Fatwa ID: 08443

Answered by: Alimah Aisha Qureshi

Question:

What is Imam Sahibs view on performing Tarawih in sets of four rakats?

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

The number of Rak’ahs for Tarawih is because the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) did not prescribe a specific number of Rak’ahs for Tarawih prayers, allowing for different ways of performing it. The practice of praying in sets of four Rak’ahs is one of the methods that is accepted within Hanafi jurisprudence. There is no fixed requirement in the Hanafi school, and the option to perform Tarawih in sets of two or four Rak’ahs is provided, if the prayers are completed.

The Hanafi school of thought allows the performance of Tarawih in sets of four Rak’ahs. The number of Rak’ahs is flexible, the sets of four Rak’ahs are an established and valid method in the Hanafi school of thought. Therefore, praying Tarawih in sets of four Rak’ahs is fully in accordance with Hanafi Fiqh, and there is no objection to this practice in the school’s teachings.

References:

وهي خمس ترويحات كل ترويحة أربع ركعات بتسليمتين كذا في السراجية، ولو زاد علي خمس ترويحات بالجماعة يكره عندنا هكذا في الخلاصة، والصحيح ان وقتها ما بعد العشاء الي طلوع الفجر قبل الوتر وبعده، حتى لو تبين ان العشاء صلاها بلا طهارة دون التراويح والوتر أعاد التراويح مع العشاء دون الوتر لأنها تبع للعشاء هذا عند ابي حنيفة رحمه الله تعالي.

Fatawa Hindiya pg 128 vol 1 publisher Dar Al Kotob Al ilmiyah Beirut

Only Allah knows best.

Written by Alimah Aisha Qureshi

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham