
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه reported: The Messenger of Allah


[Muslim]
Taraweeh consist of 20 rak'ats done in sets of 2, with a short break after every four. It is performed after Isha, before the Witr, in the month of Ramadaan.
Maulana Jameel Ahmed Sakrodhwi, in "Ashraful Hidayah sharh Al-Hidayah" v.2 p.202, explains:
"Taraweeh is Sunnah Mu'akkadah for both men and women and this is the correct opinion. Imam Abu Hanifa is also of the opinion that taraweeh is Sunnah Mu'akkadah."
Abdullah Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنه reported that: "During Ramadan, the Messenger

This hadith has been recorded by the following:
* Ibn Abi Shaybah (rh) in his Musannaf
* Imam Bayhaqi (rh) in his Sunan
* Tabraani (rh) in his Kabeer
* Ibn Adi (rh) in his Musnad
* Baghawi (rh) in his Majma Sahabah
"Al-Bayhaqi has related in al-Marifa (The full title is al-Marifatus-Sunan wa'l athar): 'In the time of Umar ibn al-Khattab (radiallahu anhu) the people used to observe 20 rak'ahs and the witr.' Al-Nawawi said in al-Khulasa: 'Its Isnad is Sahih.'"
"(Bayhaqi) has related in al-Sunan [2/496] - "In the time of Umar ibn al-Khattab, radiallahu anhu, they would perform 20 rak'ats in the month of Ramadan. He said (also): And they would recite the Mi'in (A group of medium sized chapters from the Qur'an), and they would lean on their sticks in the time of Uthman ibn Affan, radiallahu anhu, from the discomfort of standing." All the men in the (above) isnad are trustworthy, as mentioned by the Indian research scholar, Shaykh al-Nimawi, in Athar al-Sunan [2/54]."
The evidence which proves that Umar (radiallahu anhu) ordered the practise of 20 rak'ahs has been recorded by Shaykh Ali al-Muttaqi al-Hindi in the largest collection of Hadith available today: Kanz al-Ummal fi Sunan al-aqwal wal Af'al (4/284, no. 5787 (8 vols. 1st edn; Hyderabad, India, 1312-14 AH), reported by him on the authority of the Muhaddith, Ibn Man'i), as follows from Ubayy ibn Ka'b (radiallahu anhu): "Umar (radiallahu anhu) ordered him (Ubayy) to lead the people in prayer at night in Ramadan, because the people fast during the day and can not recite (the Qur'an) well, therefore it is better that you should recite (the Qur'an) during the night. I (Ubayy) asked: "O commander of the believers, this thing was not done before." He said: "I know, but it is a good practise", and so (Ubayy) led (the Companion's) for 20 rak'ahs."
In "Fatawa Rahimiyyah", v.2 p.253 to 258, Mufti Abdul Raheem Lajpuri gives overwhelming evidence making it clear without a doubt that twenty rak'ah taraweeh salah was accepted by everyone. This is reproduced below:
"Here we will cite a few excerpts making it clear that twenty Rakaahs Taraweeh salah has been accepted by the Ummah throughout the ages:
1. Imam Tirmidhi (rh) [passed away 279 AH] states that 'Umar رضي الله عنه, 'Ali رضي الله عنه, Sufyan Thawri (rh) and Imam Shafi'i (rh) all accept the taraweeh salah as being twenty Rakaahs. He quoted Imam Shafi'i رضي الله عنه as saying that he saw the people of Makkah performing twenty Rakaahs. (Tirmidhi, v.1 p.99)
2. The famous compilation of Ahadith Kanzul Ummaal (v.2 p.284) reports that after 'Umar رضي الله عنه instructed Ubay bin Ka'b رضي الله عنه to lead the people in twenty rak'ah of taraweeh salah, Ubay رضي الله عنه then led the Sahabah رضى الله عنها and Tabi'een in twenty rak'ah.
3. Bayhaqi (v.1 p.492; Nasbur Ra'yah, v.1 p.294) reports a narration in which Sa'ib bin Yazid رضي الله عنه states that they performed twenty rak'ah taraweeh during the periods of 'Umar رضي الله عنه, 'Uthman رضي الله عنه and 'Ali رضي الله عنه.
4. The other narration of Yazid bin Rooman (rh) in the Muwatta of Imam Malik (p.40) states that during the Khilafah of 'Umar رضي الله عنه, people performed 23 rak'ah of taraweeh together with the Witr salah.
5. Ma'rifatus Sitta quotes an authentic narration from Imam Bayhaqi (v.1 p.477; his Sunan Kubra, v.2 p.496) stating that 'Ali رضي الله عنه summoned the Qurra in Ramadan and appointed someone to lead the people in the twenty rak'ah of taraweeh salah. 'Ali رضي الله عنه then himself led the witr salah.
6. The Muhaddith ibn Qudaamah (rh) writes in his al-Mughni (v.1 p.803) that the Sahabah رضى الله عنها were unanimous about performing twenty rak'ah taraweeh.
7. The research of the Muhaddith Ibn Hajar Haythami (rh) also reveals that the Sahabah رضى الله عنها were unanimous about performing twenty rak'ah taraweeh. (Tuhfatul Akhyaar, p.197)
8.The famous Hafidh of Hadith Allama Abdul Birr (rh) says that it is a fact that the Sahabah performed twenty rak'ah taraweeh during Khilafah of 'Umar رضي الله عنه. (Mirqaat, v.2 p.174)
9. Allama ibn Taymiyyah (rh) writes that Ubay bin Ka'b رضي الله عنه led the Sahabah رضى الله عنها in twenty rak'ah taraweeh during the Khilafah of 'Umar رضي الله عنه. (Fatawa Ibn Taymiyyah, v.1 p.148). He further writes (v.1 p.191) that because Ubay led the Sahabah رضى الله عنها in twenty rak'ah taraweeh and three rak'ah witr during Ramadan, most 'Ulema regard this to be a Sunnah because all of the Muhajireen and Ansaar performed the salah without an objection from any of them.
10. Imam Sharaani (rh) writes, "'Umar رضي الله عنه then gave the instruction for 23 rak'ah to be performed, three being the witr salah. This was then practiced in all the cities." (Kashful Ghumma, v.1 p.167)
11. The famous scholar of Ahl al-Hadith Nawab Siddique Hasan believes that "'Ulema regard as ijma the twenty rak'ah taraweeh salah that was performed during the Khilafah of 'Umar رضي الله عنه. (Awnul Bari, v.4 p.307)
12. Allama Bahrul Uloom (rh) writes that twenty rak'ah taraweeh became a matter of consensus. (Rasaa'il al-Arkaan, p.138)
13. Allama Ibn al-Humam (rh) says that consensus was eventually reached that the taraweeh salah comprises of twenty rak'ah and this is what has been passed on from generation to generation. (Fathul Qadeer, v.1 p.407)
14. Allama Ayni (rh) says, "During the Khilafah of 'Umar رضي الله عنه, the Sahabah رضى الله عنها performed twenty rak'ah taraweeh and this continued during the Khilafah of 'Uthman رضي الله عنه and 'Ali رضي الله عنه. (Ayni's commentary of Bukhari, v.7 p.178)
15. When Imam Abu Yusuf (rh) asked Imam Abu Hanifa (rh) whether 'Umar رضي الله عنه had any proof from Rasulallah

16. The Muwatta of Imam Muhammad (p.11-12) reads, "We go by this (twenty rak'ah taraweeh).....because the Muslims (the Sahabah) were unanimous about it and saw it to be a good act. It has been reported that Rasulallah

17. The following appears in the book Al-Mutaqaa min Akhbaaril Mustafa (p.78), "During the Khilafah of 'Umar رضي الله عنه, the Sahabah رضى الله عنها and others performed 23 rak'ah, which included the witr salah."
18. Yahya bin Sa'eed Ansari (rh) who was the Qadhi of Madinah says that 'Umar رضي الله عنه instructed someone to lead the people in twenty rak'ah taraweeh salah. The narration is authentic albeit mursal. (Ibn Abi Saybah, p.406; Aathaarus Sunan, v.2 p.55)
19. Abdul Aziz bin Rafi' (rh) says that Ubay bin Ka'b رضي الله عنه led the people of Madinah in twenty rak'ah taraweeh and three rak'ah witr. This narration is also authentic albeit mursal. (Ibn Abi Saybah, p.406; Aathaarus Sunan, v.2 p.55)
20. Abul Khaseeb (rh) says, "Suwayd bin Ghafala رضي الله عنه used to lead us in Ramadan with five resting periods and twenty rak'ah." The narration is authentic. (Bayhaqi, v.2 p.496; Aathaarus Sunan, v.2 p.55)
21. Shutayr bin Shakal (rh) who was the student of 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud رضي الله عنه used to lead the people in twenty rak'ah taraweeh salah and three rak'ah witr. This narration is also authentic. (Bayhaqi, v.2 p.496; Qiyaamil Layl, p.91; Mirqaat, v.2 p.174)
22. The eminent Tabi'ee and Mufti of Makkah Ataa bin Abi Rabaah (rh) says that he found the Sahabah رضى الله عنها and others performing 23 rak'ah (taraweeh salah) together with the witr. (Ibn Ani Shaybah, v.1 p.406; Qiyaamul Layl, p.91, Fath al-Bari, v.4 p.219; Aathaarus Sunan, v.2 p.55)
23. Naafi (rh) who was the student of 'Abdullah bin 'Umar رضي الله عنه says that ibn Mulaykah (rh) used to lead them in twenty rak'ah taraweeh salah during Ramadan. The narration is authentic. (Aathaarus Sunan, v.2 p.56)
24. A'mash (rh) reports that 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud رضي الله عنه used to perform twenty rak'ah taraweeh salah and three rak'ah witr. (Umdatul Qari, v.11 p.127; Qiyaamul Layl, p.91)
25. Abul Bakhtari (rh) also took five resting periods and performed three rak'ah witr. (Ibn Abi Shaybah, p.406)
26. Abul Hasana (rh) says, "'Ali رضي الله عنه instructed someone to lead us in twenty rak'ah taraweeh with five resting periods. (Sunan Kubra of Bayhaqi, v.2 p.496). This narration is authentic. (See Jawaahirun Naqi, v.1 p.208 and Umdatul Qari, v.11 p.127 for details on authenticity)
27. Muhammad bin Ka'b Qurazi رضي الله عنه also says that the Sahabah رضى الله عنها performed twenty rak'ah taraweeh during the time of 'Umar رضي الله عنه. (Qiyaamul Layl, p.91)
28. Sa'eed bin Ubayd (rh) reports that 'Ali bin Rabee'ah (rh) took five resting periods and performed three rak'ah witr during Ramadan. This narration is authentic. (Aathaarus Sunan, v.2 p.56)
29. Allama Subki Shafi'i (rh) writes, "We believe that the taraweeh salah is twenty rak'ah, as proven by authentic narrations." (Sharhul Minhaaj)
30. Abdul Qadir Jaylani (rh) says, "It comprises of twenty rak'ah with every two rak'ah ending with sitting and salam.....a person should make the intention of performing the taraweeh salah before every two rak'ah." (Ghunyatut Talibeen, v.2 p.10-11)
31. Imam Ghazali (rh) writes, "The taraweeh salah comprises of twenty rak'ah and is Sunnah Mu'akkadah. The method of performing it is well known." (Ihyaa'ul Uloom, v.1 p.208). He also writes, "Twenty rak'ah is the opinion of the consensus of 'Ulema because of the narration of Yazid bin Rooman (rh) in the Muwatta of Imam Malik, stating that during the Khilafah of 'Umar رضي الله عنه, people performed 23 rak'ah of taraweeh together with witr salah. (Ihyaa'ul Uloom, v.2 p.66)
32. Ahmad Roomi (rh) says, "There were a great number of Sahabah رضى الله عنها present at the time (when 'Umar رضي الله عنه instructed Ubay رضي الله عنه to lead them in twenty rak'ah taraweeh). Amongs them were 'Uthman رضي الله عنه, 'Ali رضي الله عنه, Abdullah ibn Mas'ud رضي الله عنه, 'Abbas رضي الله عنه and his son, Talha رضي الله عنه, Zubayr رضي الله عنه, Mu'aadh رضي الله عنه and many other Muhajireen and Ansar. None of them objected to 'Umar رضي الله عنه, but rather supported him and practiced accordingly with steadfastness. In fact, 'Ali made du'a for 'Umar saying, "May Allah illuminate his grave just as he illuminated our Masaajid." Rasulallah

33. Shah Waliullah Muhaddith Dehlawi (rh) also writes that the taraweeh salah during the times of the Sahabah رضي الله عنه and tabi'een comprised of twenty rak'ah. (Hujjatullahi Baaligha, v.2 p.67)
34. Shah Abdul Aziz Muhaddith Dehlawi (rh) also mentions that consensus was reached amongst the Sahabah رضي الله عنه to perform twenty rak'ah taraweeh and three rak'ah witr. (Majmoo'ah Fatawa Azizi, v.1 p.162)
35. Maulana Qutbud Deen Khan Muhaddith Dehlawi (rh) also mentions that consensus was reached amongst the Sahabah رضى الله عنها to perform twenty rak'ah taraweeh. (Mazaahirul Haqq, v.1 p.433)
36. Allama Shabbir Ahmed Uthmani (rh) writes that since none of the Sahabah رضى الله عنها ever differed about the twenty rak'ah, all scholars are unanimous about it. (Fathul Mulhim, v.2 p.320)
Allama Nawawi (rh) writes in his commentary of Muslim that the twenty rak'ah taraweeh is a hallmark of Islam just like the Eid salahs (v.1 p.259). Therefore, the Ta'leeqaat of Hidayah (v.1 p.131) states that anyone performing only eight rak'ah of taraweeh will be guilty of forsaking the Sunnah."