FOLLOWING THE IMAAM UNTIL HE FINISHES TARAAWEEH

Following the imaam until he finishes Taraaweeh

Q: The most correct opinion is that the number of rakaahs for Taraaweeh is eleven, but I pray in a mosque where they do twenty one rakaahs.

Can I leave the mosque after the tenth rakaah, or is it better to complete the twenty one rakaahs with them?

A: It is better to stay with the imaam until he finishes, even if he is doing more than Eleven Rakaahs, because it is permissible to do the extra rakaahs, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:

Whoever prays qiyaam with the imaam until he finishes, Allaah will record it as if he prayed the whole night

(Reported by al-Nisaa'i and others. Sunan al-Nisaa'i, Baab Qiyaam Shahr Ramadaan),

And because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:

Prayer at night should be two by two (rakahs), and when dawn approaches, pray one for witr.

(Reported by the seven; this version reported by al-Nisaa'i).

There is no doubt that adhering to the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) is better and brings more reward, so long as it is done properly and without haste, but if it is the matter of a choice between leaving the imaam because of the number of rakahs or going along with the extra that he does, it is better to go along with him, because of the ahaadeeth referred to above. At the same time, you should advise the imaam to follow the Sunnah.

Shaykh Muhammad Salih al-Munajjid: Al-Jummuah Magazine (Vol 10 / Issue 8-9)