Part I: Importance of its Establishment

‘Abdul Rahman ibn ‘Auf Radhi-Allahu ‘anhu narrated that Rasulullāh Sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam said, “Verily Allah made the fasting of Ramadan compulsory upon you and I have made its standing (in salāh) sunnah for you. Hence, whoever finds the month of Ramadan and stands (in prayers) in Ramadan with faith and hoping for reward will emerge from his sins like the day his mother gave birth to him.” (Nasai, Ahmad)

 

Due to the considered risk of contracting the Covid-19 resulting from mass congregations, we have been advisedly urged to maintain social distancing. The state is also enforcing a lockdown which has been extended well into Ramadan.

 

This has adversely affected many religious congregational observances, among them being Taraweeh. On this note, the Jamiatul Ulama South Africa (JUSA) hereby provides some guidance for the benefit of our Muslim community.

 

Performance of Taraweeh is an established practice of the Ummah. Its performance should be upheld at all costs. Non-performance of Taraweeh with a disregard to its importance is a sin. Taraweeh should therefore be performed, like all other emphasized prayers, despite the constraining circumstances imposed by the measures taken in order to contain the pandemic.

 

A concerted effort should be made to perform the Taraweeh Salāh in congregation at home. Please take note of the placements/ positions for males, children and females when performing salāh in congregation. (See our Covid-19 Guidelines No. 9)

 

At any stage when circumstances change and we are able to return to our masajid after regulations that limit gatherings in public places are lifted, then all salāhs, including Taraweeh Salāh, should be performed in the masajid. JUSA will then accordingly issue relevant guidelines applicable at that point, in-sha-Allah.

 

Part II: Manner of Congregation at Home

 

Method of Taraweeh Salāh

1. After calling out the adhān for Esha Salāh, perform four rak’āts sunnah ghayr muakkadah.
2. Call out the iqāmah, and perform the Esha Salāh in congregation.
3. Perform two sunnah rak’āts.
4. Perform twenty rak’āts of Taraweeh in units of two rak’āts.
5. Rest a little after every four rak’āts.
6. Perform Witr Salāh aloud.

 

Miscellaneous

• The performance of twenty rak’āts for Taraweeh is an established practice of the Shari’ah.

 

• It is sunnah to complete the Qur’an during the Taraweeh and a concerted effort should be made to do so in those homes wherein a hafidh is able to.

 

• If a person leading the Taraweeh Salāh is not a hafidh of the entire Qur’an, then he may recite from memory whichever sūrahs or portions of the Qur’an he has memorised.

 

• In the instance of memorising less than twenty sūrahs, there is no harm in repeating some sūrahs in various rak’āts.

 

• A child (non-baligh) is not permitted to lead adults in salāh, even though he may have memorised extensive sections of the Qur’an. He may, however, lead other children in salāh.

 

• A child that is of discerning age (close to becoming baligh) may correct the mistakes of the imam.

 

• A female is not permitted to lead others in prayers. If she is a hafidhah, she may perform herTaraweeh on her own.

 

• According to the Hanafi Madh-hab, it is not permissible to perform salāh whilst reciting by reading from the text of the Qur’an. Such a salāh will be nullified and will have to be repeated. Similarly, if a muqtadi [follower] corrects the imam by reading from the Qur’an and on that basis the imam corrects himself, the salāh will be nullified and will have to be repeated. According to the Shafi’, Madh-hab, it is permissible to recite whilst reading from the Qur’an.

 

• ‘Virtual’ Taraweeh (i.e. following an imam via any live-streaming digital platform) is not permissible.