Continuation...

Some see me praying Isha in the masjid and leaving straight after. Others look at me in surprise when I tell them I pray Tarawih at home. What's the fuss? Am I sinful, or am I losing ajr for praying at home instead of the masjid? Before mentioning the difference of opinion, let us unite the hearts by mentioning the issues of agreement: 1⃣. All are agreed that praying Tarawih is a Sunnah [An-Nawawi relayed an Ijmaa' in Al-Majmoo' (4/31)] 2⃣. All are agreed that the masaajid must not be inactive of Tarawih during Ramadhan; i.e. There must be a congregation established in the masjid within every community [Relayed by At-Tahawi in 'Mukhtasar Ikhtilaaf Al-ulama' (1/314)] Thereafter, the scholars differed concerning Tarawih; is it better to pray in the masjid or at home? It is said that the four rightly guided Caliphs (Abu Bakr, Umar, 'Uthman & Ali) would all offer Tarawih at home Al-Layth rahimahullah said: ((ما بلغنا أن عمر رضي الله عنه وعثمان رضي الله عنه كانا يقومان رمضان مع الناس في المسجد)) “It has not reached us that 'Umar nor 'Uthman - may Allāh be pleased with them both - would pray (Tarawih) in the masjid with the people during Ramadhan.” [Mukhtasar Qiyam Al-Layl of Muhammad ibn Nasr Al-Marwazi (230)] Similarly, Ibn Abdil Barr said: ((جاء عن عمر وعلي رضي الله عنهما أنهما كانا يأمران من يقوم للناس في المسجد، ولم يجئ عنهما أنهما كانا يقومان معهم)) “It has come from 'Umar and 'Ali - may Allāh be pleased with them both - that they would command someone to lead the people in the masjid, but it has not come from them that they themselves used to pray with them.” Those who say it's better to pray at home based their opinion on the following hadeeth: Narrated Zaid ibn Thabit radhiyallahu anhu: “Allah's Messenger ﷺ made a room in the masjid using reed mats and prayed therein for some nights till the people gathered (to pray Tarawih behind him.) One night when they missed his voice and thought he had gone to sleep, some of them began to clear their throats in order that he might come out to them, so he said, مَا زَالَ بِكُمُ الَّذِي رَأَيْتُ مِنْ صَنِيعِكُمْ حَتَّى خَشِيتُ أَنْ يُكْتَبَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَلَوْ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمْ مَا قُمْتُمْ بِهِ. فَصَلُّوا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ فِي بُيُوتِكُمْ فَإِنَّ أَفْضَلَ صَلَاةِ الْمَرْء فِي بَيته إِلَّا الصَّلَاة الْمَكْتُوبَة “You continued doing what I saw you doing till I was afraid that it (Tarawih prayer) might be enjoined on you, and if it were enjoined on you, you would not fulfil it. Therefore, O people! Perform your prayers at your homes, for the best prayer of a person is what is performed at his home except the compulsory congregational) prayer. [Reported by Bukhari & Muslim] They said, this hadeeth clearly proves that it's better to pray Tarawih at home, because the Prophet ﷺ told the Sahaabah that offering voluntary prayers in their homes is better than praying them alongside him in his masjid; this includes Tarawih, which is a voluntary prayer by concensus. However, they said praying Tarawih at home is better if certain conditions are met; that is if one is: 1- able to recite the Qurʿān proficiently 2- surplus to requirement; i.e. the masjid has enough huffadh to establish the congregation without him 3- not afraid of being overtaken by laziness Mujahid reported that a man came to Ibn 'Umar radhiyallahu 'anhuma and enquired, “Should I pray (Tarawih) behind the Imam during Ramadhan?” Ibn Umar then asked him, “Can you recite the Qurʿān?” The man said, “Yes” So ibn Umar said: ((أفتنصت كأنك حمار، صل في بيتك)) “Are you going to stand in silence like a donkey? Pray at home!” (i.e. Reciting is better than listening) [Musannaf AbdirRazaq (4/264) & Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah (2/393)] Nafi' rahimahullah said: “Ibn 'Umar used to pray Isha in the masjid during Ramadhan and then leave...” [Musanaf ibn Abi Shaybah (2/ 397) & Ma'aanil Aathaar of At-Tahawi (1/ 352)] [benefited from: الخلاف في المفاضلة بين البيت والمسجد في قيام رمضان لأحمد الزومان]