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Fatwa CenterThis report about Taraaweeh is not authentic as Marfoo
Question
In the following Hadith there is mention of Taraweeh prayer in the English translation. 1.Is it actually Taraweeh?as some Muslim groups say there is no Taraweeh and the prayer Prophet(peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)prayed in Ramadhan is actually Witr which he(peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) prayed after Isha. 2.Is this Hadeeth Sahih? 3.Can this Hadeeth be used to refute people who say there is no special Taraweeh prayer? The Hadith is in Abu Dawood Book 13 Number 2334.I think in Arabic number might be different.This is the Hadith. Narrated Ikrimah(Allah be pleased with him):Once the people doubted the appearance of moon of Ramadan,and intented neither to offer the TARAWEEH prayer nor to keep the fast.A beduin came from al-Harrah and testified that he sighted the moon.He was brought to the Prophet(peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).He asked “Do you testify that there is no god but Allah and I am the apostle of Allah?He said yes,and he testified that he sighted the moon.He commanded Bilal who announced to the people to offer the TARAWEEH prayer and to keep the fast”.Was Salaam.
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.
This report from the Prophet 
was narrated by a chain of transmission that is Marfoo’ (i.e. reaching the Prophet ). It was also narrated by another chain of transmission that is mursal (i.e. short of the companion who heard the report from the Prophet). Among those who narrated this report as a mursal is Abu Daawood, and among those who narrated it as Marfoo’ is Al-Haakim who considered it as authentic. However, the correct position is that this report is authentic as a mursal, but it is unauthentic as Marfoo’.
At any case, what is meant by Qiyaam (night payer) that is mentioned in this report, is the prayer of Taraaweeh (Ramadan’s night prayer) which is concluded by the prayer of Witr, and this is what the companions 
did.
In addition, Al-Bukhari 
in his authentic book of Hadeeth, named a chapter, “the Prayer of Taraaweeh”. Moreover, An-Nawawi named a chapter in his commentary book about Muslim’s compilation of Hadeeth, “Encouragement to Pray Night Prayer in Ramadan which is Taraaweeh.”
Thus, our scholars followed one another in naming the night prayer of Ramadan, “the prayer of Taraaweeh” which is concluded by the prayer of Witr, as we said earlier, and can be prayed in congregation only in Ramadan, and not in any other time.
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