Difference between Tahajjud & Taraweeh prayers

[ummtaalib]

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TAHAJJUD AND TARAWEEH PRAYERS?

 

 

Question:

Can you please provide a guidance to differentiate between Tahajjud and Taraweeh prayers? Some have belief that Taraweeh, Tahajjud and Qiyaam ul Layl all refer to same prayer while on many mosques both Tahajjud and Taraweeh prayers are offered in congregation. 
 

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

Qiyamul Layl literally means ‘standing at night’. Tahajjud and Taraweeh are Salahs performed at night, hence from a literal point of view, they are Qiyamul Layl.

However, Taraweeh is different from Tahajjud. Hereunder are the differences between Tahajjud and Taraweeh.

1)    Tahajjud is classified as a Nafl Salah, and Taraweeh is classified as a Sunna Salah. 

2)    Tahajjud can be prayed throughout the year, while Taraweeh is exclusively prayed in Ramadan. 
3)    Taraweeh is a 20 Rakat Salah, while Tahajjud could be any number of Rakats.

4)    Taraweeh should be prayed in congregation, while according to Imam Abu Hanifah, it is Makrooh to pray Tahajjud in congregation if there are more than 3 people. 

And Allah Ta‘āla Knows Best

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai (Rahimahullah)

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