Reciting Tasmiya Aloud in Taraweeh

Q: Does one have to read Tasmiyya loud before surah Baqarah? And what if it wasn't read then?

A: It is necessary to read Bismillah aloud at least once during the Taraweeh khatam. If this is not done then the Quran of the muqtadees will not be complete. However, the tasmiyah could be rendered before any surah. If it was not read before Surah Baqarah, it should be read later during the taraweeh.

Women Following Jamaat in Different Room

Q: In taraweeh salaah can women follow the men in a separate room and can we read behind non-mahrams?

A: Women may not follow a jamaat that is in a separate room. For the jamaat to be valid a muqtadees must be in the same room. It not permissible to read behind non-mehrams. If the jamaat consists of mehram males then the females may follow provided a screen separates them. Also note that this applies to the Taraweeh congregation that takes place at home. It is not permissible for females to attend the musjid for taraweeh salaah.

Four Rakaat Batches of Taraweeh

Q: Can ladies read 4 rakaats taraaweeh with one salaam?

A: Hanafis can read Taraaweeh Salaah in batches of four Rakaats. The Shaafi’ees cannot read the Taraweeh Salaah in batches of four Rakaa’ats. They must perform it in batches of two Rakaa’ats.

Moulana Yusuf Laher

Checked and approved by: Mufti Siraj Desai

Short Surahs in Taraweeh

Q: Is it permisible to read short surahs in Taraweeh Namaaz?

A: The Sunnah is to recite the entire Qur'aan at least once in Taraweeh. Short Surahs should only be recited if there is no Hafiz available. Notwithstanding this, the Taraweeh is valid if short Surahs are recited, for short Surahs are also part of the Qur'aan-e-Kareem. (Al-Fataawal Hindiyyah, Fiqhul-Ibadaat)

Prepared by Moulana Yusuf Laher
Checked and Ratified by:
Mufti Siraj Desai, Darul-Uloom Abubakr, Malabar, Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Taraweeh in Jamaat

Q: Is it also sunnat to perform the taraweeh in Jamaat?

A: Taraweeh is also sunnat in jamaat. Therefore, a person who performs his taraweeh alone, will not attain the sunnat reward of jamaat, although he would have fulfilled the basic sunnat of taraweeh only.

Position of Taraweeh in Shariah

Q: What is the position of Taraweeh in Shariah? Is it sunnat or nafl?

A: Rasoolullah (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: "Allah has made the fast of Ramadaan faradh upon you, and I have made its Qiyaam sunnat". (Tafseer Durre-Manthoor) The word Qiyaam, which means to offer salah, refers to the Taraweeh salah. (Mirqaat of Mulla Ali Qaari) From this hadith it is established that taraweeh is a sunnat of Rasoolullah (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), and this is the view of all four Schools of Thought. However, excluding the Maliki math-hab, the other three state that it is a Sunnat Muakkada (a strong sunnah). (Fiqh alal mathaahib-e-arba’)