Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

is tarawih prayer a nafl or sunnat?

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Tarawih Prayer a Nafl or Sunnah

There are two kinds of prayers:

• The ‘fard’ or obligatory prescribed prayers.
• The ‘nafl’ or non-obligatory or voluntary prayers.

If one performs the ‘fard’ prayers, there is a huge reward from Allah Subhanah; and if one does not perform the ‘fard’ prayers, it is a huge sin.  If one performs the ‘nafl’ prayers, there is a reward from Allah Subhanah; and if one does not perform the ‘nafl’ prayers, there is no sin.

The ‘nafl’ prayers which the Messenger of Allah (saws) prayed, are thus ‘Sunnah’ for the believers.

The Taraweeh prayers are ‘nafl’ prayers, and were prayed by the Messenger of Allah (saws), thus they are Sunnah for us; but they are not obligatory or fard.

Thus if one prays the Taraweeh prayers, there is a huge reward from Allah Subhanah; and if one does not pray them, there is no sin.  The most one can say for a person who does not perform the Taraweeh prayers, is that he misses an opportunity to receive huge rewards from Allah Subhanah.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan