Praying Taraaweeh with the congregation is better than praying alone
Fatwa No: 90601

Question

Today I heard from one mosque in Kerala, on Ramadhaan nights Taraaweeh with Jamaa't is better than Tahajjud, one man is doing Tahajjud everyday at midnight 365 days himself, what is the better in Ramadhaan Tahajjud or Taraaweeh? Please give me the clear answer as soon as possible, please keep me in your all supplications brother in Islam.

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

 

The scholars differed in opinion with regard to whether or not it is better to perform Taraaweeh prayers in congregation or individually if this does not affect the congregational prayer. So some scholars are of the view that performing Taraaweeh prayers individually is better, while some others believe that performing them in congregation is better. Ibn Qudaamah giving evidence that congregational Taraaweeh prayers are better, said: 'Our evidence in this is that the companions prayed the congregational Taraaweeh prayers, and the Prophet gathered his companions and his wives for this purpose, as he said to Abu Tharr : "When people perform the night prayer with an Imaam until the latter finishes, they will be given the reward of praying a whole night'.

Therefore, in our view, it is better to perform Taraaweeh prayers in congregation than performing them individually in the middle of the night, because if one prays in congregation he gets the reward of praying for the whole night, as the Prophet said: "Whoever performs the night prayer with an Imaam until the latter finishes, he is given the reward of praying for a whole night". [An-Nasaa'ee] However, if one prays individually in the middle of the night, he gets the reward of praying half of the night only.

Finally, it should be noted that the statement of 'Umar : "And the prayer which they do not perform, but sleep at its time is better than the one they are offering." [He meant the prayer in the last part of the night]; does not mean that praying individually at the last part of the night is better than performing the prayer in congregation at the first part of the night. Ibn Hajar said: 'This [the statement of 'Umar ] is not an evidence that performing night prayers individually is better than performing them in congregation.'   

Allaah Knows best.

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