Why we have too many options in Ramadan?

Question

In praying Taraweeh, Why we have an option between 8,12 and 20rakaat??

Answer 1

What I know is that the number of Rakaas for Taraweeh was not fixed by our Prophet (pbuh). The dis-agreement is due to difference in hadith and it should not be a matter of division among Muslims.  Majority of scholars and the correct opinion is that Taraweeh is  20 Rakaas.

It is reported by Hasan that Umar Ibnul Khattâb (Radiallâhu anhu) gathered the people with Ubayy Ibn Ka’b (Radiallâhu anhu) and he used to perform twenty raka!ât with them. (Abu Dawood, pg.1429

Four great  Mujtahids, Abu Hanifah, Malik, Shafi'i & Ahmad ibn Hanbal are in agreement that the Taraweeh consists of 20 rakats!

Those who justify 8 takes the following Hadith....

Abu Salamah ibn ‘Abd al-Rahmaan, asked ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her), “How did the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) pray during Ramadaan?” She said: “He did not pray more than eleven rak’ahs in Ramadaan OR ANY OTHER TIMES. ............. then he would pray three. ......"

Is there taraweeh in anyother month other than ramadan ? what was Ayesha (r.a.) referring to? taraweeh or tahajjud?.. So it is the Tahajjud.

The hadith of Ayesha(r.a.) was recorded by the imam's of hadith under the book of tahajjud.! So the Tarawih is 20 Rakaa is the most correct opinion. This is how Taraweeh is prayed in Masjid Nabawi in Madeena and also Masjidul Haram in Makkah from times of Sahaba (r.a) up till now.

Answer 2

beacuse Muhammad (saw) did 8, 12 and 20.

Answer 3

This is an article published in Arabnews:

The Taraweeh Prayer

Q. Could you please explain about the Taraweeh prayer and how many rak’ahs it should be? Some people maintain that it must be only 8 rak’ahs while it is offered in the two mosques of Makkah and Madinah in 20 rak’ahs. Which is the correct view?

Reza

A. Taraweeh is the name given to voluntary night prayer during the month of Ramadan. As such it is not different from other night prayer, normally called qiyam al-layl, or qiyam for short. Thus, we have to be clear: it is voluntary, or Sunnah. As such, it is not obligatory at all. This means that if a person does not offer a single rak’ah of Taraweeh prayer throughout the month, he does not incur a sin. He will have missed out on rich reward from God, but he will not have to account for his omission.

Bearing this in mind, to ask: how many rak’ahs we should pray in Taraweeh, is the wrong question, because there is no obligation. Since it is voluntary, a person may volunteer whatever he is pleased to volunteer. If he prays two rak’ahs he does well, and if he prays four he does better. This means that it is up to every individual to choose, according to personal circumstances, and the choice may differ from one day to another, according to how energetic or tired a person may be.

This leaves us with the frequently asked question of how many rak’ahs the Taraweeh prayer consists of. There are two views, both of which are supported by strong evidence. The first is that it is eight rak’ahs.

The advocates of this view cite several Hadiths confirming that the Prophet did not offer more than 11 or 13 rak’ahs of night worship on any night in Ramadan or at any other time. The 11 would consist of eight rak’ahs of Taraweeh in Ramadan and three in witr. The 13 would add two short rak’ahs of Sunnah before Taraweeh. The second view says that Taraweeh consists of 20 rak’ahs other than the witr. This relies on the common practice established ever since the time of the Prophet’s companions and maintained over the centuries.

Whichever view we take is good enough. If we prefer the first view, that it is eight rak’ahs we should not say that the other view is wrong. Likewise, if we uphold the second view, we should not criticize those who prefer the first one. What we should remember is that there is wide scope in Islam to accommodate both views, and that since this is a voluntary worship, it is left to the individual to decide.

Answer 4

The options are given for you to choose according to your times and strenght

Answer 5

Taraweeh prayer is optional so there is no mandatory #.  Obviously doing more is better :)

People who make issues out of things like how many rakah to do during taraweeh prayer really need to just spend more time in prayer.  It's really silly to make an issue out of it.  

Answer 6

Taraweeh means, you finish the whole quran in taraweeh and this is specially for Ramadan because Quran was revealed during ramadan so special hasanat, rewards by offering taraweeh. so it varies in rakaat as to depends in h ow many days they want to finish Quran. ~!