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Fatwa CenterSalah al-Qiyam
Question
Is it permissible for women to pray Salat ul-Qiyam in Rak’ah of four rather than two?
Answer
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.
The Sunnah in praying Taraweeh is to pray two Rak'ahs, two Rak'ahs. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: "Night prayer should be two Rak'ahs, two Rak'ahs, ….etc." [Reported by Imams Muslim and Al Bukhari]
But if the Muslim prays Taraweeh in four Rak'ahs, four Rak'ahs or more this is permissible. In this case, he misses the reward of the preferable Sunnah.
As for Ayisha's (Radiya Allahu Anha) Hadith: "He (the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam)) used to pray four Rak'ahs,…..", it is reported by Al Bukhari and Muslim. What is meant in this Hadith is that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) used to pray four Rak'ahs, but he used to make Tasleem after each two Rak'ahs. The evidence for this is the Hadith narrated by Ayisha (Radiya Allahu Anha) herself that: "The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) used to pray eleven Rak'ahs between Isha and Fajr, and used to say Salaam after each two Rak'ahs." [Abu Dawud]
Having established the above know that there is no difference for males or females regarding this issue.
Allah knows best.
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