“And say, ‘My Lord, increase me in knowledge.” (Qur’an 20:114)
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Most people who study Islam or who are Muslims know that when it comes to Tarawih prayers in the month of Ramadan there is a juristic difference among the Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah.
One view holds that Muslims are to do 8 rakats (2, by 2, by 2, by 2). This completes the Tarawih prayers.
However, the other view is that Muslims are to do 20 rakats.
However, what most people are not aware of is the practice in Southeast Asia where the jamāʿah is split after the mention of Uthman ibn Affan. Interestingly enough, this coincides with the 8 cycle rakats.
The mention of Ali Ibn Abi Tallib begins the 12 cycle rakats.
What do we mean?
After the Isha prayers the Bilal will begin with the following phrase:
صَلُّوا سُنَّةَ التَّرَاوِيحِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ جَامِعَةً رَحِمَكُمُ اللَّهُ
Offer the Sunnah Tarawih prayer, two rak’ats in congregation, may Allah have mercy on you!
The congretation replies:
الصَّلَاةُ، لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ
The prayer! There is no god but Allah, Muhammed is the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.
Before the first two cycles of Tarawih the Bilal will say the following phrase:
فَضْلًا مِنَ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى وَنِعْمَةً، اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ
Grace and favor are from Allah the Almighty. O Allah, send blessings upon our master Muhammed!
The congregation replies:
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ وَسَلِّمْ عَلَيْهِ
O Allah, send blessings and peace upon him!
Then two rakats of Tarawih prayer are done.
Before the next two are offered the Bilal will say the following phrase:
الْخَلِيفَةُ الأَوَّلُ سَيِّدُنَا أَبُو بَكْرٍ الصِّدِّيقُ
The First Caliph, our master Abu Bakr as-Siddiq!
The congregation replies:
رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ وَأَرْضَاهُ، وَجَعَلَ الْجَنَّةَ مَثْوَاهُ، وَنَفَعَنَا بِهِ فِي الدِّينِ وَالدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ
May Allah be pleased with him and grant him contentment, make Paradise his abode, and benefit us through him in religion, this world, and the Hereafter.
Then two rakats of Tarawih prayer are done.
Before the next two are offered the Bilal will say the following phrase:
الْخَلِيفَةُ الثَّانِي سَيِّدُنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ
The Second Caliph, our master Umar ibn al-Khattab!
The congregation replies:
رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ وَأَرْضَاهُ، وَجَعَلَ الْجَنَّةَ مَثْوَاهُ، وَنَفَعَنَا بِهِ فِي الدِّينِ وَالدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ
May Allah be pleased with him and grant him contentment, make Paradise his abode, and benefit us through him in religion, this world, and the Hereafter.
Then two rakats of Tarawih prayer are done.
Before the next two are offered the Bilal will say the following phrase:
الْخَلِيفَةُ الثَّالِثُ سَيِّدُنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ عَفَّانَ
The Third Caliph, our master Uthman ibn Affan!
The congregation replies:
رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ وَأَرْضَاهُ، وَجَعَلَ الْجَنَّةَ مَثْوَاهُ، وَنَفَعَنَا بِهِ فِي الدِّينِ وَالدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ
May Allah be pleased with him and grant him contentment, make Paradise his abode, and benefit us through him in religion, this world, and the Hereafter.
Then two rakats of Tarawih prayer are done.
Intermission phase. At this point all the Muslims who believe in only doing 8 rakats of Tarawih leave the Masjid.
Interesting.
Now we continue on with doing 12 rakats of Tarawih.
So what is interesting here is that before the next two rakats of Tarawih the Bilal will say the following phrase:
الْخَلِيفَةُ الرَّابِعُ سَيِّدُنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ
The Fourth Caliph, our master Ali ibn Abi Talib!
The congregation replies:
رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ وَأَرْضَاهُ، وَجَعَلَ الْجَنَّةَ مَثْوَاهُ، وَنَفَعَنَا بِهِ فِي الدِّينِ وَالدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ
May Allah be pleased with him and grant him contentment, make Paradise his abode, and benefit us through him in religion, this world, and the Hereafter.
This completes the first two rakats of the next phase of twelve total.
May Allah Guide the Ummah.
May Allah Forgive the Ummah.
