Thursday 9 May 2019

Misconceptions about Tahajjud, Qiyaamul-Layl and Taraaweeh


Some people think that tahajjud is a night prayer different from qiyamul-layl or taraaweeh.[1] Others think that nafl (voluntary; supererogatory) prayers at night are only recommended during Ramadan. Thus it is important to clarify these misunderstandings, and to emphasize what was mentioned above, i.e. that there is only one nafl prayer at night, with different names used to describe it. Even though taraaweeh is most commonly used to describe it in Ramadan, this does not make it a different prayer.

Furthermore in some countries and masjids, mostly during the second half of Ramadan, people pray taraaweeh early in the night, and then pray another prayer that they call tahajjud at the end of the night. This practice is a bid’ah because it has no basis in the Sunnah.  

Source: The Night Prayers: Qiyam and Tarawih, p. 7-8 by Muhammad al-Jibaly


[1] Note: Witr has two different meanings in the Sunnah. It usually refers to the last one or three rakahs of the night prayers. But it sometimes means all of the night prayers because, altogether, it is odd numbered


3 comments:

  1. So, what is the correct approach?

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  2. Thanks for your efforts brother. I think in addressing a 'misconception', you need to be more detailed about what you are trying to clarify. Are you addressing the issue of nomenclature, or you are addressing the practices of the Prophet (SAW) and his companions with regard to the subject? All these need to be stated to avoid another misunderstanding.

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