How many rakat in Taraweeh prayer 8 or 20?

During the month of Ramadan, Muslims around the world perform the Taraweeh prayer. Many are confused about how many Rakat there are in the Taraweeh prayer: 8 or 20?

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What is Taraweeh?

Taraweeh is a non-obligatory prayer to be offered with Isha prayer during the month of Ramadan. Muslims go to mosques where Taraweeh prayer is organized, while some prefer to offer it at home.

How many Rakat in the Taraweeh prayer?

Some scholars believe that 8 Rakat in the Taraweeh prayer is better, while others prefer 20. 

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: ‘Pray two Rakat at a time and then two and then two and so on, and if you are afraid of the dawn (the approach of the time of the Fajr prayer), pray one Rakat and that will be the Witr for all the Rakat which you have offered.” – Sahih al-Bukhari 472

Ibn Umar رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ said, “The last Rakat of the night prayer should be odd, for the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ ordered it to be so. 

This Hadith reveals that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ did not limit Taraweeh prayer to 8 or 20; he only explained the manner in which the rakats were to be offered.

Taraweeh of Prophet Muhammad

Aisha رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ said: Prophet Muhammad ﷺ used to offer 11 rakat, and that was his prayer. He used to prolong the prostration to such an extent that one could recite 50 verses (of the Quran) before he would lift his head. –  Sahih al-Bukhari 1123

11 rakat here mean 8 rakat of Tarweeh and 3 witr. All hadith, either narrated in Sahi Muslim or Sahih Bukhari, reveal that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ used to offer 8 Rakats in the Taraweeh prayer.

Taraweeh in Makkah and Madina

If it is a Sunnah to perform 8 Taraweeh prayers, why 20 rakat of Taraweeh had been performed in Masjid al-Haram in Makkah and Masjid al Nabawi in Madina for a long time?

Actually, it was Omer bin Khattab رضي الله عنه who started the concept of 20 Taraweeh, which was continued later during the reign of Uthman bin Affan رضي الله عنه as well.

• Starting in 2021, 10 Taraweeh are performed in Makkah and Madina. 

Taraweeh rakat for ladies

Ladies can pray as many Taraweeh prayers as they want. Islam does not quote a specific number for the number of Rakat in Taraweeh prayers that ladies should pray.

How to pray Taraweeh at home?

Taraweeh prayer is performed like any other 2 Rakat of Salah. Everything is the same, starting with standing, Takbir, Fatihah, Recitation, Ruku, Sujud, Tashahud, and Salam.

You can pray as many Taraweeh as you want, but it should end with the Witr prayer.

Conclusion

As we can see from the references above, the Quran or Hadith does not limit the number of Rakat of Taraweeh, so you can pray as much as you want.

• Prophet Muhammad ﷺ used to offer 8 Rakat of Taraweeh.
• Umar رضي الله عنه and Uthman رضي الله عنه started 20 Rakat of Taraweeh in mosques.
• 10 rakat of Taraweeh are being performed in Masjid al-Haram in Makkah and Masjid al Nabawi in Madina.