17. Is There A 'Tasbeeh' Or 'Duaa' That People Read In Between The Rak’aat Of Taraaweeh?

By Asma bint Shameem

QUESTION

There's a 'tasbeeh' or 'duaa' that people read in between the rak’aat of taraaweeh. Is that proven from the Sunnah?

Answer

This is a COMMON MISCONCEPTION that there is a specific duaa (called 'Duaa Taraaweeh or Tasbeeh Taraaweeh') to be read in between the rakaat of Taraaweeh.

You see people reading it and even some masjid have posters and overhead projectors that highlight and show these duas to the people so that they can read them.

But dear brothers and sisters, there is NO proof of that in the Sharee'ah.

You see, any kind of duaa, tasbeeh or dhikr is a form of worship.

And all acts of worship are 'tawqeefi' which mean that nothing is permitted as Ibaadah except that which is prescribed and proven by the Qur'aan and the Sunnah of the Prophet sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam.

So let’s look at the practice of the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam and his Sahaabah.

Did they read any specific duaa in between the rak’aat of Taraaweeh?

No they did NOT.

The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam himself prayed Taraaweeh and led his Sahaabah as well.

And the Sahaabah also prayed Taraaweeh individually as well as in Jama’ah after the death of the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam.

But they did NOT say *this* duaa or ANY OTHER specific duaa in between the rak’aat of Taraaweeh.

Shaykh Muhammad al-‘Abdari ibn al-Haaj said:

“He should avoid what has been innovated of reciting dhikr after each two rak’ahs of Taraaweeh prayer...

All of that is bid’ah and innovation in religion is forbidden.
The best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam then the four caliphs who came after him, then the Sahaabah (may Allaah be pleased with them all), and it is NOT narrated that ANY of the salaf did that, and we should be content with what was sufficient for them.” (Al-Madkhal, 2/293, 294)

If it was good to say this specific dhikr at this specific time, the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam surely would have done it himself and taught his Sahaabah as well.

But he didn't.

And if he Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam didn't do it, why should WE?

Surely, following the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam is much more important and beloved to all of us than following 'culture' and what we've 'seen' people around us do, without any proof!

Constantly doing a particular act of worship at a particular time without any evidence for that from the Sharee'ah comes under the heading of bid'ah or innovation.

The Prophet (sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam) said:

"Whoever does an action that is not part of this matter of ours (Islam) will have it rejected." (Bukhaari, Muslim).

Having said that, if there's TIME in between the rak’aat of Taraaweeh, and someone wants to utilize this time by remembering Allaah, reading the Qur'aan or saying some kind of dhikr or duaa, they may do so.

HOWEVER, we should NOT SPECIFY a PARTICULAR duaa or dhikr, EVERY TIME.

Also it’s NOT a MUST that we HAVE to say a duaa or say “Something” EVERY SINGLE TIME after we read the rak’aat of Taraaweeh.

So you can make a DIFFERENT duaa after you finish your rak’aat of Taraaweeh....
Or read Qur'aan some times,
or do Istighfaar some times,
or send salaams on the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam some times....
OR just say NOTHING at all sometimes.

Remember it’s NOT MANDATORY that you HAVE to say SOMETHING, after every four rak’aat of Taraaweeh.

Remember this GOLDEN rule:

All goodness lies in following the ways of the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam and his noble Sahaabah.
Theirs’ is the way to success and the Pleasure of Allaah.

THERE’S NO OTHER WAY.

And Allaah knows best.