ali (b. 1911), may Allah preserve him: "What do you say about those people who claim to be the followers of the pious predecessors (Salaf us-Saliheen), but insist on praying 8 rak'ats of Taraweeh year in year out?" He replied:
"I take it you are referring to those people who go around with the title 'Salafi' over their heads. I will say a few things about these pseudo-Salafites. They are violators of the Companions (radhiyallahu anhum) consensus on this and other issues - just as their master Ibne Taymiyya was; and the scholars of the past have declared the violators of the Ijma us-Sahabah to be either corrupt innovators or even unbelievers - depending on the nature of the question. The Muhaddith, Shaykh Abdal Hayy Lucknawi (rahmatullahi alayh) has declared in his Taliqatul-Hidaya [64] : 'One who performs 8 rak'ats of Taraweeh will be an abandoner of the insisted sunnah.' So, if you come across a man who has been shown the proofs and what the vast majority of scholars, including the Imaams like Abu Hanifah, Maalik, Shafi'i and Ahmad ibn Hanbal have said; but still persists on avoiding the Companions unanimity on 20 rak'ats of Taraweeh, and prefers 8 rak'ats - then know that he is not a Salafi, rather a follower of his desires and avoider of the Companion's (radhiyallahu anhum) unanimous practice. And Allah knows best."
O believers, have we not heard that Allah has said:
"O you who believe, Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger, And those charged with authority among you. If you differ in anything among yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger, If ye do believe in Allah and the Last Day: That is best, and most suitable for final determination"[65]
O believers, have we not heard that Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has said on two occasions:
"Hold fast to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the Rightly Guided Caliphs[66], clamp your molars upon it, avoid new novelties, for every novelty is an innovation, and every innovation is misguidance." [67]
"Allah will never let my Ummah agree upon misguidance, and the hand of Allah is over the group (Jama'ah), so follow the great mass of believers (Sawad ul-'Azam), and whoever dissents from them departs to hell." [68]
We will finish this section by mentioning the titles of two books written on this issue. The first is a book written by a Qadi at the Shariah court in Medinah al-Munawwara, as well as being a lecturer in the Holy Prophet's (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) mosque - Shaykh Atiyya Muhammad Salim, and the second is by - Shaykh Isma'il ibn Muhammad al-Ansari. As the title below suggests, al-Ansari's book is a refutation of al-Albani's research and views on this issue.
Finally, the reader may be interested to know that even today, just as in the time of the Salaf us-Salihin (may Allah be well pleased with them), 20 rak'ats of taraweeh is still being adhered to in Makkah and Madinah.
May Allah keep us on the practice of the Companion's and guide those who deliberately avoid so and claim to be on the path of the righteous Salaf. Amin.