Ok. Maybe there's arguments for and against each opinion. But one thing is for sure, consistently leaving after 8 Rakats when the Imam has set out to pray 20 Rakats makes no sense at all. At least, I can't think of any explanation for this. If you want to pray 8 Rakats, find and go to a Masjid where they pray 8 Rakats, and, of course, vice-versa.
Those who leave after 8 Rakats in a 20-Rakat prayer are not only cheating the system but cutting themselves short. Think about it, if you leave every day after 8 Rakats, by the end of Ramadhan you will have heard only 8/20ths (i.e. only 40%) of the Qur'an. But then, I wonder, is it the difference of opinion that causes people to leave after 8 Rakats or just plain laziness?
3 comments:
> Your second paragraph has an underlying assumption that Taraweeh is conditional upon the whole Qur'aan being read...
You are right. It is not a requirement. But good for the heart and soul nonetheless to hear the Qur'an in completion.
> I know some Masaajid read a selection of ayaats... the idea being as Taraweeh is Sunnah (some say Nafl)the idea is to be focussed and concentrate...
Yes, I agree, it is important to have focus and concentration in Salah. Perhaps it is better to recite (and hear) less properly than recite more in a great hurry.
Well, sometimes its a balance between whether or not you will have the right intention if you do stay.
The way I see it, is like you pray a fard but then because of where you are and who is there you pray the sunnah too although you would not normally. In which case you have changed your salaah patterns for the people which is a form of hypocrisy I think. Allahu a3lam.
May Allah accept our worship and purify our intentions.
To clarify: my point was regarding those people who go out of their way to go to a 20-Rakat Salah Masjid so that the 8 Rakats they pray are shorter than if they were to go to their normal 8-Rakat Salah Masjid.
But yes, as you said, reward is according to intention, deep down each person knows his intention and Allah (SWT) knows best what is in our hearts.
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