IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, THE MOST GRACIOUS, THE MOST MERCIFUL
THE FIFTH SERMON FOR THE MONTH OF SHA’BAN
DATED: 29/8/1446 AH – 28/2/2025 CE
TOPIC: THE IMPORTANCE OF PERFORMING TARAWIH PRAYER IN RAMADAN
THE FIRST SERMON
All praise is due to Allah alone, Who has made the month of Ramadan a month of forgiveness, guidance, mercy, and glad tidings for the believers who act upon their faith. He says in His clear Revelation:
(شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنْزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِنَ الْهُدَى وَالْفُرْقَانِ فَمَنْ شَهِدَ مِنْكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ وَمَنْ كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا اللَّهَ عَلَى مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ)
“The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur’an—a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So, whoever among you witnesses the month, let him fast it. But whoever is ill or on a journey—then an equal number of days [are to be made up]. Allah intends ease for you and does not intend hardship, and [He wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you, and perhaps you will be grateful.” (Al-Baqarah: 185)
We praise Him, the Most Glorified and Exalted, thank Him, believe in Him, and rely upon Him. May peace and blessings be upon His Messenger, his family, his companions, and those who follow them in righteousness until the Day of Judgment.
O Servants of Allah!
I advise you and myself to have Taqwa (consciousness of Allah) both in private and in public, for it is the ultimate purpose behind all acts of worship and divine commands and prohibitions. Allah, the Exalted, says
(يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ اتَّقُواْ اللّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلاَ تَمُوتُنَّ إِلاَّ وَأَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ)
“O you who have believed, fear Allah as He should be feared and do not die except as Muslims [in submission to Him].” (Aal ‘Imran: 102)
Brothers in Faith!
This is our fifth gathering in the blessed month of Sha’ban. We have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the blessed month of Ramadan, and its crescent moon may be sighted tonight. If not, then we complete Sha’ban as thirty days. We ask Allah, the Most High, to allow us to reach Ramadan with faith, safety, well-being, and abundant blessed sustenance.
Ramadan is the month of forgiveness, mercy, goodness, and blessings, and today’s sermon revolves around the importance of performing the Tarawih prayer in Ramadan as an essential act of worship in this blessed month.
Honorable Muslims! Among Allah’s blessings upon us and all people is that He has made Ramadan a season for worship and devotion. Just as He has obligated fasting in this month, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) prescribed standing in prayer at night. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“Whoever stands (in prayer) during Ramadan with faith and seeking reward, his past sins will be forgiven.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari [37] and Muslim [759])
Muslims spend their days in Ramadan fasting and their nights in prayer. The Tarawih prayer is a confirmed Sunnah and carries many beautiful Ramadan memories—gathering in unity, listening to the Qur’an in melodious recitations, engaging in supplication, humility, and the heartfelt moments of Qunoot (special supplication). These are among the many spiritual and faith-enhancing acts of worship during this month.
Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that when mentioning the times of the Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) prayers, he said:
“And [regarding] the ‘Isha (night prayer), sometimes he would delay it and sometimes he would pray it earlier. If he saw the people had gathered early, he would pray early; and if he saw that they were late, he would delay it.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari [1/141] and Muslim [646])
In some countries, people have developed a habit of delaying the ‘Isha prayer in Ramadan by about half an hour or so after its initial time, allowing people to break their fast comfortably and prepare for ‘Isha and Tarawih. This practice is permissible, provided that the imam does not delay the prayer to a time that causes difficulty for the congregation. The best approach is for the local mosque attendees to agree upon a suitable time, as they know best what is convenient for them.
And the night prayer in Ramadan was called Tarawih because the righteous predecessors (may Allah have mercy on them) used to rest after every two or four rak‘ahs due to their exertion in prolonging the prayer, seeking the great reward of this blessed season. They were keen on the reward mentioned in the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
“Whoever stands [in prayer] during Ramadan with faith and seeking reward, his past sins will be forgiven.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari)
If one has to choose between praying Tarawih in congregation at the beginning of the night or praying alone at the end of the night, then praying in congregation is better, as it is counted as if he has prayed the whole night. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed Tarawih in the mosque for several nights with his companions but then refrained from continuing, fearing that it might become obligatory upon them. It was narrated by Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that:
“The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed in the mosque one night, and some people followed him in prayer. Then he prayed the next night, and more people joined him. On the third or fourth night, people gathered again, but the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) did not come out to them. When morning came, he said: ‘I saw what you did, but nothing prevented me from coming out to you except that I feared it would be made obligatory upon you.’ And that was in Ramadan.” (Reported by Al-Muwatta’)
The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) continued this practice after him, and the Ummah accepted it. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) also said:
“Whoever prays with the imam until he finishes, it will be recorded for him as if he prayed the whole night.” (Reported by At-Tirmidhi)
And he said: “Whoever stands [in prayer] during Ramadan with faith and seeking reward, his past sins will be forgiven.” (Agreed upon)
Thus, it is an established Sunnah that a Muslim should not abandon.
Dear Servants of Allah, Regarding the Number of Rak‘ahs
There is no fixed number reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and the matter is flexible. Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
“A person may pray twenty rak‘ahs, as is well-known from the Madhhab of Ahmad and Ash-Shafi‘i, or thirty-six rak‘ahs, as is the view of Malik, or eleven or thirteen rak‘ahs, and all of these are good. The number of rak‘ahs can be increased or decreased depending on the length of the standing (Qiyam) and recitation.”
Umar ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) gathered the people behind Ubayy ibn Ka‘b, and he led them in twenty rak‘ahs. The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) varied in the number they prayed; some prayed more, while others prayed less. There is no specific limit set by the Shari‘ah.
Regarding the Manner of Praying Tarawih
Many imams in mosques pray in a way that lacks proper reflection, without ensuring tranquility in bowing and prostration, even though tranquility (tuma’ninah) is a pillar of the prayer. The essence of prayer is the presence of the heart before Allah, absorbing the admonition from His recited words. This cannot be achieved with undue haste, which is disliked.
Praying fewer rak‘ahs with longer recitation and tranquility is better than praying more rak‘ahs in a rushed manner, as the essence of prayer is the heart’s devotion to Allah. Sometimes, a little done with sincerity is better than a lot done heedlessly. Likewise, reciting the Qur’an with proper articulation is superior to hastening through it. The permissible speed of recitation is one in which no letters are dropped; if letters are omitted due to excessive speed, it becomes impermissible and must be avoided. However, if the recitation is clear and benefits those praying behind the imam, then it is praiseworthy.
A Ruling on Joining Tarawih if One Missed ‘Isha
If one misses the ‘Isha prayer and finds the imam leading Tarawih, it is preferable to join the congregation with the intention of praying ‘Isha. When the imam finishes, the person completes the remaining rak‘ahs of ‘Isha rather than praying alone or forming another group, to avoid multiple congregations occurring simultaneously, which may cause confusion and overlapping voices.
The correct opinion is that it is permissible for someone performing an obligatory prayer to follow an imam who is performing a voluntary prayer. The evidence for this is the narration that Mu‘adh ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) used to pray ‘Isha with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and then return to lead his people in the same prayer, which was voluntary for him but obligatory for them.
Imam An-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) preferred this view and stated:
“If someone prays ‘Isha behind the Tarawih prayer, it is valid. When the imam finishes, the person should stand up to complete the remaining two rak‘ahs. It is preferable to complete them individually. If the imam then proceeds to pray two more rak‘ahs of Tarawih and the person joins him again with the intention of completing ‘Isha, there are two opinions regarding its validity. The correct view is that it is valid.”
Making Up Missed Taraweeh Prayers
If you have missed some rak‘ahs of Taraweeh and wish to make them up, you should first even out the Witr prayer with the imam, then pray what you missed, and finally perform Witr on your own. Evening out the Witr with the imam means that you do not say the final salutation with him in Witr. Instead, you should stand up and perform one more rak‘ah before saying the salutation.
It is authentically reported that when Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) gathered the companions for Taraweeh prayer, they used to pray twenty rak‘ahs, reciting about thirty verses from Surah Al-Baqarah in each rak‘ah—approximately four or five pages. They would complete Surah Al-Baqarah in eight rak‘ahs, and if they spread it over twelve rak‘ahs, they considered it a lighter recitation.
This is the Sunnah regarding Taraweeh. If the imam recites lightly, he should increase the number of rak‘ahs, even up to forty-one, as stated by some scholars. However, if he prefers to pray only eleven or thirteen rak‘ahs, he should prolong the recitation and the bowing and prostration. There is no fixed number for Taraweeh; rather, the essential requirement is that the prayer be performed with tranquility and deliberation, lasting at least about an hour.
There is no harm in the imam reciting from the mushaf (physical copy of the Quran) during Qiyam in Ramadan. This helps ensure that the entire Quran is conveyed to the congregation. The legal evidences from the Quran and Sunnah support the permissibility of reciting the Quran in prayer, whether from memory or from the mushaf. It is authentically reported that Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) instructed her servant, Dhakwan, to lead her in Qiyam during Ramadan while reciting from the mushaf. This was mentioned by Imam Al-Bukhari in his Sahih as a confirmed narration.
THE SECOND SERMON
Indeed, all praise is due to Allah. We praise Him, seek His help, and seek His forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allah from the evils of our own selves and from the consequences of our deeds. Whomsoever Allah guides, none can misguide, and whomsoever He misguides, none can guide. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, with no partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.
As for what follows:
O noble servants of Allah! Ramadan is the month of mercy, multiplied rewards, and the expiation of sins and transgressions. The true winner among us is the one who seizes this opportunity, using it as a means for repentance and returning to Allah, the Most Forgiving and Most Merciful.
O servants of Allah! Whoever hastens to perform good deeds will attain them. Whoever strives against his own self will gain control over it. Whoever follows the straight path will reach his destination. Whoever sincerely seeks piety will achieve it.
Allah Almighty says:
(إنّما هذه الحياة الدّنيا متاع وإنّ الآخرة هي دار القرار.من عمل سيّئة فلا يجزى إلاّ مثلها ومن عمل صالحا من ذكر أو أنثى وهو مؤمن فأولئك يدخلون الجنّة يرزقون فيها بغير حساب)
“O my people! This worldly life is only temporary enjoyment, and indeed, the Hereafter is the home of permanent settlement. Whoever does an evil deed will not be recompensed except with the like of it, but whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while they are believers, those will enter Paradise, where they will be provided for without measure.” (Ghafir: 39-40)
Here is the door of repentance, O servants of Allah—it has been opened for us, its time has arrived, and its opportunity is now! So come forth, O believers, and renew your repentance. Rush towards your Lord and the Sovereign of all affairs, for He has said: (فَمَنْ تَابَ مِنْ بَعْدِ ظُلْمِهِ وَأَصْلَحَ فَإِنَّ اللهَ يَتُوبُ عَلَيْهِ إِنَّ اللهَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ)
“But whoever repents after his wrongdoing and reforms, indeed, Allah will accept his repentance. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.”(Al-Ma’idah: 39)
A Call to Repentance and Renewal
I invite you, my beloved brothers in faith, and myself to open a new page with Allah—a bright and pure page, beginning with sincere and truthful repentance and a firm intention to adhere to righteousness. Let us not neglect this opportunity as we have neglected past ones. Blessed is the servant who hastens to obey his Lord, makes a resolute decision, and overcomes his desires. Such a person will rejoice on the Day of Judgment, as Allah warns:
(أَنْ تَقُولَ نَفْسٌ يَا حَسْرَتَنَا عَلَى مَا فَرَّطْتُ فِي جَنْبِ اللهِ وإِنْ كُنْتُ لَمِنَ السَّاخِرِينَ)
“Lest a soul should say: ‘Oh, how I deeply regret my negligence in my duty to Allah, and that I was indeed among those who ridiculed’” (Az-Zumar: 56).
Know, O servants of Allah, that repentance is not only for the forgiveness of sins. It is, in itself, a great and independent act of worship, required of all—both the righteous and the sinful, the guilty and the innocent. Everyone is commanded to repent, continuously and repeatedly, at all times. Reflect on the words of the Almighty:
(وتوبوا إلى الله جميعا أيّها المؤمنون لعلّكم تفلحون)
“And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, so that you may succeed.”(An-Nur: 31)
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) also said: “O people! Turn to Allah in repentance and seek His forgiveness, for I repent to Allah one hundred times a day.”
If this was the state of the best of creation, whose past and future sins had been forgiven, then what should be the condition of people like us, who are full of shortcomings?
Supplication (Du‘a’)
O Allah, we seek Your forgiveness and turn to You in repentance. O Allah, Your forgiveness is more vast than our sins, Your pardon is nearer to us than Your wrath, and Your mercy is more hopeful for us than our deeds. So forgive us and accept our repentance, O Most Merciful of the merciful.
O Allah, O Ever-Living, O Sustainer, O Possessor of Majesty and Honor, O Lord of invincible might! We ask You to deal with the oppressive and occupying Zionists in Palestine and all Muslim lands. Deal with those who support them, those who obey their falsehood, those who justify their evil, those who extend their misguidance, and those who assist them in their oppression. O Allah, take vengeance on those who unjustly kill the innocent, detain the honorable without right, and harm Muslims and peaceful people without just cause.
O Allah, do not guide their schemes, for they are traitors. Do not bless their actions, for they are corrupt. Do not fulfill their desires or grant them success, for they are oppressors. O Allah, obstruct them from achieving their plans and desires. Increase them only in downfall and failure, for they are falsehood incarnate. O Allah, do not raise their banners, do not grant them victory, do not allow them to achieve their goals. Disgrace them, and make them an example and a lesson for others.
O Allah, send peace and blessings upon our master Muhammad, and upon his family, his companions, and those who follow them in righteousness until the Day of Judgment.